Computing Device Timing Synchronization with Periodic Beacon Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in achieving accurate timing synchronization between network devices, wireless communication devices, and ambient IoT tags, particularly in environments where devices are battery-powered and require strategic activation to conserve energy.
Innovation Solution
An energizing device synchronizes with network devices using wired connections or beacon signal strengths to establish a time grid for computing devices, and network devices adjust beacon transmission frequencies to enhance synchronization accuracy and strategic activation of wireless communication devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wireless communication devices continuously monitor beacon signals for synchronization, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic beacon transmissions from network devices at predetermined time intervals. Wireless communication devices wake up periodically to receive these beacons for synchronization rather than continuously monitoring, reducing power consumption while maintaining synchronization accuracy through regular time-based updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the beacon signals themselves to carry synchronization information that enables wireless communication devices to self-synchronize without requiring continuous external control or complex synchronization protocols, allowing devices to maintain accurate timing autonomously by simply listening for periodic beacons.
2Measurement precision
If network devices transmit beacons at high frequency to improve synchronization, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but energy consumption by network devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
Network devices transmit beacons at predetermined time intervals rather than continuously or at high frequency. This periodic transmission approach provides sufficient synchronization information at the necessary moments while significantly reducing the energy consumption of network devices compared to continuous or high-frequency beaconing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts beacon transmission parameters including time intervals and frequencies based on synchronization requirements. Network devices can modify these parameters to balance between providing adequate synchronization accuracy and minimizing energy consumption, optimizing the trade-off for different operational scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and techniques are described for establishing timing synchronization for computing devices. For example, an energizing device can synchronize with a network device of a plurality of network devices based on received timing information transmitted from a network entity over a wired connection, a respective received signal strength of a respective beacon transmitted from each network device of the plurality of network devices, and/or a respective received signal strength of a respective beacon transmitted from each wireless communication device of a plurality of wireless communication devices, wherein each wireless communication device of the plurality of wireless communication devices is associated with at least one network device of the plurality of network devices. The energizing device can transmit, to a computing device, an energizer transmission indicating timing (e.g., of a time grid) for synchronization of the computing device to the energizing device.