k-Connected Hybrid Relay Node Placement in Wireless Sensor Network for Restoring Connectivity

Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) consists of a number of sensor nodes for monitoring the environment. Scenario like floods, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, avalanches, hailstorms and blizzards causes the sensor nodes to be damaged. In such worst case scenario, the deployed nodes in the monitoring area may split up into several segments. As a result sensor nodes in the network cannot communicate with each other due to partitions. Our algorithm investigates a strategy for restoring such kind of damage through either placement of Relay Nodes (RN's) or repositioning the existing nodes in the network. Unlike traditional schemes like minimum spanning tree, our proposed approach generates a different topology called as spider web. In this approach, both stationary and mobile relay nodes are used. Thus we are making our topology as a hybrid one. Though the numbers of relay nodes are increased, the robust connectivity and the balanced traffic load can be ensured. The validation of the proposed approach has been simulated and verified by QualNet Developer 5.0.2.