Time synchronization method between nodes in network and apparatus for implementing the same

A time synchronization method between nodes in a network, the time synchronization method comprising:

• measuring a value of a propagation time from a slave node to a master node using time stamps for each of one or more messages sent from the slave node to the master node;
• calculating an estimate of an actual propagation time using the one or more measured values and a linear digital filter;
• and
• computing an offset using a message transmission time corresponding to a sending of a message from the master node, a message receipt time corresponding to an arrival of the message at the slave node, and the estimate of the actual propagation time.

An apparatus for performing a time synchronization between nodes in a network, the apparatus comprising:

• a measured value measurement unit to measure a value of propagation time from a slave node to a master node using time stamps for each of one or more messages sent from the slave node to the master node;
• an estimate calculation unit to calculate an estimate of an actual propagation time using the one or more measured values and a sliding window;
• and
• an offset computation unit to compute an offset using a message transmission time corresponding to a sending of a message from the master node, a message receipt time corresponding to an arrival of the message at the slave node, and the estimate of the actual propagation time.

An apparatus for performing a time synchronization between nodes in a network, the apparatus comprising:

• a measured value measurement unit to measure a value of a propagation time from a slave node to a master node using time stamps for each of one or more messages sent from the slave node to the master node;
• an estimate calculation unit to calculate an estimate of an actual propagation time using the one or more measured values and a linear digital filter;
• and
• an offset computation unit to compute an offset using a message transmission time corresponding to a sending of a message from the master node, a message receipt time corresponding to an arrival of the message at a slave node, and the estimate of the actual propagation time.