An Efficient Data Gathering Protocol for Mobile Wireless Sensor Networks

Abstract

Data gathering is a hot research issue of mobile wireless sensor networks. In order to ensure maximum data gathering, minimize the total energy consumption and optimize network reliability, from Sink dynamic selection of movement path to the life cycle of the entire sensor network. Through the study found that the problem is NP- hard. We then propose a mobile wireless sensor network data gathering strategy based on ant colony algorithm. Before Sink carries out the next round of data gathering, ant colony algorithm is used to estimate and selectively optimize the next hop destination according to the current network environment parameters and moving strategy. Simulation results show that compared with other data gathering methods, the proposed algorithm can produce balanced network energy, reduce the total energy consumption, improve network efficiency and reliability, prolong network lifetime.