WALEACH: WEIGHT BASED ENERGY EFFICIENT ADVANCED LEACH ALGORITHM

Sundarapandian et al. (Eds): CoNeCo,WiMo, NLP, CRYPSIS, ICAIT, ICDIP, ITCSE, CS & IT 07,
pp. 117–130, 2012. © CS & IT-CSCP 2012 DOI : 10.5121/csit.2012.2411
WALEACH: WEIGHT BASED ENERGY
EFFICIENT ADVANCED LEACH ALGORITHM
Prof Ankit Thakkar1
and Dr K Kotecha2
1
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Engineering, Institute of
Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad -382 481, Gujarat, India
ankit.thakkar@nirmauni.ac.in
2
Director, Institute of Technology, Nirma University,
Ahmedabad -382 481, Gujarat, India
director.it@nirmauni.ac.in
ABSTRACT
Designing a protocol stack for wireless sensor network (WSN) is a challenging task due to
energy, computational, communication and storage constraints. Energy spent for
communication between sensor nodes dominates the energy spent for the computation [1].
Multi-hop short range communication between wireless sensor nodes is energy efficient
compared to single-hop long range communication. Hierarchical clustering is one of the
possible solutions to save energy of wireless sensor nodes. LEACH and Advanced LEACH
(ALEACH) are energy efficient hierarchical clustering routing protocols. In this paper we
presented Weight based Advanced LEACH routing protocol - WALEACH. WALEACH selects
Cluster Head by assigning importance (weight) to different parameters used to select Cluster
Head, which makes the routing protocol energy efficient and improves life time of a wireless
sensor network. Simulation results shown here verify that WALEACH not only improves
network life time compared to LEACH and ALEACH algorithms but Packet Reception Rate
(PRR) too.
KEYWORDS
Weight based Advanced LEACH, Energy efficient, Wireless Sensor Network, Enhanced Packet
Reception Rate (PRR), Clustering
1. INTRODUCTION
Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) getting popularity due to reduction in cost and size and
advancement in Micro-Electro Mechanical System (MEMS). WSN getting attention due to their
potential application in habitat monitoring system, forest fire detection, surveillance system,
automated devices, structural health monitoring, Body Area Network (BAN) and other domains
[2],[3]. Researchers getting interest in WSN because of many challenges and constraints
associated with sensor networks which includes limited amount of energy, memory,
communication and computational capabilities of a sensor node. To implement given task for a
longer time, energy expenditure has to be done carefully by the sensor nodes. Energy required for
communication is very high compared to computation and hence it should be carefully used to
improve lifetime of a sensor network. Hierarchical clustering with data aggregation is one of the
solutions to enhance the life time of a sensor network [4][5][6][7]. In most applications of a
sensor network, sensor nodes are dropped from the helicopter in a hostile environment and sensor
nodes will automatically establish connection with the neighboring nodes. In WSN each sensor
node not only generates sensed data and to process collected data but also acts as a router to send
data to Base Station (BS) where end user can get useful information of his interest. In cluster

118 Computer Science & Information Technology ( CS & IT )
based algorithm, nodes are grouped and form a cluster. One of the nodes within a cluster acts as a
Cluster Head (CH) and other nodes within a cluster are called member nodes. Member nodes
send their data to CH and CH forwards data to Sink node or Base Station (BS) directly or through
other CHs using multi-hop communication.
Our algorithm is cluster based algorithm with the following objectives: To maximize the lifetime
of a sensor network, to balance the energy depletion across the entire network and to enhance the
Packet Reception Rate (PRR). Lifetime of a sensor network can be measured by three matrices:
First Node Dies (FND), Half of the nodes Alive (HNA) and Last Node Dies (LND). In our
protocol we have introduced a new technique by assigning importance to different parameters to
select the cluster head in order to achieve our goals.
This paper is organized as follows: LEACH and ALEACH algorithms are discussed in Section 2,
WALEACH algorithm is discussed in Section 3, Simulation results are presented in Section 4,
Conclusion and future scope are discussed in Section 5 and 6 respectively.
2. RELATED WORK
Energy being the most important constraint for WSN, now a days “Power Aware” routing
techniques have been developed by many researcher [1], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13]. In these
techniques optimal routes are to be chosen which are energy-efficient and the node which is
having highest energy will act as a cluster head. Our routing protocol, WALEACH, is also based
on such technique by assigning weights to the different parameters used to select cluster head.
LEACH algorithm increases lifetime of the WSN by randomly rotating role of a CH among all
the nodes. In LEACH, a node selects a random number between 0 and 1. If the selected random
number is less than the threshold value T(n), then node declares itself as a CH for the current
round. Threshold value T(n) is given by equation 1. LEACH ensures that each node becomes a
cluster head only once in 1/p rounds, where p is a desired percentage of CH during each round.
LEACH does not consider the current state (energy level) of a node while electing it as a CH.
(1)
ALEACH [14] is distributed energy efficient routing protocol which considers energy level of a
node while electing CHs. ALEACH doesn't require to know the locations of the nodes. Also,
there is no need to do global communication to elect CH which is required in LEACH-C [15].
Like LEACH, ALEACH also works in rounds. Each round begins with Cluster Setup phase.
During cluster setup phase a node will select a random number between 0 and 1. If selected
random number is less than threshold value T(n) then node will declare itself as a cluster head
where T(n) is given by equation 2.
(2)
where Gp and CSp is given by equations 3 and 4 respectively. Gp and CSp refer to general
probability and current state probability.

