Communication Apparatus Time Synchronization Interval Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Communication apparatuses that are not in an always connected state face challenges in establishing efficient time synchronization, as they cannot consistently obtain reference time information from a server, leading to potential timing errors and increased power consumption due to frequent state transitions.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus that switches between connected and non-connected states based on base station control, performs synchronization processing by requesting to stay connected at predetermined intervals set by the error between internal and reference time, allowing synchronization to occur efficiently even when not always connected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the communication apparatus is powered off during non-connected state to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but time synchronization cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The communication apparatus performs time synchronization in advance during connected state before entering non-connected state. The apparatus calculates the time interval based on synchronization error and requests to remain connected at predetermined timings to ensure synchronization is completed before power saving mode is activated.
2Reliability
If the communication apparatus remains in connected state continuously, then time synchronization can be performed reliably, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous connection, the apparatus uses periodic connection based on calculated time intervals. The apparatus determines optimal synchronization timings and requests to remain connected only at those specific periods, allowing power saving during non-synchronization periods while maintaining reliable time synchronization.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the communication apparatus frequently transitions between connected and non-connected states, then power saving is improved, but synchronization error increases
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus uses feedback from synchronization error measurements to dynamically adjust the time interval for synchronization requests. Based on the measured error between apparatus time and reference time, the apparatus calculates optimal time intervals and uses this feedback to determine when to request connection, balancing power saving with synchronization accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication apparatus performs, during establishment of connection with a base station, synchronization processing for obtaining reference time information of a time synchronization system and establishing time synchronization, sets a time interval for performing the synchronization processing based on an error of an intra-apparatus time held in the communication apparatus with respect to time information represented by the reference time information, and in a non-connected state, based on the time interval, requests the base station to cause the communication apparatus to transition to a connected state at a timing when the synchronization processing should be performed, wherein the synchronization processing is performed at a timing based on the time interval, at which the communication apparatus is operating in the connected state.