Auxiliary cluster head protocol for mobile wireless sensor networks.

Abstract

The design focus of routing protocols has shifted from static nodes to mobile nodes with capability of sensing several types of events. As such the routing protocols that are deployed with these sensors should put into consideration the routing challenges experienced with mobile sensor nodes. One of the main challenges is fault tolerance especially with intra-cluster communication. In this study, an analytical model of Auxiliary Cluster Head protocol (ACHP) is developed for Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks to overcome the challenge of delay resulting from immediate failure of the Cluster Head (CH). The protocol overcomes the problem of Cluster Head Routing protocol which fails to handle a cluster fault when a CH dies within a round before electing a new one. Results show that the end-to-end delay increases with increase in the load and the arrival rate of packets. It is also observed that end-to-end delay decreases with increase in service rate. It is further observed that the Auxiliary Cluster Head Based Protocol reduces the end-to-end delay compared to the Cluster Based Routing Protocol, this is especially more pronounced at high load and arrival rate values. Similar observation is noted with the service rate where the Auxiliary Cluster Head Based Protocol reduced the end-to-end delay compared to the Cluster Based Routing Protocol and the reduction is more pronounced at higher service rates compared to lower service rate values.