Computer Science & Information Technology ( CS & IT ) 119
(3)
where k/N refers to the desired percentage of cluster heads during each round and Ecurrent and
Emax is remaining energy and maximum energy of a node respectively.
(4)
3. WALEACH: WEIGHT BASED ADVANCED LEACH ROUTING
PROTOCOL
ALEACH has considered energy level of a node to decide a node will become a CH during a
particular round or not. Major drawback of ALEACH is proper importance (weights) is not given
to general probability and current state probability. Main aim of our algorithm -WALEACH is to
increase the lifetime of a WSN and increase the PRR by assigning proper weights to the general
probability and current state probability.
WALEACH divides rounds into Cluster Set up phase and Steady Setup phase. Cluster Setup
phase is used to elect cluster heads. During cluster setup phase each node selects a random
number between 0 and 1. If selected number is less than threshold value T(n), a node elects itself
as a cluster head for the current round, where T(n) is given by equation 2. The general probability
and current state probability is given by equation 5 and equation 6 respectively. In these equations
w is used to assign weight (importance) to general probability and current state probability.
(5)
(6)
Cluster Set up phase is shown in Algorithm 1. Steady Set up phase is used by member nodes to
send data to their cluster heads and it is shown in Algorithm 2.
Algorithm 1 Cluster Set up Phase
Require: Total Round Time > 0 and Round Duration >0 and Total Round Time _ Round
Duration and N >0 and 0 < P < 1
1: for all nodes i∈ N do
2: ClusterHeadInLastRound = false
3: end for
4: rounds = ⌈(SimulationTime=RoundTime)⌉
5: for r = 0 to rounds - 1 do
6: for all nodes i ∈ N do
7: if ClusterHeadInLastRound then
8: T(i) = 0
9: StartJoinT imer(i)
10: Wait_For_CH_Advertisement(t)

11: if CHAdvReceived then
12: Send_ Join_Request(i)
13: Wait_ For_TDMA_Schedule(t)
14: end if
15: else
16: if T(i) > random(0; 1) then
17: ClusterHeadInLastRound = true
18: Do_Cluster_Head_ Announcement(i)
19: Wait_For_Join_ Request(t)
20: for all j ∈ Members do
21: Send_ TDMA_Schedule(j)
22: end for
23: else
24: StartJoinT imer(i)
25: Wait_ For_CH_ Advertisement(t)
26: if CHAdvReceived then
27: Send_ Join_Request(i)
28: Wait_For_TDMA_Schedule(t)
29: end if
30: end if
31: end if
32: CallAlgorithm2(i)
33: end for
34: if (round + 1) = ⌈N/(P * 100)⌉ then
35: ClusterHeadInLastRound = false
36: end if
37: end for
Algorithm 2 Steady-State Phase
Require: i
1: if t < RoundTime then
2: if i ∈ CH then
3: for all j∈ Members(i) do
4: Collect_Data_From_Member_ Nodes(j)
5: end for
6: Send_ Aggregate_ Data_To_Sink_By_CH(i)
7: else
8: if t < Scheduled Start Time or t >Scheduled End Time then
9: Sleep_Node(i)
10: else
11: Send_ Data_To_CH_By_Member(i)
12: end if
13: end if
14: end if
4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The network model used in WALEACH is having following properties as mentioned in
[14],[15],[16],[17].

