Energy-Efficient Wireless Sensor Network with an Unequal Clustering Protocol Based on a Balanced Energy Method...

Area of Science:

• Wireless Sensor Networks
• Energy Efficiency in Networks
• Network Protocols

Background:

• The 'hot spot' problem causes nodes near the base station (BS) to deplete energy faster due to increased communication demands.
• Existing unequal clustering methods (e.g., UDCH, EEFUC) primarily focus on residual energy and distance to the BS, neglecting data transmission efficiency.
• A need exists for advanced clustering schemes that balance energy consumption and optimize data transmission to extend network longevity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an energy-efficient unequal clustering scheme based on a balanced energy method (EEUCB) to mitigate the hot spot problem.
• To enhance the data transmission process and reduce energy wastage in wireless sensor networks.
• To improve the overall network lifetime compared to existing clustering protocols.

Main Methods:

• Developed an energy-efficient unequal clustering scheme (EEUCB) utilizing minimum and maximum distances to minimize energy waste.
• Incorporated maximum node energy capacity and a double cluster head technique with a sleep-awake mechanism.
• Implemented a clustering rotation strategy with intra- and inter-clustering phases, considering average energy/distance thresholds and BS layering.

Main Results:

• EEUCB demonstrated significant network lifetime improvements over existing methods.
• Lifetime enhancements were 57.75% against LEACH, 19.63% against FLEACH, 14.7% against EEFUC, and 13.06% against UDCH.
• The proposed scheme effectively balances energy consumption and optimizes data transmission.

Conclusions:

• The EEUCB protocol offers a superior solution for the hot spot problem in wireless sensor networks.
• EEUCB significantly extends network operational lifetime through balanced energy distribution and efficient data handling.
• The proposed scheme provides a valuable advancement in energy-efficient wireless sensor network design.