EEHCR: Energy-Efficient Hierarchical Cluster-Based Routing Protocol for Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract

This paper proposes a new energy-efficient hierarchical cluster-based routing protocol (EEHCR). It assures for inter-cluster communication between cluster head to cluster head toward the base station irrespective of the deployment strategy. The proposed protocol works in two phases, namely cluster-formation phase and hierarchy-formation phase. Intra-cluster communication may take place between either member to cluster head directly or member to cluster head indirectly, through proxy cluster head. Depending on the deployment of sensor nodes, inter-cluster communications between clusters may take place in either of four ways: (i) cluster head to cluster head or (ii) cluster head to a member or (iii) member to cluster head or (iv) member to member, during the formation of hierarchy. The proposed protocol provides a solution for all four cases of inter-cluster communication in order to implement the proposed network model. The EEHCR is implemented in OMNeT++ network simulator. The result is compared with TL-LEACH and MR-LEACH hierarchical routing protocols. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed protocol is effective in prolonging the network lifetime.