A new model for updating software in wireless sensor networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are expected to be deployed for long periods of time, and the nodes are likely to need software updates during their lifetime, both for bug fixes and in order to support new requirements. But in many cases the nodes will be inaccessible or too numerous to be physically accessed. This drives the need for "over-the-air" support for software updates, and a number of different systems and supporting protocols for performing these updates have been developed. These systems have addressed the problem in a number of different ways, and meet different requirements. This article consolidates this work by determining an integrated set of necessary WSN software update criteria, and presenting a novel model for WSN software update systems.