M-Geocast: Robust and energy-efficient geometric routing for mobile sensor networks

Abstract

In this paper we investigate a practical routing solution for a new class of wireless sensor networks where any node can be mobile anytime. Assuming GPS-enabled sensor nodes we propose a new geometric routing protocol called M-Geocast that is designed to efficiently support node mobility as well as location service for such mobile sensor networks. Unlike existing geometric routing schemes, M-Geocast can also discover a non-geometric path to the destination by exploiting the path history of location updates. Thus, the routing void can be minimized by alternating the two. In addition, M-Geocast employs two location-based optimizations to further reduce the overhead of on-demand route discovery on inevitable routing voids. Through detailed NS-2 simulations we demonstrate that M-Geocast can not only increase network performance but can also reduce energy consumption compared to the existing protocols based on on-demand route discovery or a plain geometric routing. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.