Distributed Synchronization for OFDMA-Based Wireless Mesh Networks

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a distributed synchronization algorithm for wireless mesh networks based on orthogonal frequency division multiple access. For time and frequency synchronization, a node requests its neighbor nodes for a change of fast Fourier transform starting points, transmission times, and carrier frequencies needed for synchronization. The node also updates its own time and frequency elements through simple formulas based on request messages received from neighbor nodes using a guard interval and a cyclic prefix. This process with the cooperation of neighbor nodes leads to a gradual synchronization of all nodes in the network. Through a performance comparison with a conventional scheme, we obtain simulation results indicating that the proposed scheme outperforms the conventional scheme in random topologies and a grid topology.