Wireless Device Clock Synchronization via Dedicated Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for synchronizing wireless devices in a network, such as frequent beacon frame transmission, consume bandwidth and are inefficient, especially when frequency deviations occur, leading to potential timeslot miss-alignment due to the instability of RC oscillators used as master clocks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dedicated synchronization channel for transmitting dedicated synchronization frames only when the density of other frames is below a threshold, allowing for precise synchronization without constant beacon frame transmission, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption and maintaining accurate timing alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frequent beacon frames are transmitted for synchronization, then devices remain synchronized, but bandwidth consumption increases and protocol streaming efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic synchronization frames transmitted at specific intervals (e.g., every 1024 timeslots or when deviation exceeds a threshold) rather than continuously. This periodic transmission maintains synchronization accuracy while minimizing bandwidth consumption and maximizing protocol streaming efficiency during data transmission periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the existing data frame transmission infrastructure to carry synchronization information. Data frames themselves serve dual purposes: delivering data and providing timing references for synchronization, eliminating the need for separate dedicated synchronization traffic and thereby preserving bandwidth for productive data streaming.
2Use of energy by moving object
If RC oscillator is used as master clock to reduce power consumption and physical space, then power consumption decreases and device size reduces, but frequency deviation increases causing timing offset
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where receiving devices monitor the timing of incoming synchronization frames, detect frequency deviations from their local RC oscillators, and report these deviations back to the transmitting device. The transmitting device then adjusts its future frame transmission timing based on this feedback, compensating for RC oscillator drift and maintaining timing accuracy despite using low-power RC oscillators.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts transmission parameters such as synchronization interval and frame timing based on detected frequency deviation levels. When deviation is small, normal operation continues; when deviation exceeds thresholds, the system increases synchronization frequency or adjusts timing parameters, allowing RC oscillators to operate efficiently while maintaining acceptable timing accuracy through adaptive parameter changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of synchronising the reference clock of a first wireless device with a master reference clock of a second wireless device via a wireless network. The method involves transmitting, from the second wireless device to the first wireless device, a dedicated synchronisation frame via a dedicated synchronisation channel; receiving the dedicated synchronisation frame at the first wireless device; and synchronising the reference clock of the first wireless device with the master reference clock of the second wireless device based on the received dedicated synchronisation frame.