Method for decentralized clustering in wireless sensor networks

A method for clustering a wireless network having at least a first node and a second node, the method comprising:

• calculating via a processor a first node in a wireless network a waiting time for the first node;
• setting via the processor of the first node in the wireless network a cluster head field for the first node to empty;
• determining via the processor if a message is received over the wireless network and at the first node during at least one of a clustering period or the waiting time of the first node;
• upon receiving the message over the wireless network and at the first node, determining via the processor of the first node if the message is a cluster head message from the second node;
• upon receiving a cluster head message from the second node of the wireless network, storing in a storage medium of the first node information contained in the cluster head message from the second node into the cluster head field;
• determining via the processor of the first node if the cluster head field is empty after the end of the waiting time of the first node;
• upon determining that the cluster head field is empty after the end of the waiting time of the first node, sending via the first node a cluster head message to the second node and setting the first node as a cluster head;
• and
• upon determining that the cluster head field of the first node is not empty at an end of a clustering period, setting via the processor of the first node the first node as a regular member of a cluster in the wireless network.