Time Synchronizer for Sensor Data Across Network Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Sharing sensor data between electronic devices is challenging due to the variety of data formats, making it impractical for software developers to ensure compatibility and handle disparate data types and timing synchronization.
Innovation Solution
A publisher/subscriber model is employed to allow devices to discover and subscribe to sensor signals of interest, with a software layer handling data synchronization and processing to make sensor data compatible for applications, eliminating the need for developers to manage different data formats and timing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a publisher/subscriber model is used to share sensor data, then device connectivity and data sharing capability are improved, but data format compatibility and timing synchronization complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a time synchronizer as an intermediary component between sensor data publishers and subscribers. This synchronizer handles the complexity of time synchronization and data format compatibility, allowing devices to connect and share data without requiring developers to manually manage these complexities. The synchronizer acts as a mediator that translates and coordinates data from different sources into a unified format.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the time synchronizer continuously monitors and adjusts timing information based on actual data reception and processing needs. This feedback loop enables dynamic adaptation to varying data formats and timing requirements, maintaining synchronization accuracy while handling format compatibility issues automatically.
2Ease of operation
If developers handle disparate data formats manually, then data processing control is maintained, but development time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The time synchronizer performs self-service by automatically detecting, parsing, and synchronizing data from multiple sensor sources without requiring developer intervention. It self-adjusts to different data formats and timing characteristics, freeing developers from manual synchronization tasks while maintaining full control over data processing through high-level APIs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-processing and synchronizing data formats before they reach the application layer. The time synchronizer prepares data in advance, converting and aligning it to standard formats, so that developers receive ready-to-use data without needing to spend time on format conversion and timing alignment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If time synchronization is performed at the application level, then processing flexibility is maintained, but synchronization precision and reliability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves time synchronization from the application level to a dedicated time synchronizer layer, adding a new dimensional level to the system architecture. This separate synchronizer dimension handles timing precision independently from application logic, allowing both high precision synchronization and processing flexibility to coexist at different layers of the system.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are provided for synchronization of sensor signals between devices. One or more of the devices may collect sensor data. The device may create a sensor signal from the sensor data, which it may make available to other devices upon a publisher/subscriber model. The other devices may subscribe to sensor signals they choose. A device could be a provider or a consumer of the sensor signals. A device may have a layer of code between an operating system and software applications that processes the data for the applications. The processing may include such actions as synchronizing the data in a sensor signal to a local time clock, predicting future values for data in a sensor signal, and providing data samples for a sensor signal at a frequency that an application requests, among other actions.