EELCM: An Energy Efficient Load-Based Clustering Method for Wireless Mobile Sensor Networks

Clustering techniques are employed to optimize energy consumption corresponding to different node activities and thus to conserve the limited energy of the sensor nodes. Different locations and different loads cause unbalanced energy consumption in the network nodes, consequently, the network lifetime is shortened. In this paper, a clustering method to improve energy conserving and to balance the energy consumption of cluster head is proposed. The area and the dimensions of the clusters are calculated by the algorithm in such a way that the rates of energy consumption of all the cluster heads be equalized. Also, all the intra-cluster communications are performed in single hop manner. The proposed approach presents a solution for the challenge of short lifetime of heavy burdened cluster heads around the base station. A straightforward routing scheme is proposed corresponding to the proposed clustering model to deliver the data sensed by cluster members to the base station. The performance evaluations indicate that the proposed method not only prolongs more effectively the lifetime of both cluster heads and cluster members than the other works, but also, outperforms them in balancing the energy level of the cluster heads. Consequently, the duration of activity of the cluster members in different clusters is also balanced and prolonged. Moreover, the proposed method improves the network throughput, comparing with the other works.