Forwarding Factor Based Directed Diffusion (FFDD) in Wireless Sensor Networks

4 Abstract: W ireless sensor networks are new generation of networks and therefore they encounter a number of challenges. These networks are employed in a range of applications such as collecting environmental information or reporting an event. The main difference between sensor networks with other networks lies in the fact that the former are data-centric and theirenergy and processing sources are extremely limited. As such, methods available for other networks to communicate information are not applicable in sensor networks. Therefore, a significant challenge facing sensor networks is the method of routing and the way collected information is communicated in the network nodes. In sensor networks, routing is performed through wireless interaction and cooperation between nodes. Our proposed method to select information diffusion route is based on nodes' activity history, and their location and capability in sending packets. In the suggested method, a forwarding factor is used to assign priority to nodes. This factor is a combination of some parameters involved in selecting the most appropriate nodes of the route. The parameters are "closeness to sink", "remaining energy", "sent traffic", "successful sent packets" and "number of covered sources" in each node. To provide more flexibility, some coefficients are employed in order to determine the rate of effect of each parameter in routing process. The result of such method is the increase of network's general lifetime by decreasing and uniform distribution of energy consumption, and also traffic load distribution throughout the network. Many simulations have indicated our method is better.