Simulation and Analysis of Time Synchronization System for Seafloor Observatory Network Using OMNeT++

The special environment and tasks of the seafloor observatory network require sub-microsecond accuracy for time synchronization. It’s the mainstream technology to build a time synchronization system based on Precision Time Protocol (PTP) in the near future. However, for the multi-node, long-distance, ring topology seafloor observatory network, the deployment strategy of the time synchronization system has not been fully studied. In this work, the basic architecture of the time synchronization system for the seafloor observatory network is introduced. PTP clock models are constructed using the OMNeT++ simulation software, based on which the modeling of the time synchronization systems of linear and annular structures are realized. After simulation and analysis, deployment suggestions including synchronization interval setting and clock mode selection of the annular time synchronization system are proposed. The suggestions are proved to be rational and effective according to the performance of the asymmetric delay of the PTP clock port in simulation and evaluation.