An EFOM for cross-layer optimization of low-power wireless networks

This paper presents a novel Equivalent-Figure-of- Merit (EFOM) to evaluate fairly about performances of a lowpower wireless system, and provide a model for cross-layer optimization on power efficiency and performance. Key factors like delay, minimum latency, overhead length of a package, package length, data rate, bit-error-rate (BER), turn-on time, average duty cycle and electronics performance factor are synthesized within a unique model. Comparing to other FOMs like Ebit (energy per bit), this EFOM is able to rank the overall performance of a low-power wireless network concerning the information not only power efficiency but also about communication quality (speed, BER, wake-up time, etc.), communication effectiveness and user’s satisfaction. High EFOM level indicates low latency, highly power efficient frontend circuitry, high transmission speed, small BER, fast turningon, effective package coding and low power. Overall speaking, this EFOM model offers more insight for cross-layer design and optimization and solves the problem of comparing different types of wireless systems. Applying this model onto the system design of [1], a completed wireless wire 60 GHz low-power highspeed system is optimized among networking, MAC and PHY layers simultaneously.