A Topology Control Algorithm Based on Link Reliability and Multi-Path for Sensor Networks

Energy efficiency and load balance are two important design issues for wireless sensor networks(WSN). It is found that topology control can improve the network's energy efficiency significantly. However, the existing topology control methods usually don't consider the factors of the link reliability and multi-path which affect the network's energy efficiency and load balance. In this paper, based on an analytical link loss model, the relationship of energy efficiency, load balance and the number of neighbors is analyzed. It is found that there is a contradiction between improving energy efficiency and load balance at the same time. A layered topology control algorithm LELB (layered energy-efficient and load balance algorithm) is proposed, which adjusts network's topology for increasing energy efficiency meanwhile getting good load balance over unreliable links. Simulation shows that this algorithm can significantly improve the network's performance.