Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating synchronization in a wireless mesh network
AssigneeNokia Corporation
InventorsDavid A. Beyer, Jori Arrakoski, Mika Kasslin
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Abstract
Apparatus, and associated method, by which to synchronize nodes in a wireless mesh network, such as a fixed broadband network or a moving ad-hoc mesh network. Time stamps are added to data packets at a reference node defined pursuant to a pseudo hierarchy. The data packets are communicated by the reference node to a receiving node. The time stamp information is extracted therefrom, to provide an indication of a time reference value from which the time stamp information is formed. Registers are maintained at the nodes with updated values of the timing information, used in time synchronization between the nodes of the mesh network.
Claims20
In a wireless mesh network having a first communication station and at least a second communication station, an improvement of apparatus for time-synchronizing communication of data between the first and least second communication stations, respectively, said apparatus comprising:
- a network time register coupled to receive a time reference signal of values representative of a reference time, said network time register for buffering and maintaining updated values of the reference time;
- and
- a data formatter coupled to said network time register, said data formatter for formatting the data to be communicated between the first and at least second communication stations of the wireless mesh network, the data, once formatted, including indicia associated with the updated values of the reference time buffered at said network time register.
In a method for communicating in a wireless mesh network having a first communication station and at least a second communication station, an improvement of a method for time-synchronizing communication of data between the first and at least second communication stations, respectively, said method comprising:
- buffering and maintaining updated values of a reference time responsive to reception of a time reference signal;
- and
- formatting the data to be communicated between the first and at least second communication stations, the data, once formatted, including indicia associated with the updated values of the reference time buffered during said operation of buffering.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.