Device Clock Setting During Boot Using Internal Time Reference
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Solution Overview
Problem
Computing devices without a battery backup reset their internal clock to a static default time setting during a cold boot, leading to inaccurate time settings until they synchronize with an external time source, which can cause algorithms relying on absolute time to fail.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines the availability of internal time reference data during booting, setting the device clock to a default time if unavailable and to a current time based on the most recent internal time reference if available, and synchronizes with peer devices and an external time source to achieve a more accurate clock setting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the device uses a static default time setting during cold boot, then the device can operate without battery backup, but the clock accuracy deteriorates until synchronization with external time source
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary actions by checking for available time reference data during the boot process and setting the clock accordingly before network synchronization becomes necessary. This allows the device to establish a reasonable time baseline early in the boot sequence, reducing the impact of time inaccuracies on time-dependent operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that checks for internal time reference data and uses it as a bridge between the default time setting and the final synchronized time. This intermediary allows the device to transition smoothly from inaccurate default time to accurate synchronized time, minimizing the operational impact of time inaccuracies.
2Reliability
If the device synchronizes with external time source immediately, then clock accuracy improves, but device complexity increases due to additional synchronization mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs partial synchronization by checking for and utilizing available internal time reference data without requiring full external synchronization immediately. This partial action approach allows the device to establish functional time accuracy using existing internal resources, avoiding the complexity of immediate external synchronization while still improving clock accuracy sufficiently for time-dependent operations.
3Ease of operation
If the device waits for network connection to set accurate time, then synchronization is simplified, but time-dependent algorithms may fail during boot
Solution Approach 1:
The device performs preliminary time setting actions by checking for internal time reference data during boot before network synchronization is complete. This preliminary action ensures that time-dependent algorithms have accurate time information available when they execute, preventing algorithm failures while maintaining a simplified synchronization process that completes later in the boot sequence.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device may perform a method that includes determining whether internal time reference data is available while booting the computing device. When the internal time reference data is unavailable, the device clock is set to a default time setting. However, when the internal time reference data is available while booting the computing device, the method includes searching the internal time reference data for a most recent time reference, and setting the device clock to a current time setting based on the most recent time reference.