Trickle: a self-regulating algorithm for code propagation and maintenance in wireless sensor networks

We present Trickle, an algorithm for propagating and maintaining code updates in wireless sensor networks. Trickle uses a "polite gossip" policy, where nodes periodically broadcast a code summary to local neighbors but stay quiet if they have recently heard a summary identical to theirs. When a node hears an older summary than its own, it broadcasts an update. Instead of flooding a network with packets, the algorithm controls the send rate so each node hears a small trickle of packets, just enough to stay up to date. <p>We first analyze Trickle using an idealized single-cell network model, with perfect synchronization and no packet loss. Progressively relaxing these assumptions, we evaluate the algorithm…