If you've tried to XML serialize a System.TimeSpan value, you may have noticed that your node is null, no matter what you set the TimeSpan value to be. There's a nice workaround to this posted here by  Ben Lucas.  Basically, you [XmlIgnore] your object's TimeSpan property, and add another that serializes the time span's ticks.  Pretty simple, but works great!

[XmlIgnore]public System.TimeSpan TimeToBeReceived
{
  get { return timeToBeReceived;}
  set
   {
          if (timeToBeReceived == value) return;
          timeToBeReceived = value;
   }
}

public long TimeToBeReceivedTicks
{
   get { return timeToBeReceived.Ticks; }
   set { this.timeToBeReceived = new TimeSpan(value); }
}

So instead of this:

You get this:

<TimeToBeReceivedTicks>864000000000</TimeToBeReceivedTicks>

Thanks Ben!

-Brendan