On enery-efficient time synchronization based on source clock frequency recovery in wireless sensor networks

TL;DR

This paper proposes an energy-efficient time synchronization method for wireless sensor networks that minimizes sensor node transmissions by using source clock frequency recovery, especially suited for asymmetric networks with battery-powered sensors.

Contribution

It introduces a novel synchronization scheme focusing on reducing sensor node energy consumption through source clock frequency recovery and extends it to multi-hop networks.

Findings

Significantly reduces sensor node message transmissions.

Extends synchronization to multi-hop networks with gateway nodes.

Improves energy efficiency in asymmetric wireless sensor networks.

Abstract

In this paper we study energy-efficient time synchronization schemes with focus on asymmetric wireless sensor networks, where a head node, which is connected to both wired & wireless networks, is equipped with a powerful processor and supplied power from outlet, and sensor nodes, which are connected only through wireless channels, are limited in processing and battery-powered. It is this asymmetry that we focus our study on; unlike existing schemes saving the power of all sensor nodes in the network (including the head node), we concentrate on battery-powered sensor nodes in minimizing energy consumption for synchronization. Specifically, we discuss a time synchronization scheme based on source clock frequency recovery, where we minimize the number of message transmissions from sensor nodes to the head node, and its extension to network-wide, multi-hop synchronization through gateway nodes.