Bus System Subscriber Timestamp Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current bus systems face challenges in achieving precise synchronization of timers across participants, leading to delays and inaccuracies in time-stamped data transmission, which affects the overall synchronization and temporal accuracy in communication systems.

Innovation Solution

A participant in the bus system is equipped with a timer and a transceiver circuit that receives and sends data packets with time stamp values, allowing for synchronization by adjusting the timestamp value and using correction values to minimize delays, enabling fast and accurate synchronization of timers across the system.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional synchronization methods are used in bus systems, then timers can be synchronized, but synchronization delays occur and temporal accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemporal accuracyVSAvoidsynchronization delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having participants pre-configured with correction values that compensate for expected transmission delays. The correction values are determined in advance based on the bus architecture and transmission characteristics, allowing participants to adjust their timers before actual synchronization occurs, thereby reducing synchronization delays and improving temporal accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where participants exchange correction values and synchronization information through the bus system. The correction values are dynamically adjusted based on measured transmission times and bus load conditions, creating a closed-loop feedback system that continuously improves synchronization accuracy and reduces delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If correction values are applied to minimize delays, then synchronization precision improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization precisionVSAvoidparticipant complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling each bus participant to autonomously determine and apply correction values based on its own timing characteristics and the received synchronization information. Each participant independently calculates its timing adjustments without requiring centralized control, reducing the complexity burden on any single component while achieving high synchronization precision across the entire system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3725042B1Subscriber in a bus system, method for operation and a bus system

Publication Date: 2023.02.15 WAGO VERW GMBH

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AI summary

There is provision for a bus system (1), a method for operation of a bus system (2) and a subscriber (100) in a bus system (1). The subscriber (100) has a timer (140) and a transceiver circuit (170). The transceiver circuit (170) is configured to receive a data packet (P) having a timestamp value (TS1) via a bus (800). The timer (140) is configured for synchronisation based on the timestamp value (TS1). The timer (140) is configured to change the timestamp value (TS1). The transceiver circuit (170) is configured to send the data packet (P) with a changed timestamp value (TS2) via the bus (800).