Edge Node Timing Control for Synchronized Remote Device Packets
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Solution Overview
Problem
In remote control systems where a cloud-based controller manages multiple devices, communication paths can vary, leading to delays that cause synchronization issues among controlled devices, especially when they use different communication networks, resulting in operational discrepancies and potential errors.
Innovation Solution
A remote control system with a packet transfer device that includes a transfer processing unit and a timing control unit to synchronize packet arrival times across multiple devices, using edge nodes to measure and adjust delays, ensuring packets related to control signals are received simultaneously by all devices without additional functions on the controlled devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a cloud-based controller transmits control signals to multiple controlled devices through different communication paths, then the controller can manage devices remotely with flexibility, but the arrival timing of packets at different devices becomes unsynchronized
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary delay measurement between the controller and each controlled device before actual control operations. The packet transfer device uses these pre-measured delay values to calculate and set appropriate transmission timing for each device, ensuring synchronized arrival of control packets despite different communication path lengths
Solution Approach 2:
A packet transfer device is introduced as an intermediary component between the controller and controlled devices. This intermediary receives control packets from the controller, determines the appropriate transmission timing based on pre-measured delay values, and forwards packets at calculated timing to ensure simultaneous arrival at all devices
2Loss of time
If additional synchronization functions are added to controlled devices, then packet arrival synchronization can be achieved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The packet transfer device serves as an intermediary that centralizes the synchronization logic. Instead of adding synchronization functions to each controlled device, the intermediary handles timing calculations and packet forwarding based on pre-measured delay values, keeping controlled devices simple
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically measuring delay values between the controller and each device, storing these values in the packet transfer device, and using them for timing calculations without requiring complex synchronization processing at the controlled devices
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a remote control system and a method enabling packets, related to a control signal and simultaneously transmitted from a controller to a plurality of controlled devices, to be received by the controlled devices without a difference in delay. Edge nodes that are packet transfer devices are provided on communication paths between a controller provided on a network and a plurality of controlled devices provided in a location. The edge nodes each include a transfer processing unit that transfers the packets from the controller to the controlled devices, and a timing control unit that controls transmission timing of the packets in the transfer processing unit to reduce a difference in arrival time of a plurality of packets simultaneously transmitted from the controller to the plurality of controlled devices, at the plurality of controlled devices.