26,893 research outputs found
Precision packet-based frequency transfer based on oversampling
Frequency synchronization of a distributed measurement system requires the transfer of an accurate frequency reference to all nodes. The use of a general-purpose packet-based network for this aim is analyzed in this paper, where oversampling is considered as a means to counter the effects of packet delay variation on time accuracy. A comprehensive analysis that includes the stability of the local clock is presented and shows that frequency transfer through a packet network of this kind is feasible, with an accuracy level that can be of interest to a number of distributed measurement applications
Fundamentals of Large Sensor Networks: Connectivity, Capacity, Clocks and Computation
Sensor networks potentially feature large numbers of nodes that can sense
their environment over time, communicate with each other over a wireless
network, and process information. They differ from data networks in that the
network as a whole may be designed for a specific application. We study the
theoretical foundations of such large scale sensor networks, addressing four
fundamental issues- connectivity, capacity, clocks and function computation.
To begin with, a sensor network must be connected so that information can
indeed be exchanged between nodes. The connectivity graph of an ad-hoc network
is modeled as a random graph and the critical range for asymptotic connectivity
is determined, as well as the critical number of neighbors that a node needs to
connect to. Next, given connectivity, we address the issue of how much data can
be transported over the sensor network. We present fundamental bounds on
capacity under several models, as well as architectural implications for how
wireless communication should be organized.
Temporal information is important both for the applications of sensor
networks as well as their operation.We present fundamental bounds on the
synchronizability of clocks in networks, and also present and analyze
algorithms for clock synchronization. Finally we turn to the issue of gathering
relevant information, that sensor networks are designed to do. One needs to
study optimal strategies for in-network aggregation of data, in order to
reliably compute a composite function of sensor measurements, as well as the
complexity of doing so. We address the issue of how such computation can be
performed efficiently in a sensor network and the algorithms for doing so, for
some classes of functions.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, Submitted to the Proceedings of the IEE
Cooperative Synchronization in Wireless Networks
Synchronization is a key functionality in wireless network, enabling a wide
variety of services. We consider a Bayesian inference framework whereby network
nodes can achieve phase and skew synchronization in a fully distributed way. In
particular, under the assumption of Gaussian measurement noise, we derive two
message passing methods (belief propagation and mean field), analyze their
convergence behavior, and perform a qualitative and quantitative comparison
with a number of competing algorithms. We also show that both methods can be
applied in networks with and without master nodes. Our performance results are
complemented by, and compared with, the relevant Bayesian Cram\'er-Rao bounds
Remote atomic clock synchronization via satellites and optical fibers
In the global network of institutions engaged with the realization of
International Atomic Time (TAI), atomic clocks and time scales are compared by
means of the Global Positioning System (GPS) and by employing telecommunication
satellites for two-way satellite time and frequency transfer (TWSTFT). The
frequencies of the state-of-the-art primary caesium fountain clocks can be
compared at the level of 10e-15 (relative, 1 day averaging) and time scales can
be synchronized with an uncertainty of one nanosecond. Future improvements of
worldwide clock comparisons will require also an improvement of the local
signal distribution systems. For example, the future ACES (atomic clock
ensemble in space) mission shall demonstrate remote time scale comparisons at
the uncertainty level of 100 ps. To ensure that the ACES ground instrument will
be synchronized to the local time scale at PTB without a significant
uncertainty contribution, we have developed a means for calibrated clock
comparisons through optical fibers. An uncertainty below 50 ps over a distance
of 2 km has been demonstrated on the campus of PTB. This technology is thus in
general a promising candidate for synchronization of enhanced time transfer
equipment with the local realizations of UTC . Based on these experiments we
estimate the uncertainty level for calibrated time transfer through optical
fibers over longer distances. These findings are compared with the current
status and developments of satellite based time transfer systems, with a focus
on the calibration techniques for operational systems
Advanced tracking systems design and analysis
The results of an assessment of several types of high-accuracy tracking systems proposed to track the spacecraft in the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Advanced Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (ATDRSS) are summarized. Tracking systems based on the use of interferometry and ranging are investigated. For each system, the top-level system design and operations concept are provided. A comparative system assessment is presented in terms of orbit determination performance, ATDRSS impacts, life-cycle cost, and technological risk
Long-distance frequency transfer over an urban fiber link using optical phase stabilization
We transferred the frequency of an ultra-stable laser over 86 km of urban
fiber. The link is composed of two cascaded 43-km fibers connecting two
laboratories, LNE-SYRTE and LPL in Paris area. In an effort to realistically
demonstrate a link of 172 km without using spooled fiber extensions, we
implemented a recirculation loop to double the length of the urban fiber link.
