A sensor node identification method by a first component of a first layer in a hierarchical sensor network includes: receiving a sensing request including sensor node identification information from a second component of a second layer prior to the first layer; modifying the sensor node identification information by removing an identifier of the first layer from the sensor node identification information when an identifier of the first layer matches an identifier of the first component among the sensor node identification information; and transmitting a sensing request including the modified sensor node identification information to a third component of a third layer subsequent to the first layer.