Wireless Timer Synchronization via Beacon Sampling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for synchronizing timers in wireless networks, particularly between devices using different protocols, face challenges such as timer oscillation and the need for multiple beacons to achieve synchronization, leading to delay jitter and buffer issues.
Innovation Solution
A method where a master timer is sampled at the start of a beacon and its value is broadcast in the next beacon, allowing a slave timer to be adjusted by subtracting the duration of the previous superframe from its sampled value, enabling synchronization with a single beacon and reducing oscillation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the existing PAL protocol method is used to synchronize timers by sampling master and slave timers at beacon start times and determining differences during second beacon processing, then timer synchronization between protocol entities is achieved, but the slave timer oscillates when master and slave timers have different initial values or when beacons are not received correctly, and multiple consecutive beacons are required for synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and broadcasting the master timer value at the start of the first beacon, rather than waiting until the second beacon. The slave timer is adjusted using this pre-broadcast value, eliminating the need to wait for the second beacon and preventing oscillation caused by delayed synchronization decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention skips the traditional two-beacon synchronization process by implementing a single-beacon method. The master timer value is sampled and broadcast in the first beacon, and the slave timer is immediately adjusted using this value, rushing through the synchronization process in one beacon instead of requiring two consecutive beacons.
2Measurement precision
If two consecutive beacons are required for timer synchronization in the existing method, then accurate timer difference calculation is achieved, but delay jitter and buffer overflow/under run issues occur due to the extended synchronization time and oscillation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention rushes through the synchronization process by completing timer synchronization in a single beacon instead of two consecutive beacons. The master timer value is sampled at the first beacon start, broadcast immediately, and used to adjust the slave timer without waiting for a second beacon, thereby reducing synchronization time and eliminating delay jitter.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary sampling and broadcasting of the master timer value at the first beacon, preparing the synchronization data in advance. This allows the slave timer to be adjusted immediately using pre-calculated values, eliminating the need for extended measurement periods and reducing synchronization time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the slave timer is adjusted based on timer differences determined during second beacon processing, then protocol compliance is maintained, but oscillation occurs when beacons are not received correctly or initial timer values differ
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements feedback by continuously monitoring beacon reception and adjusting the slave timer based on the broadcast master timer value. When beacons are received correctly, the slave timer is synchronized; when beacons are lost, the system can detect the discrepancy and recover, providing stable synchronization that adapts to reception conditions without oscillation.
Solution Approach 2:
The master timer value is sampled and broadcast in advance at the first beacon, providing a stable reference point before any potential reception issues occur. This preliminary action ensures that even if subsequent beacons are lost, the slave timer has already been set to the correct value, preventing oscillation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of synchronizing timers in a wireless network is described. According to some embodiments, a master timer is sampled at the start time of a first beacon in a first data object and the sampled master timer value is broadcast in a second beacon of a second data object. A slave timer is sampled at the start of the second beacon in the second data object and a value representing the duration of the first data object is subtracted from the sampled slave timer value to determine an updated sampled slave timer value. According to some variations, a difference is determined between the sampled master timer value and the updated sampled slave timer value. The method then uses the difference to synchronize the slave timer to the master timer and to other slaver timers synchronized to the same master timer.