Network Node Synchronization via Phase Delay Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems face challenges in synchronizing network nodes after a network lock condition, resulting in unpredictable phase delays that can lead to errors and inconsistencies in data transmission across multimedia devices connected to different nodes.
Innovation Solution
A method is introduced to generate a local trigger signal simultaneously at multiple network nodes by compensating for unique phase delays, involving a delay estimation phase, trigger synchronization phase, and event synchronization phase, where each node calculates and stores its accumulated phase delay and uses an offset value to synchronize events accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nodes synchronize to master clock using standard PLL locking, then frequency synchronization is achieved, but unpredictable phase delays occur at each node
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement of phase delays at each node during the lock acquisition process, storing these delay values for subsequent compensation. This preliminary action allows the system to know the exact delay characteristics before they cause synchronization problems in audio/video applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback by measuring the actual phase delay at each node and using this information to generate compensating trigger signals. The measured delay values are fed back into the synchronization mechanism to correct the timing offsets, ensuring accurate simultaneous reproduction across distributed nodes.
2Measurement precision
If trigger signals are sent through the network to synchronize nodes, then event synchronization is achieved, but network transmission delays and jitter affect timing precision
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the timing synchronization function from the data transmission path by using dedicated trigger signals that are separately timed and transmitted. This separation allows the audio/video data to be transmitted without being affected by synchronization timing requirements, and vice versa.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary trigger signal mechanism that mediates between the master clock and the distributed nodes. These trigger signals carry timing information that is processed through the network but compensated for delays, acting as an intermediary layer that reconciles network transmission characteristics with precise synchronization requirements.
3Measurement precision
If phase delays are compensated using fixed offset values, then timing consistency is improved, but adaptability to varying network conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic phase delay compensation by continuously measuring and updating the delay values at each node. Rather than using fixed static offsets, the system adapts to changing network conditions by recalibrating the compensation values, allowing it to maintain precision while adapting to variations in network performance.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication system and method is provided herein for synchronizing a plurality of network nodes after a network lock condition occurs within a network. According to one embodiment, the method may generate a local trigger signal simultaneously at each of the plurality of network nodes by compensating for unique phase delays attributed to each of the plurality of network nodes. As described herein, the local trigger signals may be used for synchronizing devices, such as multimedia devices, which may be coupled to the network nodes. More specifically, the local trigger signals may be used to synchronize events occurring within devices, which are coupled to different nodes of the network.