OpenWiFiSync: Open Source Implementation of a Clock Synchronization Algorithm using Wi-Fi

TL;DR

This paper presents OpenWiFiSync, an open-source implementation of a clock synchronization algorithm over Wi-Fi, addressing the challenges of wireless synchronization in industrial and mobile contexts.

Contribution

It introduces an open-source Wi-Fi-based implementation of the Reference Broadcast Infrastructure Synchronization Protocol for precise clock sync.

Findings

Successful implementation on Wi-Fi networks

Initial testbed results demonstrate promising synchronization accuracy

Open-source availability promotes interoperability and further research

Abstract

Precise clock synchronization is an important requirement for distributed and networked industrial use cases. As more and more use cases contain mobile devices, clock synchronization has to be performed over wireless communication links. As wireless communication links are currently not as deterministic and reliable as wireline communication systems, novel clock synchronization algorithms have to be investigated. Here, the so-called Reference Broadcast Infrastructure Synchronization Protocol is a well suited solution as it brings up multiple advantages. Most important is the non-invasiveness, meaning it can be used with commercially available components. As a considerably high amount of factories use Wi-Fi as wireless communication system for their mobile use cases, the aforementioned protocol is implemented using Wi-Fi. Furthermore, the usage of Open-Source Software can be seen as driver for highly efficient and interoperable applications. Consequently, the implementation is accessible under the GNU General Public License on GitHub under the designation OpenWiFiSync. Besides the details on concept, its implementation, and the used testbed, first results are outlined within this paper. Additionally, future work and the estimated timeline are presented.