Two phase clustering method for leach protocol for effective cluster head selection

Abstract

A Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) comprise of a huge quantity of clusters of sensor nodes that can inter communicate with all nodes and with the base station through a wireless link. All clusters are corresponding to a cluster head to provide a direct communication to the base station and in addition with other cluster heads. Obviously well-organized selection of cluster head is a significant problem in the performance of the wireless sensor network. In this study, a novel two stage clustering protocol based on Self Organizing Map (SOM) neural network and Modified Fuzzy Possibilistic Clustering Algorithm (MFPCM) with the purpose of balancing the energy consumption. The clustering is carried out based on two important condition, energy level and coordinates of sensor nodes. Consequently, this novel two stage clustering method can prevent from premature death of the nodes and permit for random death of them. The experimental observation reveals that the SOM-MFPCM based clusterhead selection algorithm performs better than the cluster head election approach used in LEACH and can enable the network lifetime longer with less number of dead nodes. © 2014 Science Publications.