The design and the evaluation of communication protocols in WSNs is a crucial issue. Generally, researchers use simulation methods to evaluate them. However, formal modelling and analysis techniques are an efficient alternative to simulation methods. Indeed, these techniques allow performance evaluation and model verification. In this paper, a formal approach is proposed to modelling and to evaluating the Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance (CSMA/CA) MAC protocol with a star topology. Moreover, the proposed approach deals with some properties that are not stated in most existing works. The approach uses Hierarchical Timed Coloured Petri Nets (HTCPNs) formalism to model the protocol and exploits the CPN-Tools to analyse the generated models. HTCPNs provide timed aspect which facilitates the consideration of time constraints inherent to the CSMA/CA protocol.

WSN中通信协议的设计和评估是一个关键问题。通常，研究人员使用模拟方法对其进行评估。但是，形式化建模和分析技术是模拟方法的有效替代方法。实际上，这些技术允许性能评估和模型验证。在本文中，提出了一种形式化的方法来建模和评估带有星型拓扑的带冲突避免的载波侦听多路访问（CSMA / CA）MAC协议。此外，所提出的方法处理了大多数现有作品中未提及的某些特性。该方法使用分层定时有色Petri网（HTCPNs）形式主义对协议进行建模，并利用CPN-Tools分析生成的模型。