Remote Clock Offset Estimation via Timestamp Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for determining network latency and clock offset between systems connected via Ethernet or Internet connections are inadequate for mission-critical communications, particularly in medical procedures where timing accuracy is crucial, as they introduce latency and are complex to set up and troubleshoot.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that estimate the upper bound of clock offset by using two pairs of timestamps (T1, T2, T3, T4) included in communications packets, allowing asynchronous data transmission and providing a simpler, more reliable approach than Network Time Protocol (NTP), which reduces latency and calculates a worst-case clock offset.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional methods (such as NTP) are used to determine network latency and clock offset, then clock synchronization is achieved, but latency is high and the system is complex to set up and troubleshoot
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary clock offset estimation by exchanging timestamped packets between devices. The offset is calculated using the formula: offset = (T2 - T1 + T4 - T3) / 2, where T1 and T4 are timestamps from the local device and T2 and T3 are timestamps from the remote device. This preliminary estimation enables timely decision-making without waiting for complex conventional synchronization protocols to complete.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the essential timing information (four timestamps) from the complex NTP protocol exchange, discarding the unnecessary complexity of conventional methods. By focusing solely on the timestamp data needed for offset calculation, the system achieves accurate clock offset determination with minimal latency and simplified implementation.
2Measurement precision
If conventional methods (such as NTP) are used to determine network latency and clock offset, then clock synchronization is achieved, but the system is complex to set up and troubleshoot
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential timing information (four timestamps) from the complex NTP protocol exchange, discarding the unnecessary complexity of conventional methods. By focusing solely on the timestamp data needed for offset calculation, the system achieves accurate clock offset determination with minimal latency and simplified implementation.
Solution Approach 2:
Each device independently calculates its own clock offset relative to the remote device using the timestamp data from packet exchanges. The local device computes offset = (T2 - T1 + T4 - T3) / 2 using its own timestamps (T1, T4) and received timestamps (T2, T3), eliminating the need for complex centralized configuration and troubleshooting associated with conventional NTP servers and clients.
3Adaptability or versatility
If Ethernet or Internet connections are used for remote communications, then geographical flexibility is improved, but clock offset and network latency make timing-critical applications unreliable
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces complex mechanical synchronization systems (physical clock synchronization hardware) with a software-based timestamp analysis method that works over standard Ethernet and Internet connections. By substituting physical synchronization infrastructure with computational timestamp processing, the system enables reliable timing-critical applications over geographically distributed network connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the approach from attempting to eliminate clock offset to actively measuring and compensating for it. By calculating the offset parameter using timestamp exchanges and applying compensation formulas, the system transforms the unreliable timing environment of networked devices into a reliable framework for timing-critical medical communications.
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is provided including a processor, a communications interface coupled to the processor, a memory coupled to the processor, and a module saved in the memory. The module configures the processor to receive a first communications packet from a remote device via the communications interface including information useful for estimating a clock offset of the remote device, and determine an upper bound of the clock offset of the remote device with respect to the electronic device based on the information.