A Connectivity Preservation Scheme for Randomly Deployed WSNs

Network connectivity is a critical factor affecting the overall performance of a wireless sensor network (WSN). Various factors affecting network connectivity and overall network topology such as nodes supplied limited battery power and random deployment of sensor nodes which result in existence of network partitions. In this paper, we have proposed a Connected Dominating Set with Anchor nodes (CDSA) algorithm for random WSN that ensures connectivity for longer time by using high density nodes as virtual backbone as well as activating few spare nodes or anchor nodes at calculated distances to regain overall network connectivity. Results showed that CDSA has gained connectivity with few anchor nodes. CDSA had outperformed the traditional multi-hop fashion and hybrid algorithms. CDSA had approximately twice the Fiedler value enhancement of Random Addition algorithm.