Clock Management System for Accurate Timestamp Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing systems face challenges in ensuring accurate timing due to inaccuracies in client device clocks, which can lead to errors in timestamp generation and data synchronization, particularly in virtual private network operations.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for clock management that involves receiving data bundles from client devices, identifying clock inaccuracies, and applying corrective time shifts to ensure timestamps align with a reference time standard, thereby maintaining accurate timing and data synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If client devices use local clocks for timestamp generation, then device autonomy and operation are maintained, but timestamp accuracy and data synchronization deteriorate due to clock inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by comparing timestamps generated by client device clocks against server-generated reference timestamps. The server calculates time differences and sends correction information back to client devices, enabling them to adjust their local clocks and maintain accurate timestamps without requiring complex manual synchronization procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
Client devices automatically adjust their local clocks based on correction information received from the server. The system enables self-service by allowing devices to autonomously synchronize their timestamps using the provided correction data, eliminating the need for manual intervention or complex external synchronization mechanisms.
2Measurement precision
If clock inaccuracies are not corrected, then system operation simplicity is maintained, but data synchronization and analytics precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The server performs preliminary actions by generating reference timestamps and calculating time differences before client devices need to submit data for analytics. Correction information is prepared in advance and made available to client devices, enabling them to pre-adjust their local clocks and ensure timestamp precision before data submission, thereby eliminating synchronization delays.
3Reliability
If manual clock synchronization is implemented, then timestamp accuracy can be improved, but operational complexity and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system eliminates manual synchronization operations by implementing automatic clock correction. Client devices receive correction information from the server and autonomously adjust their local clocks without requiring user intervention. This self-service mechanism maintains high clock accuracy while preserving ease of operation.
4Measurement precision
If timestamp correction is applied to all data bundles, then analytics accuracy is improved, but processing overhead and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial correction by adjusting timestamps only when necessary based on calculated time differences. Rather than correcting all timestamps uniformly, the system selectively applies corrections to data bundles that exhibit timing deviations, thereby maintaining analytics precision while minimizing unnecessary processing overhead and preserving data processing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure generally pertains to clock management systems and methods. An example method involves a computer identifying an inaccuracy in a local clock of a client device based on a data bundle received from the client device. The data bundle can include information associated with an occurrence of an event in the client device. In one embodiment, the inaccuracy in the local clock of the client device is identified by detecting a time difference between a timestamp contained in the data bundle and a reference time standard. The timestamp can correspond to a time of occurrence of the event in the client device or to a time of transmission of the bundle by the client device. A corrective action may be taken to address the inaccuracy in the local clock, such as, by applying a time shift to at least a portion of the information contained in the data bundle.