A bio-inspired time synchronization algorithm for wireless sensor networks

In a Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), time synchronization is highly desired because data collected from agglomerated sensors become truly meaningful when they are stamped with accurate time. Most of current studies on time synchronization continue to adapt algorithms from a general distributed system. Inspired by Optimal Foraging Theory (OFT) in ecology, we proposed a novel algorithm for time synchronization in wireless sensor networks in this paper. The new strategy reduces or avoids redundant message exchange in time synchronization and extends the lifetime of a sensor network by reducing energy expenditure of time synchronization.

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