Terminal Time Synchronization via Direct Sync Signal Exchange
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing time synchronization methods in terminal apparatuses require a significant number of messages and are complex, making them unsuitable for wireless environments with frequent packet loss, and do not allow synchronization with the selected repeater terminal apparatus.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for performing time synchronization between terminal apparatuses by receiving a sync signal with a reference time, transmitting a response signal, and calculating a time difference based on the reference time and reception time, with the option to perform synchronization based on the highest absolute time difference if the sync signal is continuously received for a preset threshold time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If time synchronization is performed through a repeater using the existing method, then the terminal apparatus can perform time synchronization with another terminal apparatus, but the number of messages transmitted and received increases significantly and the process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the repeater from the time synchronization process entirely. Instead of using the repeater as an intermediary that forwards sync signals and response signals (requiring multiple message exchanges), the terminal apparatus directly exchanges sync signals with the other terminal apparatus. This removes the complex multi-hop message routing through the repeater while still enabling time synchronization between terminal apparatuses.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces asymmetric role assignment where one terminal apparatus is selected as the synchronization target (not necessarily the repeater), and the sync signal flow is optimized accordingly. The terminal apparatus selects an arbitrary terminal apparatus as the synchronization target and directly communicates with it, creating an asymmetric communication pattern that reduces message complexity compared to the symmetric repeater-based approach.
2Reliability
If time synchronization is performed through a repeater using the existing method, then the terminal apparatus can perform time synchronization with another terminal apparatus, but the process is not appropriate for wireless environments with frequent packet loss
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the repeater from the synchronization path, the invention eliminates the additional message hops that are vulnerable to packet loss in wireless environments. The direct terminal-to-terminal sync signal exchange reduces the number of transmission points where packets can be lost, making the synchronization process more resilient to wireless channel conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal apparatus selects the synchronization target in advance and establishes a direct communication path before synchronization begins. This preliminary selection allows the system to optimize the sync signal transmission path specifically for reliability, choosing targets that are more likely to maintain stable connections in wireless environments rather than relying on the repeater's broadcast path.
3Ease of operation
If the terminal apparatus selects an arbitrary repeater and transmits a sync signal to the selected repeater, then the time synchronization process can be initiated, but the terminal apparatus does not perform time synchronization with the selected repeater
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the synchronization target selection from the repeater role. Instead of selecting a repeater and then using it as an intermediary (which creates confusion about the actual synchronization target), the terminal apparatus directly selects another terminal apparatus as the synchronization target. This makes the synchronization relationship clear and explicit, eliminating the information loss about who the actual sync partner is.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of the terminal apparatus transmitting sync signals to the repeater (as in the existing method), the invention inverts the approach: the terminal apparatus receives sync signals from the selected synchronization target. This inversion clarifies the synchronization relationship by making the target the active transmitter and the receiving terminal the active synchronizer, eliminating ambiguity about the sync target identity.
Data Source
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AI summary
A terminal apparatus and a method for time synchronization are provided. The method includes setting a reference time for a time synchronization with another terminal apparatus, transmitting a sync signal comprising the set reference time to the other terminal apparatus, and if a response signal to the sync signal is received from the other terminal apparatus, performing the time synchronization with the other terminal apparatus based on a transmission time of the sync signal and a reception time of the response signal. Therefore, a terminal apparatus further simply and rapidly performs a time synchronization with another terminal apparatus.