A Dual-Path-Based Data Aggregation Scheme for Grid-Based Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, we propose a dual-path-based data aggregation scheme (DPBDAS) for grid-based wireless sensor networks (WSNs). We build a grid infrastructure by equally partitioning the whole sensor field into a grid of cells. The sensor nodes are randomly classified as type A and type B. All sensor nodes of type A and type B in the grid are further organized as group A and group B, respectively. Each cell has a head for each type. We construct dual paths by linking each cell head of each group, respectively. Each group has a leader randomly chosen from cell heads on its own path, responsible for directly transmitting the data to the base station (BS). For data gathering in each round, each cell head aggregates its own data with the data received from the other nodes of the same type in the cell and then transmits to the neighboring cell head toward its own leader. As a result, all gathered data are almost equally transmitted via dual paths so that the energy consumed by each sensor is approximately even. Besides, the group leader is randomly chosen among cell heads of its own path such that the energy load of each cell head is uniform. It greatly benefits the lifetime of the WSN. Simulation results show that the proposed DPBDAS extends the lifetime of sensor nodes so as to prolong the lifetime of the whole network.