A Spanning Subtree Based Multi-channel Time Synchronization Algorithm for Sensor Networks

Time synchronization is a crucial component of wireless sensor networks, many applications require uniform clock information. In order to avoid network congestion and reduce the overhead of transmitting data packets , a spanning subtree based multi-channel time synchronization algorithm (SSMTS) is presented . The scheme is composed of two phases: spanning tree construction phase and time synchronization phase. By using multi-channel technology ,the spanning tree is divided into multi-subtrees,and a new exchanging synchronization signal way is presented . The simulation results indicate that the algorithm can reduce the synchronization delay and the number of data packets transmitted.