Nanosecond Time Synchronization via Periodic Perturbation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network time synchronization technologies face limitations in precision, robustness, and scalability due to high costs, complex hardware requirements, and vulnerabilities in master-slave synchronization structures, particularly with IEEE 1588 protocols, which restrict synchronization precision to submicrosecond levels and are susceptible to failures.
Innovation Solution
A high-precision time synchronization method is introduced, which incorporates periodic perturbation times between nodes, calculated using functions such as arithmetic progressions or random functions, to compensate for low clock resolution errors through statistical averaging, enabling nanosecond-level synchronization by determining time corrections based on mean transmission and reception times across nodes with differing clock periods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If accurate phase discrimination technology is used to achieve nanosecond precision time synchronization, then time synchronization precision is improved, but hardware structure complexity increases and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex hardware-based phase discrimination technology with a software-based time synchronization method. By using timestamp recording and statistical processing algorithms, the system achieves nanosecond precision without requiring complicated hardware structures, thus substituting mechanical/physical systems with computational methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from measuring phase differences directly to recording timestamps and calculating time differences through statistical processing. This parameter transformation allows achieving high precision time synchronization through software calculation rather than hardware measurement, reducing hardware complexity while maintaining precision.
2Reliability
If IEEE 1588 master-slave synchronization protocol is used, then network time synchronization is implemented, but synchronization precision is limited to submicrosecond level and robustness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the synchronization process into multiple independent measurements between node pairs. Instead of relying on a single master-slave hierarchy, multiple node pairs perform independent timestamp recordings and calculations. This segmentation eliminates the single point of failure in master-slave structures and improves both precision and robustness through distributed measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where time difference measurements are continuously recorded, processed, and used to adjust synchronization. The statistical processing of multiple measurements provides feedback on synchronization quality, enabling continuous improvement and maintaining both high precision and robustness against failures.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple synchronizations are performed in network, then time synchronization coverage is improved, but accumulation of resulting errors increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic time synchronization measurements between node pairs, recording timestamps at regular intervals. By performing multiple periodic measurements and applying statistical processing (averaging), the system expands synchronization coverage across the network while eliminating error accumulation through the periodic resetting and statistical averaging of measurement results.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a high-precision time synchronization method. With the method, a traditional time synchronization protocol of a traditional IEEE 1588 network can be improved by introducing a periodic perturbation time between any two nodes in the time synchronization network, the perturbation time can be caused by changing the lengths of transmission paths or introducing clock phase perturbation due to different clock frequencies in the transistor and the receiver. With the method, the relevance of resulting errors of multiple synchronizations can be eliminated, and the perturbation can be compensated by means of statistical averaging, such that the synchronization error due to the low clock resolution of the synchronization node can be decreased. The method may realize the time synchronization at the precision of nanosecond, having significant advantages over the traditional time synchronization method based on IEEE 1588 protocol.