Discrete Logical Oscillators for Network Time Synchronization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Physical oscillators in devices often drift in phase and frequency over time, leading to inaccuracies in time tracking, necessitating occasional resynchronization among independent clocks to maintain a common time reference.
Innovation Solution
Implementing discrete logical oscillators in nodes that communicate with each other to share timing information and adjust their local time variables based on external time values, using protocols like Van der Pol and Andronov-Hopf oscillators, allowing for peer-to-peer network synchronization without a designated server, and determining the trustworthiness of external nodes to prevent malicious influence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical oscillators are used for independent time tracking in each device, then each device can maintain autonomous timekeeping, but phase offset and frequency skew accumulate over time causing synchronization degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where nodes continuously exchange time synchronization information and adjust their local oscillators based on received external time values. The discrete logical oscillator uses feedback from phase and frequency measurements to correct time drift, maintaining synchronization without requiring a central server.
Solution Approach 2:
Each node in the network autonomously performs time synchronization by using its own discrete logical oscillator and independently adjusting its time variables based on exchanged information with neighboring nodes. The system is self-organizing and does not require external intervention or centralized control for synchronization.
2Reliability
If occasional resynchronization of independent clocks is performed, then time reference alignment can be restored, but system complexity and synchronization overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical clock synchronization mechanisms with discrete logical oscillators implemented in software or firmware. This substitution allows for more flexible and efficient synchronization protocols that can operate in a distributed manner without complex mechanical intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronization mechanism dynamically adjusts parameters of the discrete logical oscillator, including phase and frequency variables, based on received time information from external nodes. This parameter adaptation enables continuous synchronization while maintaining system simplicity.
3Reliability
If peer-to-peer network synchronization is implemented without a designated server, then system robustness and fault tolerance improve, but determining trustworthiness of external nodes becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary verification mechanisms where nodes assess the trustworthiness of external time sources before accepting their time values. The discrete logical oscillator includes built-in validation logic that checks consistency and reliability of received time data before incorporating it into synchronization calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The discrete logical oscillator acts as an intermediary layer between raw external time signals and the node's internal timekeeping. It filters and validates incoming time information, mediating between potentially untrustworthy external sources and the node's time variables to ensure synchronization with trustworthy nodes only.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods include receiving, values of one or more first external time variables from a first external node and values of one or more second external time variables from a second external node. The values of one or more local time variables of the local node are adjusted based at least upon the values of the one or more first external time variables and the values of the one or more second external time variables.