• BS consists of high level of energy and located far away from sensor nodes.
• All nodes within the network are immobile.
• All nodes are uniform.
• Each node is able to control its transmission power as and when required.
• Each node sense environment at a fixed rate and have some data to send to BS or CH.
Figure 1. Number of Packets Received
Figure 2. Number of Packets Transmitted
We have investigated performance of WALEACH against LEACH and ALEACH algorithm
using Castalia simulator [18]. Castalia can be used for simulation of Wireless Sensor Networks
(WSN), Body Area Networks (BAN) and networks of low-power embedded devices. It is used to
test distributed algorithms and/or protocols in realistic wireless channel and radio models, with a

realistic node behavior especially relating to access of the radio [18]. A network of size 500mx
500m is created with randomly distributed 100 sensor nodes to test performance of WALEACH
against LEACH and ALEACH. Each node has CC2420 as transceiver. Each node constantly
draws 6mW and sensing device within the node draws 0.02mW. The transceiver energy
parameters are set as: ETx = 46.2mW to do cluster head announcement, to send cluster join
message and to send data by member nodes to their respective cluster heads; ETx = 57.42mW to
send data by the non cluster member nodes and cluster heads to Base Station. A transceiver of
node can be in one of the three states: RX (receive), TX (transmit) or SLEEP, if node is alive.
Transceiver takes the 194µsec to change from SLEEP state to either RX or TX, 10µsec to change
between TX and RX states and 50µsec to enter the SLEEP state [18]. Transition to SLEEP state
from RX or TX consumes 1.4mW while any other transition consumes 62mW [18].
Table 1. Simulation Parameters
Parameter Value
Node Deployment Area 500m x 500m
Number of Nodes 100
Initial Energy 18720 Joules
Energy to do CH announcement
46.2mWEnergy to transmit data to CH
Energy to send CH Join Message
Energy to transmit BS 57.42mW
Rate of Sensory Data generation Every 2 Seconds
Round Duration 20 Seconds
Simulation Time 1000 Seconds
Operating power of a Node 6mW
Operating power of a sensing device 0.02mW
Size of Control and Data messages 30 Bytes
Expected percentage of CH per round 5%
Weight Factor (w) 3.81
Initial Energy (for FND,HND,LND) 6 Joules
Size of control and data message is set to 30 bytes. Every 2-seconds sensor will report sensed data
to the node itself. Round time is fixed to 20-seconds. Each node has given 18720 Joules of initial
energy which is equivalent to energy of two AA batteries [18]. p is set to 5% in Equation 1. w is
set to 3.81 in Equations 5 and 6. This value of w gives optimal performance of WALEACH. This
value of w is verified through experiments. Simulation parameters is listed in Table 1.

Figure 3. Packet Reception Rate (in Percentage)
Figure 4. Total Energy Consumption (in Joules)

Figure 5. Average Energy Consumption per Node (in Joules)
Figure 6. Average Number of Member Nodes per Round

Figure 7. Average Number of Cluster Heads per Round
We have run simulation for 1000 seconds to investigate following performance metrics: Packet
Reception Rate: It represents the ratio of number of packet received over number of packet
transmitted; Energy consumption: It represents total energy consumption of all nodes, and
Average energy consumption per node: It represents the average energy expenditure of a node.
Coverage: Average number of members covered by all cluster heads per round; Fitness of Cluster
Head: It represents average number of cluster heads; Application Level Latency: It represents end
to end delay experienced by the packet; Network Life Time: Network life time can be measured
in terms of First Node Dies (FND), Half of the Nodes Alive (HNA) and Last Node Dies (LND)
and total life time of all nodes. Total number of packets received and transmitted is shown in
figure 1 and 2 respectively. Total packets received for LEACH, ALEACH and WALEACH are
391, 419 467 and total packets transmitted for LEACH, ALEACH and WALEACH are 453, 499
and 527 respectively. Packet reception rate for LEACH, ALEACH and WALEACH is found
86.314%, 83.968% and 88.615% respectively and is shown in Figure 3. Total energy
consumption of all nodes and average energy consumption per node for LEACH, ALEACH and
WALEACH is shown in figures 4 and 5 respectively. Total energy consumption of all nodes is
6657.897 Joules, 6645.132 Joules and 6636.108 Joules and average energy consumption per node
is 66.579 Joules, 66.451 Joules and 66.361 Joules recorded for LEACH, ALEACH and
WALEACH algorithm respectively. For the simulation, p is set to 5% in equation 1 and w is set
to 3.81 in equations 5 and 6. Number of nodes which are covered by the cluster heads and
average number of cluster heads is shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7 respectively. An average
member of all clusters during each round is shown in Figure 6 and it is 3.08, 3.36 and 3.56 for
LEACH, ALEACH and WALEACH algorithm. It can be seen from Figure 7 that average number
of cluster heads per round for LEACH, ALEACH and WALEACH is 5.04, 5.52 and 5.84. Energy
required to communicate with cluster heads is very less compared to energy required to
communicate with base station. Hence, energy conservation for WALEACH is better than
ALEACH and LEACH algorithms.

