A Hybrid Protocol to Enhance the Lifetime and Reliability of WSN

Abstract

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) are networks composed of spatially distributed, autonomous devices called sensor nodes that monitor and collect data about environmental conditions. These sensor nodes communicate wirelessly to transmit data to a central system for analysis. WSNs use these numerous nodes distributed in a network to perform various tasks such as data collection, processing, organization, communication, management, etc., and energy is the most crucial resource for properly functioning these nodes over the network. Hence, its primary concern is optimizing energy consumption and extending the network lifespan. The sensor nodes can be clustered to increase their lifespan further. A secondary concern is a random distribution of sensor nodes within a predefined network area which presents challenges such as incomplete coverage, connectivity issues, and inefficient energy consumption. The proposed system detects coverage holes and improves node participation by placing monitor nodes strategically within the network to ensure complete coverage and combines it with an energy-efficient routing approach and optimized Shortest Path Routing through minimum spanning trees. This combination minimizes distances between nodes, reducing energy consumption and enhancing network efficiency.