Relay node (RN): Groups of nodes in multi-hop data transmission schemes responsible for relaying sensed or aggregated data by other nodes towards the destinationGeneral node (GN): Majority of nodes in the network, which only provide 17-AAG clinical the sensed data based on the type application.Figure 1.The composition of one round of the clustering process.Several existing surveys on the cluster-based routing protocols for WSNs can be found in the literature [1�C9]. The articles [1�C3] survey the strengths and weaknesses of limited numbers of existing clustering protocols separately, without providing any classification of them. Abbasi and Younis in [4] give a taxonomy of the different attributes of clustering algorithms, which are classified and evaluated according to their convergence rate into two groups of variable and constant convergence time.
Dechene et al. in [5] group clustering algorithms into four schemes: heuristic, weighted, hierarchical and grid. The paper also reviews and compares limited numbers of clustering algorithms for each scheme in detail. The authors in [8] provide an insight into routing protocols designed specifically for large-scale WSNs. By focusing on energy efficiency as a problem of great significance in large-scale networks, the article categorizes the algorithms based on the motivation of the methods for improving energy efficiency as control overhead reduction, energy consumption mitigation and energy balance. However, all the aforementioned surveys give a summary of the limited famous routing protocols and compare their attributes without focusing on the limitations that exist in separate phases of a clustering algorithm in homogeneous networks.
To the best of our knowledge, the work presented in this paper is the first and the most comprehensive survey, which covers and analyzes a large-number of recent available literatures on cluster-based routing protocols for homogeneous networks according to their contributions in each individual phase of CH selection, cluster formation, data aggregation and data communication. Besides, the paper classifies the schemes based on their main objectives and contribution towards addressing the shortcomings of each phase of clustering process. Furthermore, we believe this paper serves as a useful starting point for the researchers who are interested in conducting research in clustering algorithms. Anacetrapib A list of symbols in accordance with the occurrence of the symbols in equations is provided in Table 1. To eliminate the ambiguity, the symbols of common parameters in different equations are unified and presented in the table based on their occurrence in equations.Table 1.List of symbols in order of selleck products the occurrence.