A Novel Chain-Cluster Based Routing Protocol for Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper we propose a new routing protocol for mobile wireless sensor networks, which fixed and mobile sensor nodes in the same network, called Energy-efficient Chain-cluster Routing protocol (ECRM). The protocol organizes the fixed node, whose battery is impossible to be recharged, into the communication backbone to maintain the basic connectivity of network, while appoints the mobile node, whose battery can be recharged regularly, as cluster head in order to prolong the fixed nodes´ lifetime. ECRM includes a simple but efficient cluster head selection criterion, which prolongs the lifetime of the first fixed node in the network and improves the energy efficiency. Advantages of ECRM are simulated by comparing with Low-Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH) protocol.