Beacon Payload Timestamp Synchronization for Wireless Personal Area Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In beacon-enabled wireless personal area networks, especially those adhering to IEEE standard 802.15.4, the limited availability of communication slots and power consumption issues due to devices exiting power save mode to listen for time synchronization messages hinder efficient clock synchronization among devices.
Innovation Solution
The method involves communicating a beacon with a timestamp of a master clock within the beacon payload to synchronize local clocks of devices, allowing for synchronization without occupying scheduled communication time and conserving resources, especially for low-power devices in power save mode by embedding synchronization messages within beacons.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If devices exit power save mode to listen for time synchronization messages, then clock synchronization is achieved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the time synchronization message with the beacon message that devices are already listening for. By embedding the synchronization information in the beacon payload, the system combines two functions (beaconing and synchronization) into a single communication event, allowing devices to synchronize clocks without exiting power save mode separately for synchronization messages.
Solution Approach 2:
The beacon message is made multi-functional by including both network synchronization information and time synchronization timestamps in the same message. This allows the beacon to serve dual purposes: announcing network presence and providing clock synchronization data, thereby eliminating the need for separate synchronization communication slots.
2Reliability
If separate communication slots are allocated for time synchronization messages, then synchronization reliability is improved, but available communication slots for data transmission decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the time synchronization function with the existing beacon communication by embedding synchronization timestamps in the beacon payload. This eliminates the need for separate synchronization communication slots, allowing all beacon slots to be used for both network announcement and clock synchronization purposes simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The beacon message structure is enhanced to include multiple types of information: network synchronization data, time timestamps, and data transmission schedules. This multi-functional beacon message eliminates the need for dedicated synchronization slots, maximizing the availability of communication slots for data transmission while maintaining synchronization reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for network synchronization are included. For example, a method for network synchronization may include wirelessly communicating a beacon over a wireless personal area network, in which the beacon may include a beacon payload having a timestamp of a master clock for synchronization of a local clock of a device on the wireless personal area network. The method may also include receiving the beacon in the device, obtaining the timestamp from the beacon payload, and setting the local clock based on the timestamp of the master clock. Another beacon may also be communicated. The other beacon may include another beacon payload having a follow up message for synchronization of the local clock of the device.