Alternative Path Creation for Network Hole Minimization in Overloaded Wireless Sensor Networks

Alternative path creation is a way to balance the traffic and increase lifetime in densely deployed Wireless Sensor Networks. In this paper, the authors investigate how an algorithm explicitly designed for congestion control and avoidance during an overload situation in event based Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), can also assist in maintaining a more uniform energy utilization in the network. This algorithm is based on the creation of alternative paths from source to sink, using the plethora of the networks unused nodes, in order to reliably transmit data. The creation of alternative paths involves several nodes which are not in the initial shortest path form source to the sink. The employment of these nodes leads to a balanced energy consumption, avoiding the creation of holes in the network.