# US 10,771,232 B2 · Information processing apparatus, time synchronization method, and computer-readable recording medium recording time synchronization program

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,771,232 B2
- Document ID: US10771232B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/693,456
- Filed: 2019-11-25
- Published: 2020-07-16
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2019-01-10
- Assignees: Fujitsu Limited
- Applicants: Fujitsu Limited
- Inventors: takashi shimizu; Ken Yokoyama; Hiroshi Murakawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10771232B2

## CPC

- H04L 7/04: Speed or phase control by synchronisation signals {(H04L7/0075 takes precedence)}
- H04Q 9/04: Arrangements for synchronous operation
- H04J 3/0664: {unidirectional timestamps}
- H04N 21/2187: Live feed
- H04N 21/242: Synchronisation processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Programme Clock References] {(arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18)}
- H04Q 2209/845: where the measuring is synchronized between sensing devices
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W)
- H04J: MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION (transmission in general H04B; peculiar to transmission of digital information H04L5/00; systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal H04N7/08; in exchanges H04Q11/00; stereophonic systems H04S)
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION

## Abstract

An information processing apparatus includes: a memory configured to store first system time; and a processor configured to: receive, from an information acquisition apparatus after the first system time is written in the memory, first information acquired by the information acquisition apparatus and first time information indicating acquisition time of the first information; receive, from the information acquisition apparatus after receiving the first information and the first time information, second information and second time information indicating acquisition time of the second information; converting, based on the first system time, reception time at which the first information and the first time information are received into second system time; convert, based on the second system time and the first time information, the second time information into third system time; attach the second system time to the first information; and attach the third system time to the second information.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An information processing apparatus comprising:
a memory configured to store first system time; and
a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to:
receive, from an information acquisition apparatus after the first system time is written in the memory, first information acquired by the information acquisition apparatus and first time information indicating first acquisition time of the first information;
receive, from the information acquisition apparatus after receiving the first information and the first time information, second information and second time information indicating second acquisition time of the second information;
convert, based on the first system time, reception time at which the first information and the first time information are received into second system time;
convert, based on the second system time and the first time information, the second time information into third system time;
attach the second system time to the first information; and
attach the third system time to the second information.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:
generate a difference between the second time information and the first time information;
calculate a difference between the third system time and the second system time from the difference between the second time information and the first time information; and
add the difference between the third system time and the second system time to the second system time to determine the third system time.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The information processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to:
calculate a frequency of a timing signal with which the first acquisition time or the second acquisition time is generated in the information acquisition apparatus, by utilizing the difference between the second time information and the first time information, a clock signal, and a frequency of the clock signal;
utilize, as the reception time, time that is identified based on the clock signal when receiving the first information and the first time information; and
calculate the difference between the third system time and the second system time by utilizing the difference between the second time information and the first time information and the frequency of the timing signal.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processor is configured to:
calculate a difference between the second system time and the first system time by utilizing the reception time and the frequency of the clock signal; and
add the difference between the second system time and the first system time to the first system time to determine the second system time.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to:
calculate the frequency of the clock signal by utilizing the first system time and the clock signal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to:
receive, from a specific information acquisition apparatus among a plurality of information acquisition apparatuses including the information acquisition apparatus, first information acquired by the specific information acquisition apparatus and first time information after the first system time is written in the memory;
receive, from the specific information acquisition apparatus, second information and second time information after receiving the first information and the first time information;
attach the second system time to the first information received from the specific information acquisition apparatus; and
attach the third system time to the second information received from the specific information acquisition apparatus.

### Claim 7

A time synchronization method performed by an information processing apparatus, the time synchronization method comprising:
receiving, from an information acquisition apparatus after first system time is written in a memory, first information acquired by the information acquisition apparatus and first time information indicating first acquisition time of the first information;
receiving, from the information acquisition apparatus after receiving the first information and the first time information, second information and second time information indicating second acquisition time of the second information;
converting, based on the first system time, reception time of the first information and the first time information into second system time;
converting, based on the second system time and the first time information, the second time information into third system time;
attaching the second system time to the first information; and
attaching the third system time to the second information.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The time synchronization method according to claim 7, further comprising:
generating a difference between the second time information and the first time information;
calculating a difference between the third system time and the second system time from the difference between the second time information and the first time information; and
adding the difference between the third system time and the second system time to the second system time to determine the third system time.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The time synchronization method according to claim 8, further comprising:
calculating a frequency of a timing signal with which the first acquisition time or the second acquisition time is generated in the information acquisition apparatus, by utilizing the difference between the second time information and the first time information, a clock signal, and a frequency of the clock signal;
utilizing, as the reception time, time that is identified based on the clock signal when the first information and the first time information are received, and
calculating the difference between the third system time and the second system time by utilizing the difference between the second time information and the first time information and the frequency of the timing signal.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The time synchronization method according to claim 9, further comprising:
calculating a difference between the second system time and the first system time by utilizing the reception time and the frequency of the clock signal; and
adding the difference between the second system time and the first system time to the first system time to determine the second system time.

### Claim 11

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein a time synchronization program for causing a computer to execute a process, the process comprising:
receiving, from an information acquisition apparatus after first system time is written in a memory, first information acquired by the information acquisition apparatus and first time information indicating first acquisition time of the first information;
receiving, from the information acquisition apparatus after receiving the first information and the first time information, second information and second time information indicating second acquisition time of the second information;
converting, based on the first system time, reception time of the first information and the first time information into second system time;
converting, based on the second system time and the first time information, the second time information into third system time;
attaching the second system time to the first information; and
attaching the third system time to the second information.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 11, further comprising:
generating a difference between the second time information and the first time information;
calculating a difference between the third system time and the second system time from the difference between the second time information and the first time information; and
adding the difference between the third system time and the second system time to the second system time to determine the third system time.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 12, further comprising:
calculating a frequency of a timing signal with which the first acquisition time or the second acquisition time is generated in the information acquisition apparatus, by utilizing the difference between the second time information and the first time information, a clock signal, and a frequency of the clock signal;
utilizing, as the reception time, time that is identified based on the clock signal when the first information and the first time information are received; and
calculating the difference between the third system time and the second system time by utilizing the difference between the second time information and the first time information and the frequency of the timing signal.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The non-transitory computer-readable recording medium according to claim 13, further comprising:
calculating a difference between the second system time and the first system time by utilizing the reception time and the frequency of the clock signal; and
adding the difference between the second system time and the first system time to the first system time to determine the second system time.
