Apparatus and method of flywheel time-of-day (TOD) synchronization
First Claim
1. In a wireless communications network having a plurality of nodes including local and neighbor nodes, each of the nodes having a time-of-day (TOD) and one of the nodes including a GPS-based time, a method of synchronizing a TOD of the local node to the GPS-based time, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) storing, in the local node, an update value for adjusting a TOD of the local node without losing time synchronization with a TOD of the neighbor node;
(b) receiving, in the local node, from the neighbor node, a first integer value corresponding to a number of update values for synchronization of the TOD of the neighbor node to the GPS-based time; and
(c) updating, in the local node, the TOD of the local node by the update value stored in step (a), after receiving the first integer value in step (b).
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Abstract
A wireless communications network including multiple nodes, and a local node having GPS-based time for synchronization of time-of-day (TOD) in the network. The network includes at least the local node and a neighbor node communicating in the network. The local node includes a clock generator for generating a local TOD, and a time management unit, coupled to the clock generator, for adjusting the local TOD. A receiver in the local node receives from the neighbor node a message including a neighbor TOD. A counter in the local node computes and provides an integer value corresponding to a number of update values for synchronization of the neighbor TOD to the GPS-based time. A transmitter in the local node transmits to the neighbor node the integer value provided by the counter, whereby the time management unit adjusts the local TOD to the neighbor TOD and then transmits the adjusted local TOD and the integer value to the neighbor node for synchronization of the neighbor TOD to the GPS-based time.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a wireless communications network having a plurality of nodes including local and neighbor nodes, each of the nodes having a time-of-day (TOD) and one of the nodes including a GPS-based time, a method of synchronizing a TOD of the local node to the GPS-based time, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing, in the local node, an update value for adjusting a TOD of the local node without losing time synchronization with a TOD of the neighbor node;
(b) receiving, in the local node, from the neighbor node, a first integer value corresponding to a number of update values for synchronization of the TOD of the neighbor node to the GPS-based time; and
(c) updating, in the local node, the TOD of the local node by the update value stored in step (a), after receiving the first integer value in step (b). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a wireless communications network having a plurality of associated nodes including a neighbor node, each of the associated nodes having a time-of-day (TOD), a method of synchronizing a TOD of the neighbor node to a GPS-based time of a first node entering the network, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) storing, in the first node, an update value for adjusting a TOD of the neighbor node without losing time synchronization with a TOD of another node in the network;
(b) receiving, in the first node, from the neighbor node, a message including a TOD of the neighbor node;
(c) computing, in the first node, an integer value corresponding to a number of update values for synchronization of the TOD of the neighbor node to the GPS-based time;
(d) setting a local TOD, in the first node, to the received TOD of the neighbor node; and
(e) transmitting, from the first node, the local TOD set in step (d) and the integer value computed in step (c) for synchronization of the TOD of the neighbor node to the GPS-based time. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A wireless communications network including a plurality of nodes, and one of the nodes having a GPS-based time for synchronization of time-of-day (TOD) in the network, comprising
at least a local node and a neighbor node communicating in the network, a clock generator in the local node for generating a local TOD, a time management unit in the local node coupled to the clock generator for adjusting the local TOD by an update value, and a receiver in the local node for receiving from the neighbor node a neighbor integer value corresponding to a number of update values for synchronization of the neighbor TOD to the GPS-based time, wherein after the receiver receives the neighbor integer value, the time management unit updates the local TOD by the update value if the neighbor integer value is greater than zero.
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20. A wireless communications network including a plurality of nodes, and a local node having a GPS-based time for synchronization of time-of-day (TOD) in the network, comprising
at least the local node and a neighbor node of the plurality of nodes communicating in the network, a clock generator in the local node for generating a local TOD, a time management unit in the local node, coupled to the clock generator, for adjusting the local TOD, a receiver in the local node for receiving from the neighbor node a message including a neighbor TOD, a counter in the local node for computing and providing an integer value corresponding to a number of update values for synchronization of the neighbor TOD to the GPS-based time, and a transmitter in the local node for transmitting to the neighbor node the integer value provided by the counter, wherein after the receiver receives the message, the time management unit adjusts the local TOD to the neighbor TOD and transmits the adjusted local TOD and the integer value to the neighbor node for synchronization of the neighbor TOD to the GPS-based time.
Specification