Vehicle Signal Synchronization to Avoid Source Switching Interruptions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems face interruptions due to synchronization source switching during signal synchronization, leading to potential communication failures.

Innovation Solution

A method for vehicle-to-vehicle signal synchronization that involves a terminal device determining whether synchronization information is the same before synchronizing with another device, waiting for a random duration if different, and using the other device as a synchronization source only when necessary, thereby reducing the probability of communication interruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a terminal device immediately synchronizes with another terminal device upon detecting synchronization information, then synchronization speed is improved, but communication interruptions occur due to synchronization source switching

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization speedVSAvoidcommunication continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs preliminary comparison of synchronization information (S-SyncInfo) before executing synchronization. By checking whether the received synchronization information matches its own S-SyncInfo in advance, the device avoids immediate synchronization when unnecessary, thereby preventing synchronization source switching while maintaining fast synchronization when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If a terminal device continuously monitors synchronization information from other devices, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidmonitoring complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential synchronization information (S-SyncInfo) for comparison purposes, rather than continuously monitoring and processing all synchronization parameters. This selective extraction approach maintains synchronization accuracy by comparing key identifiers while reducing the complexity of continuous comprehensive monitoring.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If a terminal device waits for random duration before synchronizing, then synchronization source switching is reduced, but synchronization response time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization stabilityVSAvoidsynchronization delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The terminal device performs preliminary comparison of synchronization information before synchronization to determine whether synchronization is actually needed. This preliminary check eliminates unnecessary waiting periods, as the device only waits for random duration when synchronization is required, thereby reducing synchronization delay while maintaining stability by avoiding redundant synchronization source switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4068869B1Signal synchronization method, apparatus and system
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4068869B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4068869B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4068869B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~5B

AI summary

This application provides a method, an apparatus, and a system for signal synchronization. The method for signal synchronization includes: A self-synchronizing first terminal device broadcasts first synchronization information; determines whether the first terminal device and a second terminal device have implemented signal synchronization when receiving second synchronization information sent by the second terminal device; and determines, based on a determining result, whether to synchronize to the second terminal device. This reduces a probability of communication interruption caused by synchronization source switching by the first terminal device after the second terminal device performs synchronization by using the first terminal device as a synchronization source. The method for signal synchronization may be applied to scenarios such as the intelligent driving, intelligent connected vehicles, and Internet of Vehicles.