Timing Synchronization Service Sub-Microsecond Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current time synchronization technologies, such as NTP and PTP, face challenges in providing accurate and precise time over long distances, with NTP offering only millisecond precision and PTP accuracy diminishing with distance, while being costly and difficult to implement across great distances, and lacking ease of onboarding and accessibility.
Innovation Solution
A precision timing system that uses a local system master clock to perform time synchronization processes by exchanging timestamps between probing device pairs to calculate delta times, slope values, and intercept values, which are then used to calculate timestamp offsets, distributed globally through cloud exchanges to achieve sub-microsecond precision across multiple cloud environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If NTP is used for time synchronization, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates to millisecond level
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces probing devices as intermediaries between end devices and master devices. These probing devices exchange timestamps to calculate delta times and derive slope/intercept values that characterize network path timing characteristics. This intermediary layer enables precise timing measurements without requiring end devices to directly implement complex synchronization protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/time-based synchronization protocols (NTP, PTP) with a statistical modeling approach. By collecting timestamp data from probing device pairs and fitting linear models (y = mx + b) to the data, the system substitutes complex protocol mechanics with mathematical calculations that achieve sub-microsecond precision.
2Measurement precision
If PTP is used for time synchronization, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of operation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automated probing device pairs that autonomously exchange timestamps and calculate timing parameters. The system automatically derives slope and intercept values without manual configuration, and master devices automatically apply corrections to end devices. This automation eliminates the operational complexity typically associated with PTP deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the time synchronization function into distinct components: probing devices that collect timestamp data, local system master clocks that calculate corrections, and end devices that apply synchronization. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specialized function with simplified logic, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining precision.
3Area of stationary object
If traditional time synchronization systems are deployed globally, then coverage area is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates over distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by deploying local system master clocks in distributed locations across the network. Each local master serves its regional cluster of end devices with locally-calibrated timing, rather than relying on a single remote master. This localizes the timing reference, minimizing the impact of long-distance network variability and maintaining precision across global deployments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional hierarchical master-slave model to a multi-dimensional distributed architecture. By introducing probing device pairs that operate independently of the master-slave hierarchy and by distributing multiple local masters across geographic locations, the system adds spatial and functional dimensions that enable both global coverage and local precision.
4Measurement precision
If probing device pairs exchange timestamps to calculate delta times, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to additional processing steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having probing device pairs continuously exchange timestamps and pre-calculate slope and intercept values before actual time synchronization is needed. These pre-computed parameters characterize the network path timing behavior and can be stored for rapid application, avoiding the need to perform complex calculations in real-time during synchronization events.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes techniques for delivering high-accuracy and high-precision clock synchronization in heterogeneous distributed computer clusters. For example, the disclosure describes a synchronization engine that sets efficient clock synchronization processes based on a cluster node's characteristics, pricing, precision, geolocation, and/or cluster topology, while in some cases using a combination of master clock data with internal atomic clocks of computers. The techniques described herein integrate the synchronization engine into a time synchronization process that may provide stability, versatility, precision and cost balance using technical improvements for characterizing timing system delivery channels.