An autonomous method for aggregating primary paths and reserving backup paths in sensor networks

Abstract

In a sensor network, saving electronic power is an important issue. This is because sensor nodes would be batterydriven and it is not practical to exchange or recharge a battery for hundreds or more sensor nodes. Therefore many studies on expanding sensor network's lifetime have been performed. We focus on autonomous/adaptive routing for sensor networks to expand the networks lifetime. In this paper, we propose an autonomous method for aggregating primary paths and reserving backup paths in sensor networks. In the proposed method, primary paths and backup paths such that they are not overlapped with each other as much as possible are simultaneously reserved at first. When a battery of a node in a primary path has run out, switching a primary path to one of backup paths is rapidly performed with smallest control packets.