Clustering in sensor networks using quorum sensing

Scalability is a major issue in sensor networks since they will be expected to

operate with up to millions of nodes. This will have implications particularly with energy

which ideally should not be wasted on sending data to base stations that will potentially

be far away. This can be prevented by separating the sensor networks into clusters and

nominating nodes that will carry out aggregation and forward the data to the base station.

This paper proposes that the clustering carried out could be based on the rate of change of

the data that is measured through the application layer. The protocol developed was

inspired by the bacterial signalling process called quorum sensing.