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Wireless sensor networks: a survey, categorization, main issues, and future orientations for clustering protocols

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Abstract

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have turned into a leading area of research over the course of the last few decades as they have been employed in various application domains. Since traditional approaches configure WSNs statically, their dynamic reconfiguration represents a difficult challenge. To address this challenge, clustering techniques can be integrated into WSNs. In the present paper, we present a comprehensive review of some of the recently proposed clustering protocols (from the year 2003 to 2021) that have been applied to WSNs. In this survey, clustering algorithms are categorized into four classes, namely (1) cluster-based protocols for homogeneous nodes, (2) cluster-based protocols for heterogeneous nodes, (3) clustering protocols based on fuzzy logic methods, and (4) clustering protocols based on heuristic methods. This categorization was carried out based on these protocols’ network organization as well as the techniques used for managing the procedures of clustering. For the purpose of evaluating the efficiency of these protocols, we take into account features, performance as well as clustering methodologies as the main parameters used in the comparison of these four categories of clustering approaches.

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  1. Department of Information Technology, College of Computer, Qassim University, Buraydah, Saudi Arabia

    Salim El Khediri

  2. Department of Computer Science faculty of Sciences of Gafsa, University of Gafsa, Campus Sidi Ahmed Zarrouk, 2112, Gafsa, Tunisia

    Salim El Khediri

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El Khediri, S. Wireless sensor networks: a survey, categorization, main issues, and future orientations for clustering protocols. Computing 104, 1775–1837 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00607-022-01071-8

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