Method for low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy

A method for forming a network from a base station and a plurality of nodes, the method comprising the steps of:

• electing a cluster-head from the plurality of nodes;
• establishing a communication path between first ones of the plurality of nodes and the cluster-head to form a cluster;
• establishing a first round of data transmission;
• transmitting from the first ones of the plurality of nodes to the cluster-head during the first data transmission round;
• and
• transmitting data from the cluster-head to the base station during the first data transmission round;
• establishing a second round of data transmission;
• determining whether each node of the plurality of nodes has operated as a cluster-head;
• electing a second set of cluster-heads wherein each node in the second set of cluster-heads has never before been a cluster-head;
• forming a second set of clusters about the second set of cluster-heads;
• electing a plurality of cluster-heads corresponding to a first set of cluster-heads for use during the first round of data transmission;
• and
• establishing a communication path between each of the plurality of cluster-heads and at least one node of the plurality of nodes to form a first plurality of clusters.

A method for forming a network from a base station and a plurality of nodes, the method comprising the steps of:

• electing a cluster-head from the plurality of nodes;
• establishing a communication path between first ones of the plurality of nodes and the cluster-head to form a cluster;
• establishing a first round of data transmission;
• transmitting from the first ones of the plurality of nodes to the cluster-head during the first data transmission round;
• transmitting data from the cluster-head to the base station during the first data transmission round;
• establishing a second round of data transmission;
• determining an amount of energy remaining in each node of the plurality of nodes;
• electing a second set of cluster-heads, wherein the election is based on the amount of energy remaining in each node of the plurality of nodes;
• forming a second set of clusters about the second set of cluster-heads;
• electing a plurality of cluster-heads corresponding to a first set of cluster-heads for use during the first round of data transmission;
• and
• establishing a communication path between each of the plurality of cluster-heads and at least one node of the plurality of nodes to form a first plurality of clusters.

A network comprising:

• a base station;
• and
• a plurality of nodes comprising:
• a cluster-head selector processor;
• and
• a cluster selector processor, each cluster comprised of a subset of said plurality of nodes, and one of each of said subset of said plurality of nodes temporarily acting as a cluster-head, wherein each of said plurality of nodes has a limited amount of remaining energy;
• and
• wherein the cluster-head selector processor selects each of said plurality of nodes as a cluster-head based on the limited amount of remaining energy in each of said plurality of nodes and a number of times each of said plurality of nodes has operated as a cluster head.