A Semi-centralized Approach for Optimized Multihop Virtual MIMO Wireless Sensor Networks

In this paper, a novel cluster-based multihop virtual MIMO communication protocol is proposed by consideration of energy efficient cooperative MIMO transmission and STBC training overhead of the MIMO channel in wireless sensor networks. In the protocol, we use a semi-centralized approach to form clusters and select optimal routing of the mutihop cooperative transmission. The communication cost of these processes is discussed. Based on this protocol, we analysis the overall data communication energy consumption and established an optimization model to find the optimum network parameters. The performance of the proposed protocol is compared with LEACH, LEACH-Centralized (LEACH-C), and another virtual MIMO based multihop protocol in our previous work. Simulation results show that tremendous energy saving is achieved and the network lifetime is prolonged, with judicious choice of the protocol parameters.