SIMTorrent: Sensor IMage Torrent

Network Reprogramming of sensor nodes is a necessity, with the explosion in the number of individual sensors being deployed for live experiments as well as in testbeds. Personalized physical reprogramming of large number of nodes is impractical both in terms of manpower cost and the amount of time expended for such purposes. We propose a network reprogramming protocol specifically targeted at deployments of heterogeneous varieties of sensor platforms. Our protocol efficiently disseminates specific program images to the targeted group of nodes for reprogramming. We achieve performance improvements over Deluge, and quantify other benefits achieved by employing our protocol. Current sensor image dissemination protocols fail to handle deployments consisting of more than one kind of sensor platforms, while the use of our protocol allows for deployments consisting of heterogeneous mix of sensor platforms.