Method for determining a master time signal, vehicle, and system

• US 10,585,401 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2016
• Issued: 03/10/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Abo El-Fotouh, Mohamed
• Primary Examiner(s): Leon, Edwin A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Jason M
• Application Number:
  US15/241,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20160357159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,299 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 5/00 Setting, i.e. correcting or changing, the time-indication radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 7/00 Synchronisation radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/00 Setting the time according to the time information carried or implied by the radio signal

Abstract

A method is provided for determining a master time signal, in particular in a vehicle. The method includes the acts of: a) receiving at least one first server time signal from a first time server; b) receiving at least one second server time signal from a second time server; c) comparing the first server time signal with the second server time signal in order to determine at least one first time difference; d) storing the first time difference; e) determining an availability of the first server time signal and/or of the second server time signal; f) using the stored first time difference to determine the master time signal at least if at least one of the server time signals is not available.

Claims

1. A method for determining a master time signal in a vehicle, the method comprising the acts of:

a) receiving at least one first server time signal from a first time server;

b) receiving at least one second server time signal from a second time server,

c) comparing the first server time signal with the second server time signal to determine at least one first time difference;

d) storing the first time difference;

e) determining an unavailability of the first server time signal and/or the second server time signal;

f) calculating the master time signal, at least in response to determining the unavailability of the first server time signal and/or the second server time signal, using the stored first time difference;

(h) transmitting the master time signal to at least one control device of the vehicle and to the first time server; and

(i) operating the at least one control device and the first time server in accordance with the master time signal by adapting the master time signal as a time signal of the at least one control device and the first time server, respectively.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of:

g) storing the master time signal and/or at least one of the server time signals in a memory.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the master time signal and/or the at least one server time signal are stored in an encrypted form.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein acts a) to h) are repeated periodically or upon being triggered.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein acts a) to f) are repeated periodically or upon being triggered.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the acts of:

assigning weights to the first time server and the second time server; and

using the assigned weights to determine the master time signal, wherein the assigned weights are stored in a memory.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the assigned weights are periodically or dynamically determined and stored in the memory.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising the act of:

checking a respective weight of a respective time server when a manipulation attempt, a time leap and/or a transmission failure is determined on the respective time server.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the act of:

receiving the first server time signal and/or the second server time signal from a mobile terminal device, a navigation system, a vehicle clock, a radio and/or a back-end server.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising the act of:

performing a calibration in which a server time signal is received from the back-end server and is defined as the master time signal.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein:

in performing the calibration, the master time signal is compared with the first server time signal and/or the second server time signal and weights assigned to the first time server and/or the second time server are determined as a function of a determined time difference relative to the master time signal.

12. A vehicle, comprising:

a bus system configured to communicate with one or more control devices of the vehicle;

a memory;

a master time signal unit that determines a master time signal, the master time signal unit being configured to;

receive a first server time signal from a first time server,

receive a second server time signal from a second time server,

compare the first server time signal with the second server time signal to determine a first time difference and to store the first time difference,

determine an unavailability of the first server time signal and/or the second server time signal,

calculate the master time signal, at least in response to determining the unavailability of the first server time signal and/or the second server time signal, using the stored first time difference,

transmitting the master time signal to at least one control device of the vehicle and to the first time server, and

operating the at least one control device and the first time server in accordance with the master time signal by adapting the master time signal as a time signal of the at least one control device and the first time server, respectively,

wherein the master time signal, the first server time signal, the second server time signal and/or the first time difference is stored in the memory.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising a memory in which a weight or weights of the first time server and/or the second time server are stored.

14. The vehicle according to claim 12, wherein

the first time server or the second time server is a navigation system, a vehicle clock, a radio or a back-end server.

15. A system, comprising:

one or more mobile terminal devices,

a vehicle, the vehicle comprising;

a bus system configured to communicate with one or more control devices of the vehicle;

a memory;

a master time signal unit that determines a master time signal, the master time signal unit being configured to;

receive a first server time signal from a first time server,

receive a second server time signal from a second time server,

compare the first server time signal with the second server time signal to determine a first time difference and to store the first time difference,

determine an unavailability of the first server time signal and/or the second server time signal,

calculate the master time signal, at least in response to determining the unavailability of the first server time signal and/or the second server time signal, using the stored first time difference,

transmit the master time signal to at least one control device of the vehicle and to the first time server, and

operate the at least one control device and the first time server in accordance with the master time signal by adapting the master time signal as a time signal of the at least one control device and the first time server, respectively,

wherein the master time signal, the first server time signal, the second server time signal and/or the first time difference is stored in the memory,

wherein the first time server and/or the second time server are formed by a respective mobile terminal device.