Evaluating the Impact of Congestion Reduction on Power Consumption in IoT Networks

Congestion reduction is a critical element in almost any system, and especially in those that are battery supplied and provide critical services, such as in an uninterruptible power supply of an emergency room in a hospital. In this work, we analyze the impact of congestion reduction on the network power consumption of battery-dependent devices. We built a discrete-event simulation model of an IoT network, which was analytically validated by Jackson networks, and quantitatively showed through two case studies how power consumption may be decreased in a network node by reducing congestion of the network traffic. The model and its implementation serve as the basis for the analysis of several scenarios that may support the design, planning and dimensioning of future IoT networks regarding traffic congestion. For existing networks, it may also be used for detection or even prediction of future bottlenecks. The analysis of the results indicates that a reduction in power consumption in the overall network is achievable - which may be used to extend the system’s lifetime.