Wireless Clock Synchronization via PTP Residence Time Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication networks face challenges in maintaining timing synchronization, particularly in time-sensitive operations like Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) networks, where precise synchronization is required for accurate communication between machines, and existing methods struggle to efficiently manage timing domains and link delays.
Innovation Solution
The described techniques enhance wireless communication systems by implementing methods to determine and adjust ingress times for Precision Time Protocol (PTP) messages, account for link delays, and manage timing domains, allowing for improved time synchronization through residence time corrections and filtering of sync messages, thereby supporting transparent and boundary clock operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wireless communication networks use existing time synchronization methods, then basic timing coordination is achieved, but synchronization accuracy deteriorates due to unaccounted link delays and timing domain mismatches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies timing parameters by introducing residence time corrections that adjust ingress times based on link delays. The system changes the timing parameters of PTP messages by adding correction values that account for wireless transmission delays, thereby improving synchronization accuracy while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary correction mechanism that acts between the received PTP message and the timing domain. The residence time correction serves as a mediator that translates timing information from one domain to another while compensating for link delays, resolving the contradiction between accuracy and reliability
2Measurement precision
If the system processes all PTP messages with full timing corrections, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial correction by selectively processing PTP messages that require timing adjustments. Rather than correcting all messages uniformly, the system identifies and corrects only those messages where link delays significantly impact synchronization accuracy, thereby improving precision without proportionally increasing processing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the timing correction process into distinct stages: receiving the PTP message, determining link delay, calculating residence time correction, and applying the correction. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity by handling each stage separately and only performing full corrections when necessary
3Reliability
If the network implements comprehensive timing domain management, then timing synchronization is improved, but system overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary determination of link delays and timing domain characteristics before processing PTP messages. By pre-calculating correction factors and storing timing domain information, the system reduces the processing overhead during actual synchronization operations while maintaining comprehensive timing domain management
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by automatically determining link delays and calculating residence time corrections without external intervention. The network nodes autonomously manage their timing domains and apply corrections based on locally stored parameters, reducing the overall system overhead while maintaining synchronization reliability
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. In an example, a method includes a first node receiving a precision time protocol (PTP) message, identifying one or more timing domains to be supported by the first node based at least in part on the PTP message, and sending, to a second node of the wireless communication network, an indicator of the one or more timing domains to be supported by the first node. Another example at a node includes receiving, from additional nodes of the wireless communication network, indicators of one or more timing domains supported by the additional nodes, receiving a PTP message associated with a timing domain, and sending the PTP message to a subset of the additional nodes based at least in a part on the indicators of one or more timing domains supported by the additional nodes.