| This thesis presents a novel clustering protocol, Decentralized Energy Efficient cluster Propagation (DEEP), that is based on the idea of controlling the geographical dimensions of clusters and distribution of cluster heads in order to conserve energy and prolong network lifetime in wireless sensor networks. In addition, this thesis develops an inter-cluster energy conscious routing protocol that is compatible with the proposed clustering technique. The proposed clustering and routing protocols take advantage of the multi-rate capabilities of 802.11 a, b, g technologies by elevating the data rate to higher levels for shorter transmission ranges. This approach reduces the energy consumption by lowering the transmission time. Furthermore, due to the balanced load, protocol overhead caused by unnecessary frequent re-clustering is eradicated. Our simulation results demonstrate that DEEP substantially reduces total data communication and route setup energy consumption in sensor networks compared to an existing clustering scheme, LEACH. |
