Load balanced energy efficient cluster-chain based hybrid protocol for wireless sensor networks

Abstract

In this paper a novel geographical multilayer protocol named Cluster-chain Based Hybrid (CCBH) Protocol is proposed for proper load balancing across the network that enhance the network lifespan and eliminate the energy holes problem. The CCBH protocol divides the network into the multilayer square structure around the sink. Each layer is divided into to the zones in such a way that the zones near to the sink are smaller in size and size of zones increases as the separation from the sink increases. In inner two layers, each zone has a cluster head (CH) and to reduce the load of CH a leader node (LN) is assigned in every zone. LN collects and aggregates the data received from neighboring nodes and sends it to the associated CH. Outer layer zones are larger in size. To reduce the clustering overhead chain strategy is introduced in outer layer zones that ensure lesser energy consumption as compared to clustering. Multi hop communiqué is used, where data is transferred from upper zone’s CH to immediate lower zone’s CH until it reaches to the sink. Simulated tests demonstrate that proposed CCBH protocol shows evident improvement in terms of the network lifetime as compare to LBCN, LEACH, TCAC, and DSBCA protocols.