Sensor network developments rely
on advances in sensing, communication, and computing (data-handling algorithms,
hardware, and software). As noted, to manage scarce WSN resources adequately,
routing protocols for WSNs need to be energy-aware. Data-centric routing and
in-network processing are important concepts that are associated intrinsically
with sensor networks [1.44–1.48]. The end-to-end routing schemes that have
been proposed in the literature for mobile ad hoc networks are not appropriate
WSNs; data-centric technologies are needed that perform in-network aggregation
of data to yield energy-efficient dissemination [1.48].