A software platform architecture for multi-protocol, hardware supported clock synchronization in heterogeneous networks

In modern communication networks the task of synchronizing the system clock of nodes is of growing interest. Especially in sensor networks synchronized applications are of crucial importance, but a global view of the system status can only be examined if the individual data acquisitions are exactly related to each other. This imposes constraints on the implementation that are rarely discussed. The present work proposes a driver and protocol stack architecture which allows each node to participate in different clock synchronization mechanisms at a time. Further the important problem of hard real-time requirements within the software environment is addressed, including the critical task of detecting missed events and the continuous amortisation of system clock deviations. An insight to realisation is given with a discussion about the implementation study used in the REMPLI (real-time energy management via powerlines and Internet)