A Node-Centric Load Balancing Algorithm for Wireless Sensor Networks

Hui Dai, Richar HanDepartment of Computer ScienceUniversity of Colorado at Boulder

IEEE GLOBECOMWireless Communications 2003

Outline

Introduction LOAD BALANCING IN SENSOR NETWORKS Load Balancing Metric Algorithms Simulation and Performance Evaluation Conclusion

Introduction

Wireless sensor networks

By spreading the workload across the sensor network, load balancing averages the energy consumption.

Load balancing extends the expected lifespan of the whole sensor network by extending the time until the first node is out of energy.

Load balancing is also useful for reducing congestion hot spots, thereby reducing wireless collisions.

Feature of this paper

This paper focus on WSNs with an asymmetric architecture, i.e. a powerful base station collects data through a multi-hop routing framework of distributed wireless sensor nodes.

In this paper, it also assumes the common case of static sensor networks in which the position of the sensor nodes are fixed.

The algorithm of this paper presents a complete solution that forms the initial tree, and rebalances this tree using topological knowledge rather than random selection.

LOAD BALANCING IN SENSOR NETWORKS

The Drawback of Shortest Path First

Tree Topology

LOAD BALANCING IN SENSOR NETWORKS

A node-centric load balancing strategy considers the cumulative load of data traffic from child nodes in a routing tree on their parent nodes.

The load of child sensor nodes adds to the load of each up stream parent in the tree. Hence, the sensor nodes nearest the base station will be the most heavily loaded.

The goal of node-centric load balancing is to evenly distribute packet traffic generated by sensor nodes across the different branches of the routing tree.

The Drawback of Shortest Path First

The shortest path routing algorithm selecting the shortest path doesn't account for the effect of load aggregation on upstream links.

A shortest path routing algorithm executed on a sensor grid rooted in a base station doesn't guarantee that the resulting shortest path tree is load balanced.

Unbalanced shortest path tree vs. Top-level Balanced tree

The Top Balanced , Hierarchy Balanced , and Fully Balanced tree topology

level : the distance from the node to the base station.

Fully Balanced tree is a in which the branches on the same level carry the same amount of load.

Top-level Balanced tree is such that each branch at top level closest to the base station carries the same amount of load.

Both Fully Balanced trees and Top-level Balanced trees are extreme cases of Hierarchy Balanced trees.

The Top Balanced , Hierarchy Balanced , and Fully Balanced tree topology (cont.)

Load Balancing Metric

Chebyshev Sum Inequality

Fairness Index

Chebyshev Sum Inequality

for all a CN, b CN

a = {a1 , a2 , a3 , … , an } b = { b1 , b2 , b3 , … , bn }

if

a1 ≧ a2 ≧ a3 ≧ … ≧ an b1 ≧ b2 ≧ b3 ≧ … ≧ bn

then

Chebyshev Sum Inequality (cont.)

Since

let a = b = w , we can derive :

or

Algorithms

Basic Algorithm

Adjustment Algorithm

Variables Definition

T : the current tree B[i] : the array of branches B : the selected branch N[] : lists of the border nodes for each branch M : the set of unmarked nodes

growth space : a measure of the freedom to grow the tree towards this node The growth space of a node is the sum of the number of unmarked neighbors of all

the node’s unmarked neighbors minus common links.

Number of unmarked neighbors and growth spaces of each node

The growth space of z equals 3 + 3 – 2 (common links) = 4

Basic Algorithm

M ( Allnodes;

while(M is not empty) do

step 0: Select the lightest most restricted branch

B = B[0]

for each B[i] do

if (Weight(B) 6= Weight(B[i]))

/* select lightest branch */

B lighter (B[i],B);

else

/* if same load, select most restricted branch */

B minFreedom (B[i],B);

↓ ↓ ↓

Figure for explaining the Algorithm

Basic Algorithm (cont.)

step 1: Select the heaviest border node with most growth spacen0 = n0 N, N is B´s border node listfor each ni N if Weight(n´) 6= Weight(ni)

/* Select heaviest border node */n0 heavier(n0, ni);

else/* Select border node with max growth space */n0 maxFreedom(n0, ni);

step 2: graft node and update metricsT = T + {n0} N = N − {n0} M = M − {n0};for each unmarked border node i of n0 N = N + {i};

done

The time complexity of this algorithm

With appropriate data structures supported, the time complexity could be :

O(nlog4n + nlog3n + n)= O(nlogn)

Hence, the time complexity of this algorithm is better than Dijkstra algorithm.

Adjustment Algorithm

Avr − the average number of the nodes on a brunchB − Heaviest Brunch that has maximum neighbors

While (Not meet the stop criteria) doif Weight(B) is bigger than average δ = |B| − Avr;

if there is node m that has load close to Push m to B0s unmarked neighborelse

connect all leaf nodes to neighboring branches that can improve the balance factorif Weight(B) is smaller than average Pull the leave nodes from the neighborB = the next connected unmarked neighbor

Example : 4 x 4 grid (0)

Example : 4 x 4 grid (1)

Example : 4 x 4 grid (2)

Example : 4 x 4 grid (3)

Example : 4 x 4 grid (4)

Example : 4 x 4 grid (5)

Example : 4 x 4 grid (6)

Example : 4 x 4 grid (7)

Example : 4 x 4 grid (8)

Example : 4 x 4 grid (9)

Example : 4 x 4 grid (10)

Example : 4 x 4 grid (11)

Simulation and Performance Evaluation

Average Performance Comparison

Worst Performance Comparison

Average Performance Comparison in uneven sensor network

Worst Performance Comparison in uneven sensor network

Performance Comparison between the Random adjustment and spiral adjustment

Conclusion

Key contributions of this paper

Key contributions of this paper

First, it identify the importance of the node-centric approach.

Second, it formulate a node-centric load-balancing problem that helps construct the routing and monitoring structures for an asymmetric sensor network.

Third, it present the construction algorithms for load balancing.

The End

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