Abstract: In view of the disadvantage of the traditional timing sync protocol for sensor networks (TPSN), a pulse-coupled time synchronization protocol for sensor networks (P_TPSN) is proposed. P_TPSN is a noninteractive time synchronization scheme based on pulse-coupled synchronization for distributed networks. A network topology is built to ensure that the time information of net nodes of previous hierarchy can be received by the net nodes of posterior hierarchy. After receiving these time information, the net nodes of posterior hierarchy will adjust their time clocks respectively by weighted average of the received time information. This scheme can enhance robustness of distributed wireless networks and has good scalability and quick convergence.
Theoretical analysis and simulation results show that the proposed scheme is effective and feasible. 

Key words: synchronization, time synchronization,  distributed wireless network, wireless sensor network