Timing System Fixed Delay Clock Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current timing systems face challenges in achieving accurate clock information from satellite systems due to cable delay compensation errors and unstable frequency sources, leading to high installation costs and limited time accuracy.
Innovation Solution
An outdoor device for a timing system that includes a receiver for satellite clock information, a processing system for master functionality of a clock synchronization protocol, a transceiver for data transfer, and a memory device to store a fixed delay value, allowing for simplified clock synchronization without the need for precise oscillator stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If an oscillator is placed in a temperature-controlled indoor environment to ensure stable frequency, then frequency stability is improved, but cable delay compensation becomes challenging and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a timing message intermediary that carries timing information between the outdoor antenna and indoor oscillator, eliminating the need for complex cable delay compensation. The intermediary message allows the indoor device to accurately determine outdoor timing events without requiring precise knowledge of cable delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the timing measurement function from the physical cable connection by using timestamped timing messages. Instead of measuring cable delay through physical signal propagation, the system uses software-based timestamp recording and calculation, separating the timing function from the physical medium.
2Device complexity
If an oscillator is placed outdoors with the antenna to enable direct timing, then cable delay compensation is simplified, but frequency stability deteriorates due to harsh environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the timing system into two independent functional segments: an outdoor unit that records timing event timestamps with high precision, and an indoor unit that maintains stable frequency reference. This segmentation allows each component to operate in its optimal environment without compromising overall system performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The timing message acts as an intermediary that bridges the outdoor and indoor units, carrying precise timestamp information from the outdoor environment to the indoor environment where stable frequency reference is maintained. This intermediary enables accurate timing without requiring the oscillator to be physically located outdoors.
3Measurement precision
If a two-way clock synchronization protocol is used to accurately compensate cable delay, then time accuracy is improved, but the oscillator must maintain time scale which increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the time scale maintenance function from the oscillator by using unidirectional timing messages with recorded timestamps. Instead of requiring the oscillator to actively maintain and compare time scales through two-way communication, the system simply records absolute timing event timestamps, eliminating the need for complex time scale algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The timing system performs self-service by using the stable indoor frequency reference to generate and process timing messages without requiring external time scale synchronization. The indoor oscillator independently maintains accurate timing based on its stable frequency, eliminating the need for complex two-way synchronization protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
An outdoor device of a timing system includes a receiver for receiving clock information from a satellite system, a processing system for running master functionality of a clock synchronization protocol to transfer the clock information to an indoor device of the timing system, and a transceiver for transferring data between the outdoor device and the indoor device. A memory device stores a fixed delay value estimating a time delay from a reception moment of a request message related to the clock synchronization protocol to a transmission moment of a reply message. There is no need to compute a difference between clock times corresponding to the reception moment and the transmission moment because the fixed delay value is used in lieu of the difference in the clock synchronization protocol. Thus, quality requirements related to an oscillator of the outdoor device can be mitigated.