Interference classification for IEEE 802.15.4 networks

Wireless sensor networks most commonly operate in 2.4 GHz band using the IEEE 802.15.4 standard for wireless transmission between sensor nodes. This frequency band is also used by IEEE 802.11 and IEEE 802.15.1 networks which operate with higher transmitting powers and could cause significant inter-protocol interference, especially in highly urbanized areas. To improve coexistence in 2.4 GHz band, IEEE 802.15.4 networks must to be able to identify and evade these interferences. In this paper, we present practical implementation of interference classification algorithm based on the k-means clustering which could be used by low-cost commercially available IEEE 802.15.4 transceivers.