Bridge Device Reference Time Generator for Wireless Network Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network systems for synchronizing receiver devices in transportation facilities, such as airplanes, face challenges in achieving accurate time synchronization due to random time delay variations in wired networks, particularly when using bridge devices and network time protocols, which can cause congestion and incomplete synchronization among multiple receiver devices.
Innovation Solution
A network system that includes a transmitter device, a bridge device with a reference time generator, and receiver devices, utilizing a wireless network to transmit and receive real-time data, allowing for internal time generation and synchronization of visuals and audios across multiple receiver devices without the need for large systems like satellites, by using a reference time generator and network transmitting unit to broadcast reference time and real-time data, ensuring simultaneous output of visuals and audios.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If NTP is used to synchronize internal time of receiver devices via wired network, then time synchronization can be achieved, but delay time variations occur particularly with bridge devices, preventing accurate synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bridge device as an intermediary that generates and distributes reference time to receiver devices. This mediator approach allows each receiver to obtain reference time through a dedicated path from the bridge, eliminating the delay variations caused by routing through multiple network nodes in traditional wired networks. The bridge device acts as a time synchronization server for the wireless network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the wired network time synchronization mechanism with a wireless network-based system. Instead of relying on wired network routing which causes random delay variations, the system uses wireless communication from the bridge device to distribute reference time. This substitution eliminates the mechanical routing constraints and achieves more reliable time synchronization.
2Measurement precision
If NTP servers are used for time synchronization, then internal time can be synchronized, but congestion occurs when multiple receiver devices request timestamps from few servers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the time synchronization function by assigning each receiver device its own dedicated path to obtain reference time from the bridge device. Instead of multiple receivers competing for access to a limited number of NTP servers, each receiver can independently receive reference time through the wireless network from the bridge, eliminating congestion and improving synchronization efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The bridge device provides self-service time synchronization by automatically generating and distributing reference time to all connected receiver devices through the wireless network. Each receiver device receives the reference time directly from the bridge without needing to independently query external NTP servers, eliminating the congestion problem and improving overall synchronization efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If satellite systems are used for time synchronization, then accurate synchronization can be achieved, but large system complexity and dedicated communication routes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the bridge device as a local copy of the time synchronization function. Instead of requiring complex satellite systems, the bridge device generates reference time locally and distributes it to receiver devices through the wireless network. This copying approach provides accurate time synchronization without the complexity of satellite infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the scale and location of the time synchronization system from large-scale satellite-based to small-scale bridge-device-based. By generating reference time at the bridge device level rather than requiring satellite-level infrastructure, the system achieves accurate synchronization with significantly reduced complexity, making it suitable for transportation facilities like airplanes.
Data Source
AI summary
A network system includes a transmitting apparatus; a transmission path; a relaying apparatus that receives real time information transmitted through the transmission path; a wireless network; and a receiving apparatus that receives data transmitted through the wireless network. The relaying apparatus has a reference time generating part that generates a reference time independently of the transmitting apparatus; and a network transmitting part that transmits both the real time information received from the transmitting apparatus and the reference time via the wireless network. The receiving apparatus has a network receiving part that receives the real time information and reference time transmitted through the wireless network; an internal time management part that generates an internal time from the reference time received by the wireless network receiving part; and a real time information processing part that decodes the real time information received by the wireless network receiving part to reproduce the content data and that then outputs the content data, based on the internal time generated by the internal time management part. This network system allows the receiving apparatus to synchronize and output video and audio, regardless of singularity or plurality of the receiving apparatus.