Network Layer Protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks: Existing Classifications and Design Challenges

Abstract

Classifying and designing routing mechanisms or protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks are challenging due to the some inherent characteristics (energy efficiency and awareness, connection maintenance, minimum resource usage limitation, low latency, load balancing in terms of energy used by sensor nodes, etc.) that distinguish this network from the other wireless networks such as mobile ad hoc networks, cellular networks, and wireless mesh networks. Due to these unique inherent characteristics, it is a challenging task to select or propose a new algorithm for a specific WSN application. This contribution is basically a detail survey which is organized in two folds. In first fold focus is on issues on which WSN routing protocols has been categorized or classified. Second fold exploring the issues that are actually challenges which must be considered while selecting or designing an algorithm for routing purpose in WSNs.