+\indent The authors have defined the network lifetime in different contexts and use it as a metric to evaluate the performance of their protocols. Based on the previous proposed works in prolonging the network lifetime, Various definitions are exist for the lifetime of a sensor network~\cite{ref92,ref93} such as:
+%~\textbf{(i)}
+\begin{enumerate} [i.]
+
+\item The time spent by WSN until the death of the first wireless sensor node ( or cluster head ) in the network due to its energy depletion~\cite{ref162,ref163}.
+\item The time spent by WSN and has at least a specific set $\beta$ of alive sensor nodes in WSN~\cite{ref164,ref165}.
+\item The time spent by WSN until the death of all wireless sensor nodes in WSN because they have been depleted their energy~\cite{ref166}.
+\item For k-coverage, is the time spent by WSN in covering the area of interest by at least $k$ sensor nodes~\cite{DESK}.
+\item For 100 $\%$ coverage is the time spent by WSN in covering each target or the whole area by at least one sensor node~\cite{ref167}.
+\item For $\alpha$-coverage: the total time by which at least $\alpha$ part of the sensing field is covered by at least one node~\cite{ref168}; or is the time spent by WSN until the coverage ratio becomes less than a predetermined threshold $\alpha$~\cite{ref169}.
+\item The working time spent by the system before either the coverage ratio or delivery ratio become less than a predetermined threshold~\cite{ref170}.
+\item The number of the successful data gathering trips~\cite{ref173}.
+\item The number of sent packets~\cite{ref174}.
+\item The percentage of wireless sensor nodes that have a route to the sink~\cite{ref170}.
+\item The prediction of the total period of time during which the probability of ensuring the connectivity and k-coverage concurrently is at least $\alpha$~\cite{ref175}.
+\item The time spent by WSN until loosing the connectivity or the coverage~\cite{ref171}.
+\item The time spent by WSN until acceptable event detection ratio is not acceptable in the network~\cite{ref166}.
+\item The time during which the application requirement is satisfied~\cite{ref172}.
+\end{enumerate}