Peer-to-Peer Timing Structure for Wireless Device Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Peer-to-peer wireless communication systems lack synchronization and predictability without centralized control, making it difficult for devices to coordinate activities effectively.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a peer-to-peer timing structure with recurring peer discovery intervals, traffic intervals, and optional paging intervals, where devices determine a time reference point based on broadcast signals from satellites, base stations, or beacon signal transmitters to achieve synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If centralized controllers and network based control mechanisms are used, then device synchronization and coordination are improved, but device complexity and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the synchronization function from centralized controllers and implements it locally at each peer device. Each device independently determines timing reference points and identifies interval types without requiring centralized control, thereby achieving synchronization while reducing system complexity and eliminating the need for network infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
Each peer device autonomously performs synchronization by independently determining time reference points from broadcast signals and identifying interval types based on stored timing structure information. This self-service approach eliminates dependency on centralized controllers while maintaining reliable coordination among peer devices.
2Ease of operation
If peer to peer communication operates without centralized control, then device autonomy and simplicity are improved, but synchronization and coordination capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing timing structure information at each peer device before communication occurs. This timing structure information defines the sequence and duration of different interval types, enabling devices to autonomously synchronize their operations without requiring real-time centralized coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
Peer devices provide feedback to each other through transmitted signals that contain timing information. Each device uses received signals from peers to refine its timing reference and adjust its interval identification, creating a distributed feedback mechanism that maintains synchronization without centralized control.
3Productivity
If a timing structure with recurring intervals is implemented, then communication structure and predictability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action through recurring timing intervals including discovery intervals, traffic intervals, and paging intervals. Each interval type repeats at regular periods, providing predictable communication opportunities while simplifying device management through standardized, repeating patterns rather than ad-hoc timing decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication timeline is segmented into distinct interval types (discovery intervals, traffic intervals, paging intervals), each with specific functions. This segmentation allows devices to efficiently manage different communication activities in dedicated time slots, improving overall communication productivity while maintaining manageable complexity through clear temporal separation.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus related to peer to peer communication networks are described. A peer to peer timing structure is implemented which includes recurring peer discovery intervals and traffic intervals. Some embodiments further include recurring paging intervals for peer to peer pages. A wireless communications device, supporting peer to peer communications and storing information defining the timing structure, determines a time reference point, facilitating a coarse level of synchronization with respect to the timing structure. The time reference point is determined based on a broadcast signal received from a communications device, e.g., a satellite, base station, or beacon signal transmitter. Multiple peer to peer wireless communications devices in a local vicinity thus obtain the same basic understanding as to the current relative point in time with respect to a common recurring peer to peer timing structure. Peer to peer timing synchronization is further refined based on received signals communicated between peers.