Grandmaster Switch Stability via Time Difference Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication systems, unintentional switches in grandmasters can occur, and even when a high-priority communication apparatus with high accuracy enters, time synchronization may not be possible if the time difference with the current grandmaster is small.
Innovation Solution
A communication apparatus with a priority verification unit and a mediation unit that verifies the priority of other communication apparatuses and calculates the time difference before switching, ensuring synchronization only when the difference is within a threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a new communication apparatus with higher priority enters the system, then time synchronization accuracy should be improved, but unintentional grandmaster switches occur causing system instability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification of the time difference between the new high-priority apparatus and the current grandmaster before allowing the grandmaster switch. This preliminary check prevents unintentional switches by ensuring that only apparatuses with acceptable time synchronization performance can become grandmasters, thus resolving the contradiction between improving time synchronization accuracy and maintaining system stability
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the current grandmaster evaluates the time difference with the new apparatus and provides this information back to the mediation unit. Based on this feedback, the system decides whether to allow the switch, thereby balancing the need for high time synchronization accuracy with the need to prevent unstable grandmaster switches
2Reliability
If the current grandmaster blocks best timing synchronization requests, then unintentional grandmaster switches are prevented, but time synchronization with high-priority apparatus cannot be achieved when time difference is small
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the blocking behavior based on the time difference verification result. When the time difference is within the threshold, the blocking is relaxed to allow synchronization; when the time difference exceeds the threshold, blocking is maintained to prevent unstable switches. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction between preventing unintentional switches and enabling synchronization with high-priority apparatus
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of request blocking from a static state (always block or never block) to a conditional state based on the time difference parameter. By evaluating the time difference parameter and adjusting the blocking behavior accordingly, the system achieves both stability and adaptability in grandmaster selection
Data Source
AI summary
A priority verification unit (110) obtains from, among a plurality of communication apparatuses, other communication apparatus other than a current grandmaster, a grandmaster mediation message that is a grandmaster mediation message used for selecting a grandmaster and that includes a priority of the other communication apparatus. The priority verification unit (110) verifies whether or not the priority of the other communication apparatus is higher than a grandmaster priority (22). A mediation unit (120), when the priority of the other communication apparatus is verified as being higher than the grandmaster priority (22), to obtain a synchronization message including time of the other communication apparatus from the other communication apparatus before switching the other communication apparatus to the grandmaster. The mediation unit (120) calculates difference between the time of the other communication apparatus and time of the communication apparatus, and when the difference is less than a threshold (23), switches the other communication apparatus to the grandmaster.