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An Energy-Aware Dynamic Clustering Algorithm for Load Balancing in Wireless Sensor Networks

Mudasser Iqbal, Iqbal Gondal, and Laurence Dooley
GSIT, Faculty of IT, MONASH University, Churchill, 3842 Australia

Abstract – Energy efficient dynamic clustering offers aflexible paradigm to reconfigure the network in order tomaximise network’s life-time in resource constrained ad hocsensor networks. The load profiles of parent nodes (PNs) canbe used to define its current state as well as to predictpotential failures caused by energy loss due to high loads onparticular PNs. This paper proposes a novel dynamicclustering algorithm for load balanced routing based uponroute efficiency. The algorithm exploits the pattern and loadof traffic and energy dissipation rate of each node on theroute to calculate the node and route efficiencies. Theproposed algorithm maintains PNs in a state whereby thenetwork life requirement is met by the PNs comprising thebackbone of the network. Results prove that the proposedmethodology balances the load effectively to meet thenetwork life requirement while concomitantly preserving thenetwork capacity.

Index Terms – Dynamic Clustering, Load BalancedRouting, Wireless Sensor Networks

Cite: Mudasser Iqbal, Iqbal Gondal, and Laurence Dooley, "An Energy-Aware Dynamic Clustering Algorithm for Load Balancing in Wireless Sensor Networks," Journal of Communications, vol. 1, no. 3, pp. 10-20, 2006.