Perspective, J Comput Eng Inf Technol Vol: 13 Issue: 4

Design and Performance of Routing Protocols in Wireless Sensor Networks: From Flat to Hierarchical Approaches

Marwan Saoud^*

¹Department of Computer Engineering, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia

*Corresponding Author: Marwan Saoud,
Department of Computer Engineering, University of Ha'il, Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
E-mail: marwan.saoud@uoh.edu.sa

Received date: 26 June, 2024, Manuscript No. JCEIT-24-143703;

Editor assigned date: 28 June, 2024, Pre QC No. JCEIT-24-143703 (PQ);

Reviewed date: 15 July, 2024, QC No. JCEIT-24-143703;

Revised date: 23 July, 2024, Manuscript No. JCEIT-24-143703 (R);

Published date: 31 July, 2024, DOI: 10.4172/2324-9307.1000311

Citation: Saoud M (2024) Design and Performance of Routing Protocols in Wireless Sensor Networks: From Flat to Hierarchical Approaches. J Comput Eng Inf Technol 13:4.

Description

Routing protocols are fundamental to the operation of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), as they determine how data is transmitted from sensor nodes to the base station or sink. Given the diverse and dynamic nature of WSNs, routing protocols must efficiently handle various challenges, including energy constraints, data aggregation, and network topology changes. This comprehensive review discuss the different types of routing protocols in WSNs, their design considerations, and their effectiveness in various scenarios. Routing protocols in WSNs can be broadly classified into several categories based on their design and operational characteristics. Flat routing protocols treat all sensor nodes equally and do not impose a hierarchical structure.

These protocols are typically straightforward but may struggle with scalability issues in large networks. Ad hoc On-Demand Distance Vector (AODV) is a reactive routing protocol that establishes routes on-demand. Nodes initiate route discovery when they need to send data, and intermediate nodes forward route requests. While AODV can handle dynamic network conditions, it may suffer from high overhead due to frequent route discoveries. Dynamic Source Routing (DSR) is another reactive protocol that uses source routing to maintain route information. It allows nodes to include the complete route in the packet header, reducing the need for intermediate nodes to maintain routing tables. However, the overhead of including the full route in each packet can be substantial. Geographic and Energy-Aware Routing (GEAR) is designed to balance energy consumption and maintain network connectivity.

It uses geographic location information to forward data towards the sink while considering the energy levels of nodes. Although GEAR improves energy efficiency, its dependence on location information can be a limitation in environments where precise localization is not available. Hierarchical routing protocols organize nodes into clusters or levels, which helps manage data aggregation and reduces communication overhead. These protocols are particularly effective in large networks. Low-Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (LEACH) is a well-known hierarchical protocol that organizes nodes into clusters. Cluster heads are selected periodically, and they aggregate data from their cluster members before forwarding it to the sink. LEACH reduces energy consumption by distributing the load among cluster heads. However, the random selection of cluster heads may lead to uneven energy consumption. High-Energy Adaptive Clustering Hierarchy (HE-LEACH) extends LEACH by incorporating additional mechanisms to ensure more balanced energy consumption. It improves the selection process for cluster heads based on energy levels and node distribution.

While HE-LEACH addresses some of LEACH's limitations, it may still face challenges in very large networks. Threshold-sensitive Energy Efficient Sensor Network (TEEN) is a hierarchical protocol that uses thresholds to control data transmission. Nodes send data only when certain predefined thresholds are met, reducing the amount of transmitted data. TEEN is effective in applications where timely data collection is essential, but it may be less suitable for applications requiring continuous data reporting. Geographic routing protocols use location information to make routing decisions. These protocols are particularly useful in environments where GPS or localization systems are available. Greedy Perimeter Stateless Routing (GPSR) is a geographic routing protocol that forwards packets based on the geographic location of nodes. It uses greedy forwarding to send packets to the neighbor closest to the destination. When greedy forwarding fails, GPSR switches to perimeter mode, where it uses a planar graph to route packets around obstacles. GPSR is efficient in terms of routing but relies heavily on accurate location information.

Location-Aided Routing (LAR) is a geographic protocol that uses location information to optimize routing. It involves specifying a geographic region where the destination is expected to be and routing packets within that region. LAR improves routing efficiency but requires precise location data and may struggle in highly dynamic environments. Data-centric routing protocols focus on the content of the data rather than the specific source or destination. These protocols are designed to efficiently aggregate and disseminate data. Energy efficiency is an important factor in WSNs, as sensor nodes are typically battery-powered and have limited energy resources. Routing protocols must minimize energy consumption by optimizing data transmission, reducing redundant communications, and balancing energy load among nodes. Scalability refers to the protocol’s ability to maintain performance as the network size grows.