We propose an In-Network Data-Centric Storage (INDCS) scheme for answering ad-hoc queries in sensor networks. Previously proposed In-Network Storage (INS) schemes suffered from Storage Hot-Spots that are formed if either the sensors' locations are not uniformly distributed over the coverage area, or the distribution of sensor readings is not uniform over the range of possible reading values. Our K-D tree based Data-Centric Storage (KDDCS) scheme maintains the invariant that the storage of

more »

... is distributed reasonably uniformly among the sensors. KDDCS is composed of a set of distributed algorithms whose running time is within a poly-log factor of the diameter of the network. The number of messages any sensor has to send, as well as the bits in those messages, is poly-logarithmic in the number of sensors. Load balancing in KDDCS is based on defining and distributively solving a theoretical problem that we call the Weighted Split Median problem. In addition to analytical bounds on KDDCS individual algorithms, we provide experimental evidence of our scheme's general efficiency, as well as its ability to avoid the formation of storage hot-spots of various sizes, unlike all previous INDCS schemes.