Impact of Cross Technology Interference on Time Synchronization and Join Time in Low-Power Wireless Networks

TL;DR

This paper examines cross-technology interference (CTI) from IEEE 802.11 on time synchronization and network join time in TSCH-based low-power wireless networks. Using field deployments and controlled experiments, it quantifies clock drift between parent and child nodes and shows drift can reach $\\pm 3$ clock ticks per synchronization interval under CTI, with join latencies increasing roughly fivefold from $40$-$70$ ms to $100$-$200$ ms. The results also reveal that spectral sidelobes from WiFi extend interference into adjacent low-power channels, exacerbating CTI effects on link quality and self-organization. The findings highlight the practical need for CTI-tolerant channel selection and more robust time synchronization schemes to sustain performance in shared spectrum environments.

Abstract

Low-power and low-cost wireless sensor networks enable scalable and affordable sensing and can be deployed in different environments to monitor various physical parameters. In some environments, these networks may have to coexist and interact with other systems which use the same frequency spectrum for communication. This potentially results in cross-technology interference (CTI). Dynamic channel hopping is one of the mechanisms that is currently employed to deal with CTI, but its usefulness depends on the channel selection and occupation timing. In this paper, we experimentally study the impact of CTI (caused by IEEE 802.11 networks) on time synchronization and network join time. Experiment results show that CTI can increase time drift between a child and a parent node by up to $\pm 3$ clock ticks between two synchronization intervals. Likewise, CTI affects new nodes from timely joining a network. In a simple network which does not involve multi-hop communication, the time it takes for nodes to join the network in the absence of CTI is between 40 and 70 ms (83.3\% of the time). In the presence of CTI, 96.82\% of the time, the join time is between 100 and 200 ms. In other words, the join time in the presence of CTI is about five times higher. Interestingly, not only the main spectral lobes, but also the spectral sidelobes of interfering networks impact the performance of low-power networks.

Figures (13)

• Figure 1: A USV producing cross technology interference. Deployment: North Biscayne Bay, South Florida.
• Figure 2: Deployment of a USV and a Wireless Sensor Network at one of the Lakes on Florida International University main campus.
• Figure 3: Link quality fluctuation in the presence of CTI (Deployment on a lake on FIU's Main Campus).
• Figure 4: Illustration of slot and channel assignment in TSCH.
• Figure 5: Illustration of slots and channel assignment in TSCH.