S-MAC协议是在IEEE 802.11协议的SC9636-006基础上针对传感器网络节省能量的需求设计的。S-MAC包括了从各种能量消耗方式中节省能耗的方法，比如：空闲侦听、冲突、串音和控制开销。(The S-MAC protocol is designed to save energy on the sensor network based on the SC9636-006 of the IEEE 802.11 protocol. S-MAC includes ways to save energy from various energy consumption patterns, such as idle listening, conflict, crosstalk, and control overhead.)