Synchronizing clocks across a communication link

US7583705B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Wi-LAN Inc. · CA

Inventors

• Pranesh Sinha · San Diego, US
• Sharon Akler · Kfar Sava, IL
• Yair Bourlas · San Diego, US
• Timothy Gallagher · Encinitas, US
• Sheldon L. Gilbert · San Diego, US
• Stephen C. Pollmann · Santee, US
• Frederick W. Price · Carlsbad, US
• Blaine C. Readler · Sterling, US
• John Wiss · Carlsbad, US
• Eli Arviv · Lod, IL

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 29, 2005
• Grant date: Sep 1, 2009
• Expiry date: Aug 28, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04W84/20
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

One or more clocks are synchronized across a communication link using a synchronization signal sent from a master to a slave clock. The synchronization signal may be an expected signal pattern sent at intervals expected by the slave. The slave clock may correlate received signals with a representation of the expected synchronization signal to produce a correlation sample sequence at a first sample rate. The synchronization signal receipt time is compared to the expected time and the slave clock is adjusted until the times match. Master and slave clocks synchronized across the communication link constitute a noncommon clock which may be compared on each side of the link to secondary independent clocks. The secondary independent clocks may be separately synchronized by adjusting one to have the same difference from its local noncommon clock as the secondary clock on the other side of the link has from its local noncommon clock.