Method and apparatus for probabilistic clock synchronization with interval arithmetic
First Claim
1. For use with a system including a node coupled to a communication network, the node maintaining an internal time representation, a method for synchronizing the internal time representation with a remote time representation maintained elsewhere in the system, each of the internal and remote time representations including an instantaneous time and a precision range about the instantaneous time, the method comprising the steps, executed by the node, of:
- identifying a first time for the internal time representation of the node and a second time for the remote time representation, the precision range of the first and second times forming respective first and second time intervals, the synchronization to be performed based on the first and second time intervals; and
synchronizing the internal time representation, in terms of a new instantaneous time and a new precision range thereabout, the precision range thereabout being based on an intersection between the first and second time intervals.
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Abstract
A probabilistic dock synchronization scheme for synchronization of time docks between nodes on a communication network is disclosed, in which a round trip exchange of messages is used to establish that one time according to a first time scale falls between two times according to a second time scale. A time related to the two second time scale times, preferably midway between the two times, is used for synchronizing with the time according to the first time scale. Each time is given in terms of a time value and a plus-or-minus precision range, thereby defining an interval. Enhanced precision is achieved by computing a new precision range for the synchronized time based on an intersection between the intervals of the related time and the time according to the first time scale.
38 Citations
28 Claims
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1. For use with a system including a node coupled to a communication network, the node maintaining an internal time representation, a method for synchronizing the internal time representation with a remote time representation maintained elsewhere in the system, each of the internal and remote time representations including an instantaneous time and a precision range about the instantaneous time, the method comprising the steps, executed by the node, of:
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identifying a first time for the internal time representation of the node and a second time for the remote time representation, the precision range of the first and second times forming respective first and second time intervals, the synchronization to be performed based on the first and second time intervals; and synchronizing the internal time representation, in terms of a new instantaneous time and a new precision range thereabout, the precision range thereabout being based on an intersection between the first and second time intervals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system comprising:
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a communication network; and a node coupled to the communication network, the node maintaining an internal time representation, the node including; means for synchronizing the internal time representation with a remote time representation maintained elsewhere in the system, each of the internal and remote time representations including an instantaneous time value and a precision range about the instantaneous time, the means for synchronizing including; means for identifying a first time for the internal time representation of the node and a second time for the remote time representation, the precision range of the first and second times forming respective first and second time intervals, the synchronization to be performed based on the first and second time intervals; and means for synchronizing the internal time representation, in terms of a new instantaneous time and a new precision range thereabout, the precision range thereabout being based on an intersection between the first and second time intervals. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A node, for use with a system including a communication network and for coupling thereto, the node maintaining an internal time representation, the node comprising:
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means for synchronizing the internal time representation with a remote time representation maintained elsewhere in the system, each of the internal and remote time representations including an instantaneous time and a precision range about the instantaneous time, the means for synchronizing including; means for identifying a first time for the internal time representation of the node and a second time for the remote time representation, the precision range of the first and second times forming respective first and second time intervals, the synchronization to be performed based on the first and second time intervals; and means for synchronizing the internal time representation, in terms of a new instantaneous time and a new precision range thereabout, the precision range thereabout being based on an intersection between the first and second time intervals. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer program product, for use with a processor serving as a node of a system including nodes and a communication network coupled between the nodes, the node maintaining an internal time representation, for directing the node to synchronize the internal time representation with a remote time representation maintained elsewhere in the system, each of the internal and remote time representations including an instantaneous time and a precision range about the instantaneous time, the computer program product comprising:
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a recording medium; means, recorded on the recording medium, for directing the node to identify a first time for the internal time representation of the node and a second time for the remote time representation, the precision range of the first and second times forming respective first and second time intervals, the synchronization to be performed based on the first and second time intervals; and means, recorded on the recording medium, for directing the node to synchronize the internal time representation, in terms of a new instantaneous time and a new precision range thereabout, the precision range thereabout being based on an intersection between the first and second time intervals. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification