Wireless Base Station Clock Synchronization via Time-of-Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems using Wireless two-way interferometry (Wi-Wi) face limitations in achieving clock-time synchronization between multiple devices due to limited radio wave frequency resources and potential signal interference, leading to increased power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication system that utilizes a base station group with distance calculation and coordinate assignment units to measure and synchronize clock-times between multiple base stations using minimal radio wave resources, enabling relative position measurement and synchronization without interference or additional power consumption from mobile terminals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Wi-Wi is applied to clock-time synchronization of multiple devices, then clock-time synchronization accuracy is improved, but the number of receiving devices per channel is limited due to radio wave frequency resources
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the synchronization process by dividing devices into base stations (that transmit signals) and terminal devices (that receive signals). This segmentation allows multiple terminal devices to simultaneously receive synchronization signals from multiple base stations without interfering with each other, thereby increasing the number of devices that can be synchronized per channel while maintaining high accuracy.
2Quantity of substance
If many frequency channels are used for clock-time synchronization between multiple devices, then the number of synchronized devices is increased, but wireless signal interference is caused
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the synchronization functions of multiple base stations into a coordinated network where all base stations transmit synchronization signals simultaneously on the same frequency channel. By combining their efforts and using a centralized coordinate calculation approach, the system achieves synchronization for multiple devices without requiring multiple frequency channels, thereby avoiding wireless signal interference.
3Adaptability or versatility
If clock-time synchronization is performed between multiple devices by Wi-Wi, then synchronization capability is improved, but power consumption of the entire system is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system inverts the traditional Wi-Wi approach by having base stations (fixed infrastructure) perform the signal transmission and terminal devices (mobile endpoints) perform only reception and measurement. This inversion reduces power consumption because terminal devices do not need to transmit signals, and the energy-intensive transmission function is concentrated in the powered base stations rather than distributed across all devices.
4Measurement precision
If distances between multiple base stations are obtained using Wi-Wi, then relative position measurement is achieved, but radio wave frequency resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves multi-functionality by using the same wireless signal transmissions for multiple purposes: clock-time synchronization, distance measurement between base stations, and relative position measurement of terminal devices. By making the synchronization signals serve multiple functions simultaneously, the system obtains precise position information without requiring additional dedicated measurement signals or frequency resources.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Achieves clock-time synchronization and relative position measurement between multiple base stations and mobile terminals using minimal radio wave resources, reducing power consumption and interference, and allowing synchronization without special consideration for mobile terminal interactions.
Implementation Method 1
the one base station measures a reception clock time T AA of a signal transmitted by itself and a reception clock time T BA of a signal received from the other base station, and the other base station measures a reception clock time T BB of a signal transmitted by itself and a reception clock time T AB of a signal received from the one base station, and based on the reception clock time T AA and the reception clock time T BA measured by the one base station and the reception clock time T BB and the reception clock time T AB measured by the other base station, a propagation time between the base stations is obtained
Implementation Method 2
The distance calculation unit obtains distances between all the base stations constituting the base station group by multiplying each of the propagation times similarly obtained between all the base stations by a propagation velocity of the signals
Data Source
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AI summary
A wireless communication system includes a base station group constituted of four or more base stations 2. One base station 2A measures a reception clock time TAA of a signal transmitted by itself and a reception clock time TBA of a signal received from another base station 2B, and the other base station 2B measures a reception clock time TBB of a signal transmitted by itself and a reception clock time TAB of a signal received from the one base station 2A. Based on the reception clock time TAA and the reception clock time TBA and the reception clock time TBB and the reception clock time TAB, a propagation time between the base stations 2 is obtained, and distances between all the base stations 2 are obtained by multiplying each of the propagation times similarly obtained between all the base stations 2 by a propagation velocity of the signals.