A virtual backbone network algorithm based on the multilevel cluster tree with gateway for wireless sensor networks

In order to solve the problem of excessive energy dissipation due to long distance transmission among cluster-heads, a virtual backbone network algorithm based on the multilevel cluster tree with gateway is proposed. Some reasonable cluster-heads are found using the maximal independent set with maximal weight. By introducing some gateway nodes as relay transmission among cluster-heads, network lifetime is further prolonged. The simulation results show that the algorithm bears efficiency and low complexity.