Improving wireless sensor networks robustness through multi-level fault tolerant routing protocol

Abstract

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are now commonly admitted as a promising networking paradigm bringing huge benefits in industrial and socioeconomical domains. However, although the applications dedicated to WSNs are in constant increase and research activities are intensely carried on, WSNs remain hindered by some weaknesses and lacks preventing them to reach their full maturity. These lacks may be seen even in basic WSN services like data routing in which energy optimization, data security, fault tolerant nodes, etc, have to be improved. So, we are dealing with the fault tolerance issue of routing protocols in order to dependably ensure data forwarding from nodes to sink. This is indispensable for a WSN to successfully accomplish its mission. In this paper, we propose an energy economical and Fault Tolerant Multilevel Routing Protocol, borrowing idea from the well known TEEN and LEACH protocols. Simulation results via NS2 simulator showed convincing and interesting protocol performances. © Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2013.