How to Implement TSCH based Sensors Communication in OMNeT++

To implement Time-Slotted Channel Hopping (TSCH) based sensor communication in OMNeT++ has several steps to follow that includes to configure a network where nodes interact using the TSCH mode of the IEEE 802.15.4e standard. TSCH is planned to deliver the high reliability and low power consumption, which is model for industrial and IoT applications. The given below are the procedures to implement the TSCH in OMNeT++ with examples.

Step-by-Step Implementation:

Step 1: Set Up OMNeT++ Environment

1. Install OMNeT++: Make sure OMNeT++ and the INET framework are installed.
2. Install TSCH Modules: If a particular TSCH module is available (such as from the INET or other extensions), make sure it’s included in project. If not, we will need to generate a custom TSCH implementation.

Step 2: Create a TSCH Sensor Node

We need to generate a sensor node module that performs using the TSCH protocol. The node will concludes a TSCH MAC layer, a radio module, and potentially an application layer like CoAP for data transmission.

1. Define the TSCH Node in NED:

simple TSCHNode {

parameters:

@display(“i=device/sensor”);

int slotframeLength = default(101);

double txPower @unit(dBm) = default(-10);

double slotDuration @unit(s) = default(0.01);

gates:

input radioIn;

output radioOut;

submodules:

radio: Ieee802154NarrowbandRadio;  // Use an IEEE 802.15.4 radio

mac: TSCHMac;  // Custom TSCH MAC implementation

app: CoapApp;  // Optional application layer

connections:

radio.radioIn –> mac.upperLayerOut;

mac.upperLayerIn –> radio.radioOut;

mac.lowerLayerOut –> app.lowerLayerIn;

app.lowerLayerOut –> mac.lowerLayerIn;

}

2. Implement the TSCH MAC Layer in C++:

Example: TSCHMac.cc

#include “TSCHMac.h”

Define_Module(TSCHMac);

void TSCHMac::initialize() {

slotframeLength = par(“slotframeLength”);

slotDuration = par(“slotDuration”);

// Initialize slotframe and schedule the first slot

currentSlot = 0;

scheduleAt(simTime() + slotDuration, new cMessage(“slotStart”));

}

void TSCHMac::handleMessage(cMessage *msg) {

if (strcmp(msg->getName(), “slotStart”) == 0) {

// Handle the start of a new slot

currentSlot = (currentSlot + 1) % slotframeLength;

EV << “Slot ” << currentSlot << ” started.\n”;

// Perform channel hopping, check for scheduled transmissions, etc.

if (isTransmissionSlot(currentSlot)) {

// Send data if this node has data to transmit

sendData();

}

// Schedule the next slot

scheduleAt(simTime() + slotDuration, msg);

} else {

// Handle other messages (e.g., incoming packets)

handleIncomingPacket(check_and_cast<Packet *>(msg));

}

}

bool TSCHMac::isTransmissionSlot(int slot) {

// Determine if this slot is allocated for transmission (simplified)

return slot % 10 == 0;  // For example, every 10th slot is a transmission slot

}

void TSCHMac::sendData() {

// Implementation of data transmission

EV << “Sending data in slot ” << currentSlot << “.\n”;

Packet *pkt = new Packet(“TSCHData”);

send(pkt, “lowerLayerOut”);

}

void TSCHMac::handleIncomingPacket(Packet *pkt) {

// Process incoming packets according to TSCH MAC rules

EV << “Received packet in slot ” << currentSlot << “.\n”;

send(pkt, “upperLayerIn”);  // Forward to the application layer

}

Step 3: Configure the Network

We need to generate a network configuration that uses the TSCH nodes.

Example NED File:

network TSCHNetwork {

parameters:

int numNodes = default(10); // Number of TSCH nodes

submodules:

tschNode[numNodes]: TSCHNode {

@display(“p=100,100;i=device/sensor”);

}

}

Step 4: Run the Simulation

1. Simulation Configuration: In omnetpp.ini file, configure the simulation settings, like the slotframe length, slot duration, and the number of nodes.

[Config TSCHSimulation]

network = TSCHNetwork

sim-time-limit = 200s

*.numNodes = 20

*.slotframeLength = 101

*.slotDuration = 0.01s

1. Start the Simulation: execute the simulation to monitor how TSCH handles communication among nodes. The TSCH protocol should manage time-slot synchronization, channel hopping, and data transmission.

Step 5: Analyse the Results

• Packet Delivery Ratio: evaluate the reliability of data transmission under TSCH.
• Latency: Measure the delay established by time-slot scheduling.
• Energy Consumption: Evaluate how effectively TSCH conserves energy by avoiding idle listening.

Step 6: Optimize and Extend

• Dynamic Slot Allocation: Execute more complex slot allocation techniques based on network traffic or priorities.
• Advanced Channel Hopping: Improve the channel hopping mechanism to better prevent the interference.
• Integration with Routing Protocols: Integrate TSCH with RPL (Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks) to form a complete stack for IoT networks.

In the end of the simulation, we all know how to implement and execute the Time-Slotted Channel Hopping (TSCH) based sensor communication in OMNeT++ tool that has provide the high reliability for application. We will explore how the Time-Slotted Channel Hopping (TSCH) based sensor communication unfolds within other simulation frameworks. omnet-manual.com team is dedicated to assisting you during your implementation of TSCH-based Sensors Communication within the OMNeT++ framework. Keep in touch with us to learn more about this topic, and we are also available to assist you with comparative analysis.