Intermediate Node Synchronization for Wireless Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

In network time slotted protocols, intermediate nodes may synchronize with their parents before synchronizing with their child nodes, leading to substantial time differentials outside the guard band, which can disrupt synchronization and communication efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an intermediate node synchronizer that exchanges synchronization data with a child node synchronizer to ensure the child node is time synchronized with the intermediate node before the intermediate node synchronizes with its parent node, if the intermediate node has not synchronized within a predetermined guard time period.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the intermediate node synchronizes with its parent node before synchronizing with child nodes, then the intermediate node can maintain timing accuracy with the parent node, but substantial time differentials occur between the intermediate node and child nodes that exceed the guard band

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetiming accuracyVSAvoidsynchronization reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate node performs preliminary synchronization with its child nodes before completing synchronization with its parent node. This ensures that child nodes receive timing information from the intermediate node within the guard band period, preventing substantial time differentials while the intermediate node is still establishing timing with its parent.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate node establishes a guard band period as a cushioning mechanism to accommodate the time required for synchronization propagation. By proactively managing the synchronization timing and ensuring child nodes are synchronized within this guard band before the intermediate node fully synchronizes with its parent, the system prevents timing violations and maintains synchronization reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Measurement precision

If the intermediate node waits to synchronize with child nodes until after synchronizing with the parent node, then timing accuracy with the parent is maintained, but communication efficiency and synchronization speed are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetiming accuracyVSAvoidsynchronization speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate node performs preliminary synchronization with child nodes using available timing information before completing synchronization with the parent node. This preliminary action enables faster synchronization propagation through the network while maintaining timing accuracy within acceptable guard band limits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediate node performs partial synchronization with child nodes using the timing information it already has, rather than waiting for complete synchronization with the parent. This partial action is sufficient to maintain timing within the guard band and enables faster synchronization speed without compromising timing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If the intermediate node synchronizes with child nodes before synchronizing with the parent node, then synchronization speed is improved, but timing differentials may exceed the guard band

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization speedVSAvoidtiming accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate node performs preliminary synchronization with child nodes using the timing information it already possesses before completing synchronization with the parent node. This preliminary action is calculated to ensure that timing differentials remain within the guard band, achieving both fast synchronization speed and acceptable timing accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If the intermediate node uses a predetermined guard time period for child node synchronization, then synchronization reliability is improved, but the time window for synchronization is constrained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization reliabilityVSAvoidsynchronization time window

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediate node performs preliminary synchronization with child nodes within the predetermined guard time period, utilizing the available time window efficiently. By proactively synchronizing child nodes before the guard time expires, the system maintains reliability while maximizing the utilization of the available synchronization time window.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250168790A1Node synchronization for networks

Publication Date: 2025.05.22 TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC

AI summary

A network includes an intermediate node to communicate with a child node via a wireless network protocol. An intermediate node synchronizer in the intermediate node facilitates time synchronization with its parent node and with the child node. A child node synchronizer in the child node to facilitates time synchronization with the intermediate node. The intermediate node synchronizer exchanges synchronization data with the child node synchronizer to enable the child node to be time synchronized to the intermediate node before the intermediate node is synchronized to its parent node if the intermediate node has not synchronized to its parent node within a predetermined guard time period established for the child node.