A logical framework for augmented simulations of wireless sensor networks

This paper describes a framework for practical and efficient monitoring of a wireless sensor network. The architecture proposed exploits the dynamic reasoning capabilities of the Situation Calculus in order to assess the sensor network behavior before actually deploying all the nodes. Designing a wireless sensor network for a specific application typically involves a preliminary phase of simulations that rely on specialized software, whose behavior does not necessarily reproduce what will be experienced by an actual network. On the other hand, delaying the test phase until deployment may not be advisable due to unreasonable costs. This paper suggests the adoption of a hybrid approach that involves coupling an actual wireless sensor network, composed of a minimal set of nodes, with a simulated one. We describe a framework that implements a logical monitoring entity able to analyze the network behavior by means of a superimposed communication control network. The system aims to enhance the simulation environment with a logical reasoning unit in order to extract higher level information about the network state, used to provide the network designer with guidance during the pre-deployment design phase.