RT-Link: A Time-Synchronized Link Protocol for Energy-Constrained Multi-hop Wireless Networks

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Real-Time and Embedded Systems Lab (mLAB)
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Scheduling Algorithms for Embedded Wireless Networks
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Rowe, Anthoney
Rajkumar, Raj
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We propose RT-Link, a time-synchronized link protocol for real-time wireless communication in industrial control, surveillance and inventory tracking. RT-Link provides predictable lifetime for battery-operated embedded nodes, bounded end-to-end delay across multiple hops, and collision-free operation. We investigate the use of hardwarebased time-synchronization for infrastructure nodes by using an AM carrier-current radio for indoors and atomic clock receivers for outdoors. Mobile nodes are synchronized via in-band software synchronization within the same framework. We identify three key observations in the design and deployment of RT-Link: (a) Hardware-based global-time synchronization is a robust and scalable option to in-band softwarebased techniques. (b) Achieving global time-synchronization is both economical and convenient for indoor and outdoor deployments. (c) RT-Link achieves a practical lifetime of over 2 years. Through analysis and simulation, we show that RTLink outperforms energy-efficient link protocols such as BMAC in terms of node lifetime and end-to-end latency. The protocol supports flexible services such as on-demand endto- end rate control and logical topology control. We implemented RT-Link on the CMU FireFly sensor platform and have integrated it within the nano-RK real-time sensor OS. A 42-node network with sub-20us synchronization accuracy has been deployed for 3 weeks in the NIOSH Mining Research Laboratory and within two 5-story campus buildings.

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2006-09-01
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Real-Time and Embedded Systems Lab (mLAB)
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2023-05-17T05:22:38.000
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Suggested Citation: A. Rowe, R. Mangharam and R. Rajkumar, RT-Link: A Time-Synchronized Link Protocol for Energy Constrained Multi-hop Wireless Networks Third IEEE International Conference on Sensors, Mesh and Ad Hoc Communications and Networks (IEEE SECON), Reston, VA, September 2006. ©2006 IEEE. Personal use of this material is permitted. However, permission to reprint/republish this material for advertising or promotional purposes or for creating new collective works for resale or redistribution to servers or lists, or to reuse any copyrighted component of this work in other works must be obtained from the IEEE.
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