Clock Synchronization via Correlation Events
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Solution Overview
Problem
Clocks in different devices often drift due to various factors such as power levels and temperature, making it challenging to synchronize them accurately for coordinated operations in systems with multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
Calculating skew and offset values from correlation events, such as message passing between devices, to determine the time difference and synchronize clocks using linear correlation constants, which can be refined over multiple events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If clocks are synchronized using simple methods, then the synchronization process is easy to implement, but the accuracy of clock synchronization deteriorates due to clock drift from power levels and temperature variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by exchanging correlation events (messages) between devices before actual synchronization is needed. These preliminary exchanges allow the system to calculate skew and offset values in advance, creating a foundation for accurate timestamp conversion without requiring complex real-time synchronization procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces correlation events (messages) as intermediaries between clocks to establish relationships. These messages carry timestamp information that serves as a mediator to calculate skew and offset values, enabling indirect synchronization without requiring direct clock comparison or complex hardware interventions.
2Measurement precision
If multiple correlation events are used to calculate skew and offset values, then the clock synchronization accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the synchronization process increases
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization process is segmented into distinct phases: collecting correlation events, calculating skew values, calculating offset values, and applying transformations. This segmentation allows each phase to be handled independently with appropriate algorithms, reducing overall complexity while maintaining accuracy through multiple measurement points.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from multiple correlation events to iteratively refine skew and offset calculations. Each correlation event provides feedback information that contributes to the statistical determination of synchronization parameters, allowing the system to converge on accurate values while managing complexity through established mathematical methods.
3Reliability
If real-time clock synchronization is performed, then the coordination between devices is improved, but the processing overhead and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic action by exchanging correlation events at scheduled intervals rather than continuously. This periodic approach maintains reliable device coordination through regular synchronization updates while reducing processing overhead compared to continuous real-time synchronization, allowing systems to balance reliability requirements with resource constraints.
Data Source
AI summary
Two clocks may be synchronized by calculating skew and offset values that may be determined from several correlation events. A correlation event may be the passing of messages in both directions between the two devices. The skew and offset values may be used to determine the time of non-correlated events. The clock synchronization may be performed on a real time basis or may be performed on a post processing basis. One method for calculating the skew and offset may use inequalities within a solution space to refine a solution set with multiple sets of correlation events.