Optimal Schedules for Asynchronous Transmission of DiscretePackets

In this paper we study the distribution of dynamic data over a broadcast channel to a large number of passive clients. Clients obtain the information by accessing the channel and listening for the next available packet. This scenario, referred to as packet-based or discrete broadcast, has many practical applications such as the distribution of weather and traffic updates to wireless mobile devices, reconfiguration and reprogramming of wireless sensors and downloading dynamic task information in battlefield networks. The optimal broadcast protocols require a high degree of synchronization between the server and the wireless clients. However, in typical wireless settings such degree of synchronization is difficult to achieve due to the inaccuracy of internal clocks. Moreover, in some settings, such as military applications, synchronized transmission is not desirable due to jamming. The lack of synchronization leads to large delays and excessive power consumption. Accordingly, in this work we focus on the design of optimal broadcast schedules that are robust to clock inaccuracy. We present universal schedules for delivery of up-to-date information with minimum waiting time in asynchronous settings.