Residual Channel Coding in Low-Power WSNs Using Minimum Hamming Distance Decoder

Forward Error Correction is an essential requirement for wireless communication systems with high bit error rates. Redundant Residue Number System codes are normally superior in parallel communication environments, such as sensor networks due to their weightless structure. Underlying error correction capability of redundant residue representation has led to the development of a new set of coding schemes. In this research, a novel error control technique, based on the residue number system is proposed and implemented using MATLAB. With the design of a new minimum-Hamming distance decoder, the proposed system achieved a more efficient error correction ability compared to the Reed Solomon code, particularly in lower signal to noise ratios. Keywords—bit error rate; signal to noise ratio; additive white Gaussian noise; channel coding; wireless sensor networks