Node synchronization for networks
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsAriton E. Xhafa, Jianwei Zhou, Xiaolin Lu
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Abstract
A network includes an intermediate node to communicate with a child node via a wireless network protocol. An intermediate node synchronizer in the intermediate node facilitates time synchronization with its parent node and with the child node. A child node synchronizer in the child node to facilitates time synchronization with the intermediate node. The intermediate node synchronizer exchanges synchronization data with the child node synchronizer to enable the child node to be time synchronized to the intermediate node before the intermediate node is synchronized to its parent node if the intermediate node has not synchronized to its parent node within a predetermined guard time period established for the child node.
Claims20
A network node comprising:
- a memory;
- a controller coupled to the memory;
- and
- a power module, wherein the network node is configured to:
- communicate with a child node via a wireless network protocol,
- when the network node has not synchronized to a parent node within a guard time period established for the child node, exchange synchronization data with the child node to enable the child node to be time synchronized to the network node before the network node is synchronized to the parent node.
A network comprising:
- a first network node;
- a second network node comprising a first memory, a first controller coupled to the first memory, and a first power module;
- and
- a third network node comprising a second memory, a second controller coupled to the second memory, a second power module, and a first sensor module, wherein:
- the first network node is a parent node of the second network node,
- the third network node is a child node of the second network node,
- the second network node is configured to:
- communicate with the third network node via a time division multiple access (TDMA) protocol, and
- when the second network node has not synchronized to the first network node within a guard time period established for the third network node, exchange synchronization data with the third network node to enable the third network node to be time synchronized to the second network node before the second network node is synchronized to the first network node.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.