Master Station Time Synchronization via Backbone and Wireless Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication systems using multiple master stations, achieving high accuracy in time synchronization is challenging due to fluctuations in transmission delay, especially in wireless LANs, which can increase costs when using general-purpose devices or methods to mitigate these fluctuations.
Innovation Solution
A communication system where one master station synchronizes with a control station via a backbone network, and another synchronizes with the first master station via a wireless network, with the ability to switch roles based on reception quality, allowing for high-accuracy time synchronization without significant cost increases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If general-purpose devices or methods are used to synchronize times in wireless LANs, then cost is reduced, but synchronization accuracy deteriorates due to transmission delay fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the synchronization process into two distinct paths: a first synchronization path using a first master station and a second synchronization path using a second master station. Each path serves specific slave stations, allowing the system to leverage the low-cost advantage of general-purpose devices in each segment while maintaining overall synchronization accuracy through the coordinated operation of multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the synchronization parameter approach by introducing multiple master stations with different synchronization characteristics. The first master station provides synchronization to a first group of slave stations, while the second master station provides synchronization to a second group. This parameter change allows the system to achieve both cost reduction and acceptable synchronization accuracy by distributing the synchronization load across multiple parameters and paths.
2Reliability
If multiple master stations are installed to ensure high reliability, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the master station functions into distinct first and second master stations, each serving specific slave station groups. This segmentation improves reliability by ensuring that failures in one master station do not affect the other group, while managing complexity through clear functional division and independent operation of each synchronization path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a synchronization signal transmission mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the master stations and slave stations. The first master station transmits synchronization signals to the first slave stations, and the second master station transmits synchronization signals to the second slave stations. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the overall system architecture by providing a standardized synchronization interface while maintaining the benefits of multiple master stations for high reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication system comprising first and second master stations configured to perform synchronous wireless communication with a slave station via a first network, and a control station configured to be connected to the first and second master stations via a second network, wherein the control station transmits time information used to synchronize times of the first and second master stations to each of the first and second master stations via the second network, wherein one of the first and second master stations performs timing based on the time information from the control station, and wherein the other of the first and second master stations performs the timing based on announcement information announcing the time information transmitted from the one of the first and second master stations via the first network.