Time Synchronization Device for 5G Base Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current time synchronization methods, such as NTP and PTP, fail to achieve the required precision for 5G and LTE base stations due to limitations in packet transmission and reception, especially when non-compliant relay devices are used, leading to deterioration in synchronization precision.
Innovation Solution
A time synchronization device that connects to a master device, featuring a transmission/reception unit, a time information generation unit, and a time synchronization unit, which inhibits certain processing tasks during non-synchronization packet transmission and reception, ensuring precise synchronization using only synchronization packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If PTP time synchronization is used with non-compliant relay devices, then device compatibility and ease of deployment are improved, but time synchronization precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a time synchronization device as an intermediary component between the master device and slave devices. This device includes a transmission/reception unit that specifically processes PTP synchronization packets, a time information generation unit that creates accurate time stamps, and a time synchronization unit that calculates propagation time. By placing this specialized intermediary in the network path, precise time synchronization is achieved even when other network devices (switches, routers) are not PTP-compliant, as the synchronization function is isolated to dedicated hardware that can properly handle the timing-critical packets.
2Measurement precision
If all relay devices are made PTP-compliant, then time synchronization precision is improved, but device cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the time synchronization function from the general network relay function. Instead of requiring all network devices to be PTP-compliant, the solution divides the network into components with specialized roles: the time synchronization device handles only synchronization traffic with dedicated time-stamping and propagation-time calculation capabilities, while other relay devices can remain as standard, simpler equipment. This segmentation allows precise synchronization without making the entire system complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The time synchronization device acts as a mediator that bridges the gap between non-compliant relay devices and the requirement for precise synchronization. It receives synchronization packets from the master device, performs accurate time measurements, calculates propagation time, and forwards synchronized time information to slave devices. This intermediary approach allows the use of simple, cost-effective relay devices throughout the network while maintaining high synchronization precision through the specialized mediation function.
3Productivity
If packet transmission and reception are performed simultaneously, then network productivity is improved, but time synchronization precision deteriorates due to processing interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the time synchronization unit check the reception buffer before processing synchronization packets. The device determines in advance whether other packets are present in the buffer, and only processes PTP synchronization packets when the buffer is clear. This preliminary check prevents processing interference from other packets, ensuring that time-stamping and propagation-time calculation are performed without contamination from simultaneous packet handling, thus maintaining precision while allowing normal network traffic to continue.
Data Source
AI summary
A time synchronization device includes: a transmission/reception unit; a time information generation unit that generates internal time information indicating an internal time being a time inside the time synchronization device; and a time synchronization unit that performs time synchronization processing being processing of synchronizing the internal time with a master time being a time of a master device, wherein synchronization of the internal time is performed by using a packet for time synchronization transmitted between the master device and the time synchronization device, and the time synchronization unit inhibits inhibition target processing being processing of at least a part of the time synchronization processing when at least one of transmission and reception of a packet other than the packet for time synchronization is performed, and performs the inhibition target processing when transmission and reception of a packet other than the packet for time synchronization are not performed.