Time Synchronization Node Holdover Budget Signaling During Sync Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing time synchronization mechanisms struggle to extend holdover time at a TS node while maintaining synchronization capability.
Innovation Solution
A method and TS node that detect loss of synchronization and transmit a first announce message with a holdover time budget to slave nodes, allowing extended holdover time by periodically updating the budget and transitioning between 'Holdover-In-Specification' and 'Holdover-Out-Of-Specification' states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the TS node loses time synchronization with its master TS node, then the TS node cannot maintain accurate time synchronization, but immediate failure of synchronization occurs at slave TS nodes
Solution Approach 1:
The master TS node pre-calculates and announces a holdover time budget to slave TS nodes before actual synchronization loss occurs. This preliminary action allows slave nodes to prepare for extended holdover operation, preventing immediate synchronization failure when the master node loses sync with its reference clock.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a holdover time budget mechanism that acts as a cushion against synchronization loss. By announcing a predetermined holdover budget in advance, the system creates a safety margin that prevents immediate failure when synchronization is lost, allowing the network to maintain timing functionality during the holdover period.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the TS node transmits frequent announce messages to update holdover time budget, then extended holdover time is enabled, but network traffic and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous updates, the master TS node transmits holdover time budget announcements periodically. The slave TS nodes update their holdover budgets at these periodic intervals, reducing unnecessary processing and network traffic while still maintaining the ability to extend holdover time when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a predetermined holdover time budget that is announced in advance, rather than dynamically adjusting it in real-time. This partial action approach reduces processing overhead by avoiding continuous calculations and communications, while still providing sufficient holdover capability for typical synchronization loss scenarios.
3Reliability
If the TS node enters holdover state immediately upon losing synchronization, then synchronization failure is prevented, but the complexity of state management and budget tracking increases
Solution Approach 1:
The master TS node announces the holdover time budget to slave nodes before the slave nodes need to independently manage holdover states. This preliminary announcement simplifies slave node complexity by providing them with pre-calculated budget information, reducing the computational burden of state management and budget tracking at each node.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a method and time synchronization node for enabling extended holdover time. The method comprises: detecting whether the TS node loses time synchronization with its master TS node or not; and transmitting a first announce message comprising a first indicator to one or more slave TS nodes in response to detecting that the TS node loses the time synchronization with its master TS node, wherein the first indicator indicates a holdover time budget for enabling extended holdover time at the one or more slave TS nodes.