Empirical analysis and performance evaluation of a generic re-linking technique for robust route maintenance

Establishing and maintaining a route is a challenge in the design of resource constrained Wireless Sensor Networks. The paper investigates and evaluates a robust generic re-linking technique that aims to enhance route maintenance. Although the use of node residual energy has been exploited in routing protocols, the re-linking techniques for route maintenance need to be researched further. We opine that if data can be re-linked prior to the termination of an existing route on the onset of death of a node, data and energy loss can be reduced. The re-linking technique is fast in response and ensures minimal route disturbance. This eliminates the need to establish a new route from the source to the destination. Incorporation of the re-linking technique in existing routing protocol AODV demonstrates an improvement of 10.18% in packet delivery ratio. Experimental analysis indicates a 15% reduction in data loss and 83.23% decrease in latency.