Data Server Clock Drift Detection in Synchronized Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional computing architectures fail to identify and address specific malfunctioning devices causing clock drift, particularly in relation to external time standards, which can lead to synchronization failures and regulatory penalties.
Innovation Solution
Implementing data servers with multiple high-performance oscillators to maintain internal time, a controller to compare and analyze these times with other devices, and execute ameliorative actions to correct clock drift and potential attacks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional time server architectures are used to distribute time across the network, then time synchronization is provided to devices, but the system lacks the ability to detect and isolate malfunctioning devices causing clock drift
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where time servers continuously monitor and compare their internal time against multiple other time servers in the network. This creates a closed-loop system that can detect deviations and trigger corrective actions, enabling the system to identify and respond to malfunctioning devices while maintaining reliable time synchronization across the network
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple time servers into a collective monitoring system where each server participates in mutual time verification. By merging the monitoring capabilities of multiple servers, the system achieves enhanced detection ability without requiring a separate monitoring infrastructure, thus identifying malfunctioning devices while maintaining synchronization reliability
2Productivity
If multiple time servers are deployed in the network, then time distribution capability is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to Byzantine failures and clock drift from compromised sources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements mutual monitoring feedback among multiple time servers, where each server reports its time status and compares it against others. This feedback loop enables the network to detect when a server deviates from the consensus time, allowing identification and isolation of compromised sources while maintaining the productivity benefits of multiple distributed time servers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary verification mechanism where time servers validate each other's time sources through comparative analysis. This intermediary layer of verification allows the system to maintain the distributed time distribution capability while filtering out Byzantine failures through collective validation of time sources
3Measurement precision
If a single PTP GrandMaster is elected to maintain precision time synchronization, then time accuracy is improved, but the system creates a single point of failure vulnerable to byzantine failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single GrandMaster role into multiple participating time servers that collectively maintain precision time synchronization. Instead of relying on one centralized authority, the system divides the time-keeping function across multiple servers that mutually verify and maintain accuracy, thereby achieving both measurement precision and robustness against failures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent prepares for potential GrandMaster failures by implementing beforehand monitoring and comparison mechanisms among multiple time servers. This prior cushioning ensures that if one server fails or becomes compromised, the others can detect the anomaly and maintain synchronization accuracy through their collective time-keeping capability
Data Source
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AI summary
An internal time of a data server is compared against respective times of each of a plurality of devices of a network. The network may require tight time synchronization. The data server utilizes a plurality of high-performance oscillators to maintain the internal time. The data server analyzes the compared times to detect that a time maintained by another device of the network has drifted more than a threshold. An ameliorative action is executed in response to detecting that the time maintained by the another device has drifted more than the threshold.