Maximizing the lifetimes of Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is a prominent area of research. The energy hole problem is a major cause of network shutdown, where nodes within the Sink coverage deplete their energy faster due to the high energy cost of forwarding data from distant nodes to the Sink. Several research works have proposed solutions to address this issue, including the use of a mobile Sink to balance energy consumption throughout the network. However, most Sink mobility models overlook the energy consumption caused by overhearing, which is a critical factor in WSNs. In this paper, we introduce Linear Programming (LP) and Cuckoo Search (CS) metaheuristic optimization-based solutions to maximize the lifetime of WSNs by determining the optimal Sink sojourn points and associated durations. The proposed approaches consider the energy consumption levels of both reception and transmission, in addition to accounting for overhearing as an additional source of energy consumption. This allows for a comparison between the LP and CS solutions in terms of their effectiveness. To further enhance our solution, we apply the Travel Salesman Problem (TSP) to find the shortest path between the Sink sojourn points. By incorporating the TSP, we can optimize the routing path for the mobile Sink, thereby minimizing energy consumption and maximizing network lifetime. Test results demonstrate that the LP solution provides more accurate Sink sojourn times and locations, while the CS solution is faster, particularly for large WSNs. Moreover, our findings indicate that overlooking overhearing leads to a 48% decrease in WSN lifetime, making it essential to consider this factor if one is to achieve realistic results.
Al-Mamari et al. (2025) studied this question.