Convergence Analysis of Decentralized Slot Synchronization Algorithm for Wireless Ad Hoc Networks

Abstract Slot synchronization is essential to Ad Hoc networks based on Time Division Multiplex Access (TDMA). Since there is no central node in the network, it is necessary to use a decentralized algorithm for synchronizing the local time slot reference. In this paper, the convergence performance of the decentralized slot synchronization algorithm for wireless Ad Hoc networks is analyzed for the first time. By introducing a virtual benchmark, we proved that the algorithm is equivalent to a distributed average problem. A mathematic model of the decentralized slot synchronization algorithm is then established for multi-hop network. Moreover, the convergence of the algorithm is proved in mathematic method and studied via simulation experiment.