Neighbor Aware Network Cluster Synchronization via Beacon Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks face challenges in group synchronization, particularly in neighbor aware networks, which can lead to data communication failures due to misaligned timing within data link clusters when devices join or leave network clusters.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a processing system that detects beacons with timing information from other network clusters, determines whether to initiate a move to a new cluster based on anchor master rank, service availability, and generates frames to transition data communication windows to the new cluster's timeline, allowing devices to synchronize and maintain communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If devices join or leave network clusters dynamically, then network adaptability is improved, but group synchronization deteriorates due to misaligned timing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where devices continuously exchange timing information through beacon frames and timing synchronization function (TSF) values. When a device joins or leaves a cluster, the timing information is propagated throughout the network, allowing all devices to adjust their Data Communication Window (DCW) timelines accordingly, thus maintaining synchronization despite dynamic changes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the DCW timeline dynamic by allowing it to be adjusted based on timing information from different network clusters. Devices can switch between different cluster timelines (first cluster timeline vs. second cluster timeline) depending on which cluster they are associated with, enabling the system to adapt to dynamic cluster changes while maintaining internal synchronization
2Adaptability or versatility
If data communication windows are aligned with different cluster timelines, then network versatility is improved, but data transmission reliability deteriorates due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into multiple independent clusters, each with its own timeline. Devices can belong to different clusters and thus use different timelines. The DCW timeline is segmented to align with the active cluster's timeline, allowing the device to communicate reliably within its current cluster while maintaining the ability to switch to other clusters if needed
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses timing synchronization function (TSF) values and beacon frames as intermediaries to coordinate between different cluster timelines. These intermediaries carry timing information that allows devices to translate between different cluster timelines, ensuring that data transmission is reliably synchronized with the current cluster's timeline while maintaining versatility to operate in multiple clusters
Data Source
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AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for synchronizing clocks in a Neighbor Aware Network (NAN) Data Link (NDL) cluster. An exemplary apparatus includes a processing system configured to communicate with one or more members of a group, that includes the apparatus, according to a first data communication window (DCW) timeline having a first offset relative to a first clock associated with a first network cluster, to detect a beacon transmitted by a device of a second network cluster, wherein the beacon comprises timing information of a second clock associated with the second network cluster, to determine whether to initiate a move of the group to the second network cluster, to generate a frame to initiate the move of the group to the second network cluster, the frame comprising a first indication of the timing information of the second clock, and an interface configured to output the frame for transmission.