The link is fed with a 1542-nm cavity stabilized fiber laser having a sub-Hz
linewidth. The fiber-induced phase noise is measured and cancelled with an all
fiber-based interferometer using commercial off the shelf pigtailed
telecommunication components. The compensated link shows an Allan deviation of
a few 10-16 at one second and a few 10-19 at 10,000 seconds
Optimal Compression and Transmission Rate Control for Node-Lifetime Maximization
We consider a system that is composed of an energy constrained sensor node
and a sink node, and devise optimal data compression and transmission policies
with an objective to prolong the lifetime of the sensor node. While applying
compression before transmission reduces the energy consumption of transmitting
the sensed data, blindly applying too much compression may even exceed the cost
of transmitting raw data, thereby losing its purpose. Hence, it is important to
investigate the trade-off between data compression and transmission energy
costs. In this paper, we study the joint optimal compression-transmission
design in three scenarios which differ in terms of the available channel
information at the sensor node, and cover a wide range of practical situations.
We formulate and solve joint optimization problems aiming to maximize the
lifetime of the sensor node whilst satisfying specific delay and bit error rate
(BER) constraints. Our results show that a jointly optimized
compression-transmission policy achieves significantly longer lifetime (90% to
2000%) as compared to optimizing transmission only without compression.
Importantly, this performance advantage is most profound when the delay
constraint is stringent, which demonstrates its suitability for low latency
communication in future wireless networks.Comment: accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Wireless
Communicaiton
GPS-based CERN-LNGS time link for Borexino
We describe the design, the equipment, and the calibration of a new GPS based
time link between CERN and the Borexino experiment at the Gran Sasso Laboratory
in Italy. This system has been installed and operated in Borexino since March
2012, and used for a precise measurement of CNGS muon neutrinos speed in May
2012. The result of the measurement will be reported in a different letter.Comment: 13 pages, 11 figure
Artificial-Noise-Aided Physical Layer Phase Challenge-Response Authentication for Practical OFDM Transmission
Recently, we have developed a PHYsical layer Phase Challenge-Response
Authentication Scheme (PHY-PCRAS) for independent multicarrier transmission. In
this paper, we make a further step by proposing a novel artificial-noise-aided
PHY-PCRAS (ANA-PHY-PCRAS) for practical orthogonal frequency division
multiplexing (OFDM) transmission, where the Tikhonov-distributed artificial
noise is introduced to interfere with the phase-modulated key for resisting
potential key-recovery attacks whenever a static channel between two legitimate
users is unfortunately encountered. Then, we address various practical issues
for ANA-PHY-PCRAS with OFDM transmission, including correlation among
subchannels, imperfect carrier and timing recoveries. Among them, we show that
the effect of sampling offset is very significant and a search procedure in the
frequency domain should be incorporated for verification. With practical OFDM
transmission, the number of uncorrelated subchannels is often not sufficient.
Hence, we employ a time-separated approach for allocating enough subchannels
and a modified ANA-PHY-PCRAS is proposed to alleviate the discontinuity of
channel phase at far-separated time slots. Finally, the key equivocation is
derived for the worst case scenario. We conclude that the enhanced security of
ANA-PHY-PCRAS comes from the uncertainty of both the wireless channel and
introduced artificial noise, compared to the traditional challenge-response
authentication scheme implemented at the upper layer.Comment: 33 pages, 13 figures, submitted for possible publicatio
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