System and method for time synchronization in a wireless network
First Claim
1. A system comprising:
- multiple wireless nodes forming a cluster in a wireless network, each wireless node configured to communicate and exchange data wirelessly based on a clock;
wherein one of the wireless nodes is configured to operate as a cluster master and each of the other wireless nodes is configured to (i) receive time synchronization information from a parent node, (ii) adjust its clock based on the received time synchronization information, and (iii) broadcast time synchronization information based on the time synchronization information received by that wireless node;
wherein the time synchronization information received by each of the other wireless nodes is based on time synchronization information provided by the cluster master so that the other wireless nodes substantially synchronize their clocks with the clock of the cluster master; and
wherein each of the other wireless nodes is configured to automatically select its parent node, the parent nodes arranged into a plurality of levels in the cluster.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system includes multiple wireless nodes forming a cluster in a wireless network, where each wireless node is configured to communicate and exchange data wirelessly based on a clock. One of the wireless nodes is configured to operate as a cluster master. Each of the other wireless nodes is configured to (i) receive time synchronization information from a parent node, (ii) adjust its clock based on the received time synchronization information, and (iii) broadcast time synchronization information based on the time synchronization information received by that wireless node. The time synchronization information received by each of the other wireless nodes is based on time synchronization information provided by the cluster master so that the other wireless nodes substantially synchronize their clocks with the clock of the cluster master.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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multiple wireless nodes forming a cluster in a wireless network, each wireless node configured to communicate and exchange data wirelessly based on a clock; wherein one of the wireless nodes is configured to operate as a cluster master and each of the other wireless nodes is configured to (i) receive time synchronization information from a parent node, (ii) adjust its clock based on the received time synchronization information, and (iii) broadcast time synchronization information based on the time synchronization information received by that wireless node; wherein the time synchronization information received by each of the other wireless nodes is based on time synchronization information provided by the cluster master so that the other wireless nodes substantially synchronize their clocks with the clock of the cluster master; and wherein each of the other wireless nodes is configured to automatically select its parent node, the parent nodes arranged into a plurality of levels in the cluster. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system comprising:
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multiple first wireless nodes forming a cluster in a wireless network, each first wireless node configured to communicate and exchange data wirelessly based on a clock; and at least one second wireless node configured to communicate wirelessly with at least one of the first wireless nodes; wherein one of the first wireless nodes is configured to operate as a cluster master and each of the other first wireless nodes is configured to (i) receive time synchronization information from a parent node, (ii) adjust its clock based on the received time synchronization information, and (iii) broadcast time synchronization information based on the time synchronization information received by that wireless node; wherein the time synchronization information received by each of the other first wireless nodes is based on time synchronization information provided by the cluster master so that the other first wireless nodes substantially synchronize their clocks with the clock of the cluster master; wherein each second wireless node is configured to receive time synchronization information from at least one of the first wireless nodes and to substantially synchronize its clock with the clock of the cluster master without broadcasting the received time synchronization information to any other nodes; and wherein each second wireless node is configured to enter a sleep state and to wake up during a scheduled period for receipt of the time synchronization information.
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11. A wireless node comprising:
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a transceiver configured to communicate with other wireless nodes including a second wireless node and a third wireless node in a wireless network cluster, the second wireless node comprising a first parent node; and a controller configured to; select the first parent node; receive time synchronization information from the first parent node; substantially synchronize the wireless node to the first parent node using the received time synchronization information; initiate transmission of time synchronization information to the third wireless node, the third wireless node configured to substantially synchronize to the first parent node using the transmitted time synchronization information; and select a second parent node and substantially synchronize the wireless node to the second parent node using time synchronization information received from the second parent node when communication with the first parent node is lost or interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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receiving time synchronization information from a first wireless node at a second wireless node, the first wireless node comprising a first parent node of the second wireless node; substantially synchronizing the second wireless node to the first wireless node using the received time synchronization information; transmitting time synchronization information from the second wireless node to a third wireless node in the cluster, the third wireless node configured to substantially synchronize to the second wireless node using the transmitted time synchronization information, the wireless nodes forming at least part of a cluster in a wireless network; and selecting a second parent node, receiving time synchronization information from the second parent node at the second wireless node, and substantially synchronizing the second wireless node to the second parent node using the time synchronization information from the second parent node when communication with the first parent node is lost or interrupted. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A method comprising:
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receiving time synchronization information from a first wireless node at a second wireless node in a first specified time slot; substantially synchronizing the second wireless node to the first wireless node using the received time synchronization information; and transmitting time synchronization information from the second wireless node to a third wireless node in the cluster in a second specified time slot, the third wireless node configured to substantially synchronize to the second wireless node using the transmitted time synchronization information, the wireless nodes forming at least part of a cluster in a wireless network; wherein the first and second specified time slots are reserved for exchanging the time synchronization information.
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Specification