Improving Cross-Layer Routing in Wireless Sensor Networks

Researches in the field of wireless sensor networks set as a main objective the development of algorithms and protocols to ensure the minimum of energy consumption. Most of the proposed solutions are based on a single-layer approach of the OSI model. Recently, works tend to use several layers at the aim of optimizing the energy consumption. We proposed in this paper an energy-aware protocol based on the Cross-Layer mechanism for wireless sensor networks and that considers the physical layer, the MAC layer and the network layer to route the sensed data. The new variant of the proposed protocol Energy Efficient Cross-layer Protocol (EECP) tries to improve the algorithm of relay nodes selection in order to avoid loops and delaying the packet delivery. We simulate the new variant and we compare it with CLEEP in terms of residual energy, packet delivery ratio and load balancing metric.