flexPTP: Precision time protocol implementation for microcontrollers

An ever-increasing ratio of real-time, distributed, embedded systems mandates precise time synchronization. Standard clock synchronization methods, such as the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol, are available but their adaptation to low-power, microcontroller-based embedded systems is not quite widespread. Our software library provides a modular, flexible, and easy-to-port and configure solution directly targeting embedded systems. In this paper, we introduce the usage and architecture of the library as well as the basic porting guidelines. Several examples and performance evaluation measurements are also presented on the applicability of the library.