Topology Control Algorithms for Wireless Sensor Networks: an Overview

The main goal of a topology control scheme in wireless sensor networks is to reduce node power consumption in order to extend network lifetime. In this paper we present an overview of a range of topology control algorithms proposed in literature for wireless sensor networks. The topology control schemes in most of the existing works can be categorized into two classes: Either multi-state or power-control. We believe that most energy savings might come from turning off redundant nodes rather than by minimizing node transmit power. However, both classes of schemes could be combined for further energy savings. Each algorithm is described in depth and compared against each other to capture their uniqueness. The most important design issues of topology control are also highlighted.