Network lifetime enhancement in wireless sensor networks using secure alternate path

One of the main challenges in the wireless sensor networks (WSN) is to enhance the network lifetime. The uneven energy depletion phenomenon of the sensor nodes (known as Hotspot issue) gets more prominent with the increase in number of sensor nodes. These sensor nodes disperse their energy quickly and finally die down. Their battery replacement is not practically possible in the operating environments. Various methods have been put in use to prolong the network lifetime, among which EASR (Energy Aware Sink Relocation) is being considered to be the most efficient one. This paper brings out an overview of these various methods and suggests a modification to the EASR method aimed at increasing its efficiency by way of decreasing the energy consumption of sensor nodes as well as achieving a highly secured communication among sensor nodes using Elliptical Curve Cryptography. Based on the established principle that energy consumption is inversely proportional to the distance between an individual sensor node and sink node, we have suggested a technique of alternate shortest path between the individual sensor nodes that improves energy efficiency as well as the lifetime of overall network system. The present write-up entails some numerical and theoretical calculations that amply substantiate the fact that the idea is practicable.