Title: RECA: a ring-structured energy-efficient clustering architecture for robust communication in wireless sensor networks

Authors: Guanfeng Li, Taieb Znati

Addresses: Department of Computer Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA. ' Department of Computer Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA

Abstract: Clustering methods have shown their promising effects in the conservation of energy in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). In this paper, we present a Ring-structured Energy-efficient Clustering Architecture (RECA) for WSNs to prolong the network lifetime. RECA uses deterministic cluster-head management algorithm to evenly distribute the work load among the nodes within a cluster. Nodes within a cluster make local decisions on the fair-share length of their duty cycle according to their remaining energy supply and those of the rest of the nodes within the same cluster. This guarantees that all nodes deplete their energy supply at approximately the same time regardless of the initial amount of energy in their battery. Simulation study has been used to evaluate the performance of RECA. The results show that RECA is efficient in managing energy in a wide range of networks settings. The results also show the importance of even energy dissipation with regard to network lifetime. Finally, we propose mechanisms to improve the robustness of RECA and ensure that there is an upper bound on the period of time during which a cluster remains without a cluster-head.

Keywords: ring-structured clustering; energy efficiency; load balancing algorithms; wireless sensor networks; WSNs; wireless networks; network lifetime; simulation; cluster head management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSNET.2007.012980

International Journal of Sensor Networks, 2007 Vol.2 No.1/2, pp.34 - 43

Published online: 02 Apr 2007 *

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