A Novel Routing Protocol for Mobile Nodes in WSN

Wireless sensor networks are energy constrained. Clustering algorithm is a key technology used to reduce power consumption in WSNs. The LEACH protocol is a typical adaptive clustering routing algorithm with low power consumption. Unfortunately, it has some disadvantages such as uneven distribution of cluster heads and unbalanced energy cost. In each round of communication, if a node moves away from a cluster or towards another cluster after cluster construction, LEACH protocol can´t manage the route and process data effectively. An improved algorithm LEACH-M (LEACH-mobile) is presented in this paper to manage such routing problem in mobile network, which can make energy consumption more balanced. Cluster election mode is changed in LEACH-M by considering current energy level of each node and transmission power calculated by relative distance, then adjusting the probability of a node becoming cluster head. Mobile nodes can join new clusters in time and time slots of original and new cluster heads should be re-allocated, so that useless power consumption can be reduced. Simulation result shows that LEACH-M is effective in prolonging network lifetime and improving data transmission efficiency.