Slave Device Time Synchronization via Backup Link Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current time synchronization technologies, such as those based on the IEEE 1588 V2 protocol, suffer from reliability issues due to packet loss caused by abnormalities like link congestion or failures, leading to synchronization failures in carrier-class Ethernet networks, particularly in mobile networks that require precise and reliable time synchronization.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that enable a slave device to detect primary link failures and switch to a backup link for time synchronization, using either a backup link with the same master device or a backup master device with a same clock source, ensuring uninterrupted time synchronization by establishing multiple links and correcting time offsets to minimize jitter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If IEEE 1588 V2 protocol packets are used for time synchronization, then time precision can be achieved at sub-microsecond and nanosecond level, but reliability deteriorates when packet loss occurs due to link abnormalities or congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The slave device pre-calculates and stores the time offset with the backup master device before a failure occurs. When the primary link fails, this pre-calculated time offset can be immediately applied without waiting for new synchronization packets, thus maintaining both precision and reliability during the switch to backup link
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a backup master device as an intermediary time synchronization source. When the primary master device becomes unavailable due to packet loss or link failure, the backup master device serves as a mediator to provide continuous time synchronization, preventing complete synchronization failure
2Reliability
If a backup link with backup master device is established, then reliability of time synchronization is improved during primary link failure, but device complexity increases due to multiple links and master devices
Solution Approach 1:
The slave device automatically detects failures on the primary link and autonomously switches to the backup link without requiring manual intervention. The device also automatically applies the pre-calculated time offset from the backup master device, making the system self-healing and reducing operational complexity despite the added hardware complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The time offset with the backup master device is pre-calculated and stored during normal operation. This preliminary preparation means that when switching to backup link, the device can immediately use the stored offset without complex real-time calculations, simplifying the failure recovery process
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a time synchronization method and device. The method includes: a slave device detecting whether time synchronization can be performed via a primary link between a master device and the slave device; and when time synchronization cannot be performed via the primary link between the master device and the slave device, the slave device using a backup link to perform time synchronization. By the method and device in the embodiments of the present document, the technical problem of time synchronization failure caused by abnormalities in the related art is solved, and the technical effect of improving the reliability of time synchronization is achieved.