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On self-stabilizing wait-free clock synchronization

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Algorithm Theory — SWAT '94 (SWAT 1994)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNCS,volume 824))

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Abstract

Clock synchronization algorithms which can tolerate any number of processors that can fail by ceasing operation for an unbounded number of steps and resuming operation (with or) without knowing that they were faulty are called Wait-Free. Furthermore, if these algorithms are also able to work correctly even when the starting state of the system is arbitrary, they are called Wait-Free, Self-Stabilizing. This work deals with the problem of Wait-Free, Self-Stabilizing Clock Synchronization of n processors in an “in-phase” multiprocessor system and presents a solution with quadratic synchronization time. The best previous solution has cubic synchronization time. The idea of the algorithm is based on a simple analysis of the difficulties of the problem which helped us to see how to “re-parametrize” the cubic previously mentioned algorithm in order to get the quadratic synchronization time solution. Both the protocol and its analysis are intuitive and easy to understand.

Partially supported by the ESPRIT II Basic Research Actions Program of the EC under contract no. 7141 (project ALCOM II) and by a Scholarship from the Dutch Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC).

Partially supported by the Dutch Science Foundation (NWO) through NFI Project ALADDIN under contract number NF 62-376 and by the ESPRIT II Basic Research Actions Program of the EC under contract no. 7141 (project ALCOM II).

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Erik M. Schmidt Sven Skyum

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© 1994 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Papatriantafilou, M., Tsigas, P. (1994). On self-stabilizing wait-free clock synchronization. In: Schmidt, E.M., Skyum, S. (eds) Algorithm Theory — SWAT '94. SWAT 1994. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 824. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-58218-5_25

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-58218-5_25

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