Figure 8. End to end Delay felt by Packets
End to end latency felt by packets is shown in Figure 8. In Figure 8, latency felt by the packets in
WALEACH algorithm is higher than the latency felt by the packets of LEACH or ALEACH
algorithm because of packets transmitted by member nodes of a cluster can reach to base station
through cluster heads and large number of nodes is covered by the cluster heads in WALEACH
compared to LEACH and ALEACH.
There are three major matrices which can be used to measure lifetime of sensor nodes: First Node
Dies - FND, Half of the Nodes Alive - HNA, and Last Node Dies - LND [19]. To test these
matrices, 6 Joules of initial energy is given to each node and FND, HNA and LND recorded for
LEACH, ALEACH and WALEACH, which is shown in Table 2. It can be seen from the Table 2
that WALEACH is better than LEACH and ALEACH algorithms in terms of FND and LND and
ALEACH is better than WALEACH and LEACH in terms of HNA. Total life time all the nodes
of WALEACH is 3.174% better than LEACH and 2.193% better than ALEACH when only 6
Joules of initial energy is given to each node. Comparative of performance matrices simulated for
ALEACH, WALEACH and LEACH is shown in Table 3.
Table 2. FND, HNA, LND and Network life time (initial Energy 6 Joules/Node)
Algorithm FND
(in Seconds)
HNA
(in Seconds)
LND
(in Seconds)
Network Life Time
(in Seconds)
ALEACH 88.248 89.076 103.677 9176.344
WALEACH 88.268 88.999 116.169 9377.580
LEACH 88.243 88.855 103.710 9089.122

Figure 9. First Node Dies (FND)
Figure 10. Half of the Nodes Alive (HNA)

Figure 11. Last Node Dies (LND)
Figure 12. Total Life Time of the Network with Initial Energy 6 Joules/Node
Table 3. Comparative of Performance Matrices
Performance Matrix LEACH ALEACH WALEACH
Number of Packets Transmitted 453 499 527
Number of Packets Received 391 419 467
Packet Reception Rate 86.314% 83.968% 88.615%
Total Energy Consumption 6657.897 Joules 6645.132 Joules 6636.108 Joules
Average Energy Consumption per
Node
66.579 Joules 66.451 Joules 66.361 Joules
Average Number of Cluster
Heads per Round
5.04 5.52 5.84
Average Number of Members per
Round
3.08 3.36 3.56

Number of Packets Received
within [0,20) ms
1 5 4
within [20,40) ms
3 2 2
within [40,60) ms
3 3 3
within [60,80) ms
4 3 6
within [80,100) ms
4 4 5
within [100,120) ms
2 3 6
within [120,140) ms
5 6 0
within [140,160) ms
3 2 1
within [160,180) ms
2 1 2
within [180,200) ms
2 2 1
within [200,∞) ms
362 388 437
5. CONCLUSION
WALEACH is distributed and energy efficient algorithm compared to LEACH and ALEACH.
Neither it requires location information of a node nor does it require exchange of communication
messages to decide the Cluster Head. It increases the lifetime of a sensor network which we have
verified using FND, HNA and LND matrices. It also increases Packet Reception Rate (PRR).
6. FUTURE SCOPE
In future we will present Coverage based WALEACH algorithm which uniformly distribute
cluster heads across the area to be monitored. We may also consider other parameters like LQI
and distance parameters so that node can select a Cluster Head with which minimum
communication energy is required when it receives multiple Cluster Head announcements.
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Authors
Prof Ankit Thakkar – is working as Assistant Professor at Institute of Technology, Nirma University,
Ahmedabad – 382 481, Gujarat, India. He is pursuing Ph. D. in the area of Wireless Sensor Networks. He
has received “Gold Medal” for securing highest CPI among all graduating students of M.Tech. Computer
Science & Engineering 2007-09 batch from Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmdedabad. His
area of interest includes Wireless Sensor Networks, Embedded Systems, Image Processing, Real-time
Systems and Data Structures and Algorithms.
Dr K Kotecha – is working as Director, Institute of Technology, Nirma University, Ahmedabad -382 481,
Gujarat, India. He did his M.Tech. and Ph.D. from IIT, Bombay. His area of interest includes Analysis of
Algorithms, Optimization Techniques and Sensor Networks

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