Virtual Timing Markers for Signal Efficiency and Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transmission systems face inefficiencies and errors in precision timing markers due to collisions, multiplexing limitations, noise interference, and frequency congestion, which affect synchronization and location determination, especially in long-distance and high-speed applications.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of virtual timing markers, which are relocatable messages containing displacement or time-offsets relative to physical timing markers, allowing for efficient placement in available spaces, redundancy, and error correction, enabling overlap with other signal elements and reducing the need for frequent channel allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If physical timing markers are transmitted at fixed positions in the signal, then timing precision is maintained, but signal efficiency decreases due to inability to utilize available spaces and overlap with other signal elements
Solution Approach 1:
The timing marker function is segmented into two parts: a physical reference marker at a fixed position and a virtual timing marker message that can be relocated to any available space in the signal. This allows the reference function to remain stable while the data transmission function utilizes all available signal capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The timing marker information is moved from a single fixed time dimension to a message that can be placed in any available space dimension within the signal structure. This transforms the problem from one-dimensional positioning to multi-dimensional space utilization.
2Reliability
If timing markers are placed in fixed positions to ensure reliability, then timing accuracy is maintained, but channel capacity is reduced due to inability to multiplex efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of transmitting multiple physical timing markers at fixed positions, the system transmits a single physical reference marker and copies its timing information into virtual timing marker messages that can be placed in multiple locations throughout the signal, effectively multiplying the utility of a single reference.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual timing marker message serves multiple functions: it provides timing information, utilizes available signal spaces, can be redundancy-coded for reliability, and does not interfere with other signal elements. This multi-functionality resolves the trade-off between reliability and channel capacity.
3Reliability
If guard bands are inserted between timing markers to prevent collisions, then timing marker reliability is maintained, but signal bandwidth efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The collision prevention function is extracted from the signal structure itself and implemented through message processing at the transmitter and receiver. Virtual timing marker messages are placed only in validated available spaces, eliminating the need for guard bands while maintaining reliability.
4Measurement precision
If frequent physical timing markers are transmitted to improve precision, then timing accuracy increases, but infrastructure costs and frequency congestion increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary identification of available spaces in the signal structure and pre-places virtual timing marker messages in those spaces before transmission. This allows frequent timing information to be provided without requiring frequent physical marker transmissions, reducing infrastructure complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are methods and apparatus to utilize virtual timing markers to improve transmission and reception of electronic or optic signals having timing markers such as zero-to-one transitions. Physical timing markers are augmented or substituted with relocatable messages containing displacements or time offsets to other physical timing markers in a reference signal waveform. Additionally disclosed are virtual timing marker methods to improve transmission performance, qualities, operation, or use, such as timing markers that can overlap other timing markers or other signal content waveforms, seamlessly span over intermittent signals, or reference the more precise underlying signal carrier waveforms as well as timing marker error detection and correction, dispersed redundant timing markers, statistical precision enhancement, concealing timing markers from jammers, subscriber access by encryption, increased signal content efficiency, and reduced multiplexing. These are beneficial in handling and relaying high precision positioning-navigation-and-timing signals, or for piggybacking them on other purpose signals.