Dynamic Search‐Based Cluster Head Selection Method for Resource Occupation Protection Switching in Optical Fiber Communication Networks

Currently, many cluster head (CH) selection algorithms suffer from high complexity. As the network scale expands, algorithm efficiency may decrease significantly, which adversely affects the network's real‐time response performance. To address this issue, this paper proposes a dynamic search‐based CH selection method for resource‐occupation protection switching in optical fiber communication networks. The study designs a fitness function that incorporates local density, proximity, compactness, energy, and CH location, and establishes an energy consumption model that accounts for the energy consumed by nodes during data packet transmission and reception. A closed‐loop control‐based dynamic cluster adaptive adjustment mechanism is introduced. Furthermore, the dynamic search strategy is optimized, the protection switching time for resource occupation is calculated, and a new CH selection threshold is set based on the residual energy of nodes in the first cycle. A dynamic clustering method is adopted to select the optimal CH. Experimental results show that the proposed method reduces the total energy consumption of the optical fiber communication network, despite a slight increase in the average protection switching time (from 15.71 to 18.87 ms). Moreover, it extends the network lifecycle while maintaining stability and reliability.