μs-scale time synchronization for energy-constrained mission-critical DTSNs

Seng Yong Lau*, Ling Jyh Chen, Yu Te Huang, Po Yen Lin, Yi Hsuan Chiang, Jyh How Huang, Kun Chan Lan, Hao Hua Chu, Polly Huang

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

It is generally considered a trivial task to synchronize time in a distributed sensor network having a GPS module on board for each sensor node. This is not quite true depending on the application at hand. Commissioned to implement YuShanNet, a delay-tolerant sensor network (DTSN) enabling encounter information collection for hiker search and rescue, we find that the naive use of standard GPSs time acquisition functionalities gives a synchronization error at the scale of 10-100s milliseconds, which is not sufficient given two application-specific considerations: (1) data goodput and (2) energy efficiency. The two requirements are crucial in that the matter is life or death and the hiking trips usually take days. Towards efficient use of the intermittent connectivity in YuShanNet, we design, implement, and evaluate a time synchronization mechanism that improves the synchronization accuracy by approximately two orders of magnitude. This enables TDMA-fashioned MAC for high-goodput data transmission while the GPS is duty-cycled for energy efficiency.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication9th International Conference on Networked Sensing Systems, INSS 2012 - Conference Proceedings
Publication statusPublished - 2012
Externally publishedYes
Event9th International Conference on Networked Sensing Systems, INSS 2012 - Antwerp, Belgium
Duration: 2012 Jun 112012 Jun 14

Publication series

Name9th International Conference on Networked Sensing Systems, INSS 2012 - Conference Proceedings

Other

Other9th International Conference on Networked Sensing Systems, INSS 2012
Country/TerritoryBelgium
CityAntwerp
Period2012/06/112012/06/14

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Networks and Communications

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