A QoS-based Adaptive Clustering Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks

Existing hierarchical routing algorithms for wireless sensor networks mainly focus on distributing energy load among all the nodes. They pay little attention to quality of services (QoS) support in wireless sensor networks. In this paper, we developed a algorithm, QAC (QoS-based adaptive clustering algorithm), which not only concerns energy consumption but also can improve the reliability and the steadiness of wireless sensor networks by establishing a dual cluster-head model. QAC proposes a local-centralized mechanism for electing cluster-head and suggests a parameter to measure the QoS support in hierarchical applications of WSNs. Our model can increase the reliability and the steadiness of wireless sensor network by distributing evenly the communication load and the load of data fusion among cluster-heads. The dual cluster-head model can also improve the survival ability of wireless sensor networks and makes the network fitting in with the fierce changes of environment