Enhancing data availability in wireless sensor networks using power threholds

Abstract

Sensing devices are installed in places like parking areas, near rubbish bins, on the doors, gates scanners and other security areas like battlefields. These sensing devices interconnect to form Wireless sensor networks (WSNs). Within a fraction of a second, WSNs are able to collect data and share information. Monitoring the activity of a sensor node should be a priority throughout the life of the network. Power management determines the life of a sensor node and also allows for other sensor nodes to easily map with alternate node thus increasing the channel availability. Cluster-based hierarchical protocols have been adopted as the best protocols for decreasing on the possibility of high energy consumption. In our research, Low Energy Adaptive Cluster Hierarchy (LEACH) protocol is used to study the WSN’s power implications, paying attention to the forms of sensor node activity and analyzing the power levels at its threshold value. To improve on data availability and data delivery of the WSN we propose an improved routing protocol in this research. We proposed an enhanced data delivery LEACH (EDD-LEACH) protocol where the sensor node selects an alternate path for service sharing with the neighboring node, other than a node whose power levels have reduced. The solution provides possible actions to mitigate the effects of data loss and allows for availability of information. To reduce on the possibility of the sensor node’s power draining quickly, we set the minimal operating power basing on the energy dissipated in transmitting a packet and the energy dissipated while choosing the alternate transmission path. Our simulation Results exhibit that, in comparison with LEACH, when the sensor node’s power is set to operate above threshold levels and with proper placement of the base station (BS) relative to the field size, there is 4% increase in data packets reaching the base station in EDD-LEACH than LEACH.