Time Synchronization Anomaly Detection Using Predicted Parameter Errors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing time synchronization systems face challenges in detecting abnormalities with high accuracy due to fluctuations in time synchronization parameters, which are affected by transmission periods and network delays, making it difficult to identify abnormalities on the order of microseconds.

Innovation Solution

A configuration involving a relay apparatus and a monitoring apparatus that utilize machine learning and cumulative distribution tables to calculate and compare abnormality degrees of time synchronization parameters, facilitating the detection of abnormalities by predicting future parameter values and analyzing prediction errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If high accuracy time synchronization is implemented, then time synchronization accuracy is improved, but abnormality detection capability deteriorates due to parameter fluctuations masking microsecond-level abnormalities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime synchronization accuracyVSAvoidabnormality detection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary learning of normal parameter fluctuation patterns during a learning phase before actual monitoring. By pre-establishing the baseline behavior of time synchronization parameters under normal conditions, the system can later detect deviations from this baseline as abnormalities, effectively separating normal fluctuations from true anomalies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors time synchronization parameters and compares them against learned normal patterns, providing feedback on abnormality degrees. This feedback mechanism enables real-time detection and notification of abnormalities while maintaining high-accuracy synchronization operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If machine learning is used to detect abnormalities, then abnormality detection accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional processing requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabnormality detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential features needed for abnormality detection from the time synchronization parameters. Instead of implementing complex general-purpose machine learning systems, the invention focuses on learning and comparing specific parameter patterns (time synchronization parameters and their fluctuations) to detect abnormalities, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining detection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4401354B1Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and information processing program
Publication Date: 2025.12.10 MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP
  • EP4401354B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4401354B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4401354B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An inference unit (1033) predicts as a prediction parameter value, a future parameter value of a time synchronization parameter used for time synchronization calculation which is calculation for synchronizing times of two devices. When a measured parameter value which is a measured value corresponding to the prediction parameter value is generated with elapse of time, a cumulative distribution table generation unit (1034) calculates as a prediction error, a difference between the measured parameter value and the prediction value. A cumulative probability calculation unit (1036) calculates an abnormality degree indicating possibility that an abnormality is included in the measured parameter value, using the prediction error.