Sensor Terminal NTP to TPSN Protocol Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional time synchronization technologies for wireless sensor networks face challenges in achieving accurate synchronization, particularly with low-power wireless standards like Zigbee and Wi-SUN, as they struggle to handle the unique requirements of sensor data transmission and often result in packet collisions and inefficient channel usage.

Innovation Solution

A time synchronization method that employs a protocol conversion between Network Time Protocol (NTP) and Timing-sync Protocol for Sensor Networks (TPSN), using a sensor data acquisition terminal with a wireless processing unit, back-end processing unit, and protocol conversion unit to exchange packets and synchronize terminal timings, enabling accurate synchronization across various wireless standards.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional time synchronization protocols (GPS, NITZ, FTSP) are used in sensor networks, then time synchronization can be achieved, but compatibility with low-power wireless standards (Zigbee, Wi-SUN) is limited and hardware support is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with wireless standardsVSAvoidhardware support requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a protocol conversion unit as an intermediary component that translates between NTP packets (from backend processing) and TPSN packets (for wireless transmission). This mediator enables compatibility with low-power wireless standards like Zigbee and Wi-SUN without requiring specialized hardware support for each protocol, thereby improving adaptability while managing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is segmented into distinct functional units: wireless processing unit, backend processing unit, and protocol conversion unit. This segmentation allows each unit to handle specific tasks independently, enabling the protocol conversion function to be added without fundamentally redesigning the entire system architecture, thus improving versatility with controlled complexity increase

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple sensor data acquisition terminals transmit data simultaneously without time synchronization, then data collection can proceed in parallel, but packet collisions occur and channel time is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata collection efficiencyVSAvoidpacket transmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic time synchronization using TPSN protocol, where terminals regularly exchange timing packets to maintain synchronized clocks. This periodic action ensures that data transmission occurs in coordinated time slots, preventing packet collisions while maintaining high data collection efficiency through parallel operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The time synchronization mechanism uses feedback from timestamp exchanges between terminals to adjust and maintain accurate timing. Each terminal receives timing information from others and adjusts its transmission schedule accordingly, creating a feedback loop that ensures reliable packet transmission without collisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Quantity of substance

If sensor data from multiple terminals is collected without unified time reference, then data can be gathered from all terminals, but data cannot be arranged in time series for analysis

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveamount of sensor dataVSAvoidtime reference accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adopts NTP (Network Time Protocol) in the backend processing unit, which is a universally compatible time synchronization protocol widely supported across different platforms and systems. This universal approach allows sensor data from multiple terminals to be collected and time-stamped with a common time reference, enabling both large-scale data collection and accurate time-series arrangement without requiring protocol-specific modifications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10862602B2Time synchronization method, sensor data acquisition terminal, and sensor network system

Publication Date: 2020.12.08 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

In a sensor data acquisition terminal (10), an NTP back-end processing unit (12) synchronizes a terminal timing with a parent terminal timing by exchanging NTP packets for time synchronization with a parent terminal (20) based on NTP, and a protocol conversion unit (13) converts an NTP packet, which is output from the NTP back-end processing unit (12) and will be transmitted to the parent terminal (20), to a TPSN packet based on TPSN, outputs the TPSN packet to a wireless processing unit (14), converts a TPSN packet from the parent terminal (20), which is output from the wireless processing unit (14), to an NTP packet, and outputs the NTP packet to the NTP back-end processing unit (12).