60 GHz Network Synchronization via Master Clock Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication networks face challenges in synchronizing data transmission across multiple nodes in 60 GHz radio systems, particularly in home cinema applications, where precise timing and synchronization are crucial, but existing methods like time stamping and TDMA are inefficient due to increased bandwidth usage and antenna orientation requirements.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where data is concatenated across multiple local cycles and transmitted during a predetermined network cycle, eliminating the need for time stamping and allowing for precise synchronization without additional processing or bandwidth reduction, using a second clocking mechanism that aligns with the network cycle, ensuring data is presented at the same instant across all nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If time stamping is implemented to synchronize data presentation across nodes, then precise timing synchronization is achieved, but bandwidth is reduced due to additional data in each packet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the time stamping mechanism from the data transmission system. Instead of adding time stamps to each data packet, the system uses a centralized clock synchronization approach where a master clock provides reference signals to all nodes, allowing precise timing without the overhead of time stamp data in each packet.
Solution Approach 2:
The master clock serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides the reference timing signal for synchronization, defines the network cycle structure, and coordinates the transmission slots for multiple nodes. This universal timing reference eliminates the need for separate time stamping mechanisms for each data stream.
2Measurement precision
If time stamping is used to ensure precise data presentation, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional processing means
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex time stamp comparison processing from each node. Instead of comparing local clock values with time stamps in received packets, nodes simply follow the master clock's transmission schedule and present data at predetermined times defined by the network cycle structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Each node autonomously determines when to transmit and receive data based on the master clock's cycle structure and its assigned time slots. The system self-synchronizes through the predetermined network cycle definition without requiring active time stamp comparison or clock synchronization processing at each node.
3Productivity
If TDMA is implemented to manage multiple concurrent applications, then network coordination is improved, but antenna orientation delays increase due to gap times between time slots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic slot allocation within the network cycle structure. The master clock can dynamically assign and reassign time slots to different nodes based on current transmission needs, allowing optimal use of antenna orientation without fixed gap times. Nodes can transmit during their assigned slots without waiting for predetermined intervals.
Solution Approach 2:
The network cycle structure allows for continuous transmission opportunities for different nodes throughout the cycle. By eliminating fixed gap times between slots and using dynamic slot assignment, the system maintains continuous useful transmission action across all nodes without interruption for antenna reorientation waiting periods.
4Measurement precision
If additional processing means are added for time stamp comparison and clock synchronization, then synchronization precision is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the power-consuming time stamp comparison and active clock synchronization processes from each node. Instead, nodes use the master clock's transmitted reference signals passively to synchronize their transmission timing, requiring minimal processing and thus reducing power consumption significantly.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of transmission of at least one data content by a source node associated with a generator application to at least one destination node, each associated with a consumer application, in a communications network comprising a plurality of nodes, each being associated with an application, the network implementing a first clocking which defines a first cycle, called a network cycle, for data transmission on said network.Each node of the network implements a second clocking which defines a second cycle, called a local cycle, for data transmission between the node of the network and its associated application, the network cycle being equal to an integer multiple P, P≧1, of the local cycle, the start of the network cycle coinciding with the start of a local cycle, the local cycle comprising a plurality of virtual channels corresponding to time slots, a set of the virtual channels being assigned to the transmission of the content or contents.