Precise time synchronization for communication devices in networks
US10833838B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 26, 2019 |
| Grant date | Nov 10, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2039 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04W56/0015
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Techniques for employing precise transmission capabilities of a physical (PHY) layer to transmit time-synchronization beacons at an edge-of-field-resolution increment of a field of MAC layer frame. In some examples, the PHY layer may transmit beacons with a greater precision than permitted by lower-resolution MAC layer header fields. The communication protocol may specify the size of the field that is populated with timing information at a first precision. However, the PHY layer may be capable of transmitting with a second precision that is greater than the first precision. Thus, to virtually increase the time-synchronization resolution of the beacons, the beacons may be transmitted by the PHY layer at an edge-of-field resolution of the MAC layer header field. In this way, the first precision of the timing information in the MAC layer header field is virtually increased to the second precision of the PHY layer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.