Movement-Assisted Data Gathering Scheme with Load-Balancing for Sensor Networks

Abstract

Data gathering is the basic function of the sensor networks. However, the existing gathering schemes are almost based on the architecture with a static base station which results in the quick death of nodes around the base station. The reason is that the sensor nodes located near a base station have to relay data for a large part of the network and thus deplete their batteries very quickly. This paper discusses how to use the mobile base station for data gathering with load-balancing. A data gathering scheme MADG (movement-assisted data gathering), which makes use of the mobile base station for data collection, is presented. In this scheme, the base station moves in a stationary annularity area exploited for data buffering. The gathered data are firstly forwarded into the buffering area and then collected by the mobile base station. It is theoretically proved that the location 2 / 2R away from the center is the optimal location for minimizing the energy consumption for transmitting data and that there exists a location which can make the maximal node load minimize. This paper then considers the optimum location jointing the energy consumption and load-balancing based on above analyses. Compared with the static base station scheme and the existing mobile base station scheme, MADG reduces the load by over 95% and 80%, respectively.