Time synchronization in resource constrained networks
US10595274B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 29, 2017 |
| Grant date | Mar 17, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 29, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D30/70
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Techniques for providing additional timing information in periodic beacons in a network to enable battery powered devices to determine more appropriate listening windows for receiving the periodic beacons are described herein. In some examples, the battery powered devices use the additional information to determine more accurate listening windows based on a drift time of their internal clocks, and a jitter time of the network and/or a Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). Additionally, techniques for modifying when mains powered devices update their internal clocks based on transmission of beacons to downstream devices are described herein. For instance, the mains powered devices may refrain from updating their internal clocks to an updated network reference time until transmission of downstream beacons have occurred. In this way, timing synchronization of devices in a network may be improved, and battery life of battery powered devices in the network may be extended.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.