Wide-Area Precision Time Synchronization Via Regional Servers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing precision timekeeping mechanisms struggle to provide nanosecond-accurate time synchronization across large geographical areas and diverse network types, particularly over wireless networks, due to issues like excessive latency and jitter.
Innovation Solution
A system of dispersed time synchronization nodes communicating via optimized routing topologies, synchronized with reference clocks, to maintain and distribute precision time information across wide areas using both wired and wireless networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If traditional precision timekeeping mechanisms are used over wireless networks across large geographical areas, then time synchronization coverage is extended, but time synchronization precision deteriorates due to excessive latency and jitter
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the wide area into multiple regional zones, each served by a local precision time server. These servers are geographically distributed and each maintains precision time for its local region, avoiding the need to transmit time signals across the entire wide area which would cause excessive latency and jitter.
Solution Approach 2:
Local precision time servers act as intermediaries between the central time source and wireless clients in remote areas. These intermediaries receive precision time from central servers via wired connections and redistribute it locally via wireless networks, isolating the wireless transmission to short distances where latency and jitter remain minimal.
2Measurement precision
If precision time is distributed over wired networks with optimized routing, then time synchronization precision is maintained, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The precision time distribution network is segmented into hierarchical levels: central time servers at the top level, regional precision time servers at intermediate levels, and local clients at the bottom level. Each level communicates primarily with its immediate neighbors, reducing the overall network complexity compared to a fully connected mesh network.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a vertical hierarchical dimension to the network topology, organizing time servers in multiple levels rather than using a flat peer-to-peer structure. This hierarchical arrangement simplifies routing decisions and reduces the number of direct connections required while maintaining precision time distribution across the entire network.
Data Source
AI summary
A system described herein may maintain and distribute precision time across diverse locations and network types, including wired and wireless networks. A particular device may receive topology information indicating a particular set of time synchronization nodes, out of a plurality of time synchronization nodes of a time synchronize network; communicate with the particular set of time synchronization nodes on an ongoing basis, wherein the device and the plurality of devices maintain precision time information based on the ongoing communication; receive a request for precision time information from a particular time synchronization client, wherein the particular time synchronization client is assigned to the device based on attributes of the time synchronization client and the device; and output, to the particular time synchronization client and in response to the request, the requested precision time information.