IP Library Granted Patent US 10,581,585
Granted Patent B2
US 10,581,585 · App. 14/457,100 · Granted Mar 3, 2020

Method and system for cross-protocol time synchronization

Inventors: Curtis Ling (Caelsbad, CA); Timothy Gallagher (Carlsbad, CA)
Assignee: Maxlinear, Inc.
H04L7/0079G01S19/05G01S19/246H04B1/707G01S19/235
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,581,585
App. No.
14/457,100
Granted
Mar 3, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems for cross-protocol time synchronization may comprise, for example, in a premises-based network, receiving a signal that conforms to a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) communications protocol. A global time of day (GTOD) clock may be extracted from the received signal. Communication on the premises-based network in accordance with a multimedia over cable alliance (MoCA) communications protocol may be synchronized based at least in part on the extracted GTOD clock. Communication in a third communications protocol may be synchronized, wherein the third communications protocol may include a home phoneline networking alliance (HPNA) standard, an IEEE 802.11x standard, and a non-public wireless network protocol. The extracted GTOD clock may comprise a GPS clock, GLONASS clock, and a Galileo clock. A second signal for extracting a GTOD may be received, such as a satellite signal, and may conform to a low Earth orbit satellite signal protocol.

Claims (32)

1. A method for communication, the method comprising:

in a premises-based network:

receiving a signal that conforms to a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) communications protocol;

extracting a global time of day (GTOD) clock from said received signal; and

synchronizing communication on the premises-based network in accordance with a multimedia over cable alliance (MoCA) communications protocol by synchronizing orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) channel frequency offsets to less than a part per million, based at least in part on said extracted GTOD clock.

2. The method according to claim 1 , comprising synchronizing communication in a third communications protocol in the premises-based network, wherein the third communications protocol comprises a home phoneline networking alliance (HPNA) standard.

3. The method according to claim 1 , comprising synchronizing communication in a third communications protocol in the premises-based network, wherein the third communications protocol comprises an IEEE 802.11x standard.

4. The method according to claim 1 , comprising synchronizing communication in a third communications protocol in the premises-based network, wherein the third communications protocol comprises a non-public wireless network protocol.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said extracted GTOD clock comprises one or more of: a GPS clock, GLONASS clock, and a Galileo clock.

6. The method according to claim 1 , comprising receiving a second signal for extracting a GTOD, wherein the second signal is a satellite signal.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein said satellite signal conforms to a low Earth orbit satellite signal protocol.

8. The method according to claim 1 , comprising receiving a second signal for extracting a GTOD, wherein the second signal conforms to any protocol that provides a GTOD.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said synchronizing comprises synchronizing timing of signals transmitted by a network controller of the premises-based network, based at least in part on said extracted GTOD clock.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said network controller comprises wireless network and wired network capability.

11. A system for communication, the system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a premises-based network, said one or more circuits being operable to:

receive a signal that conforms to a data over cable service interface specification (DOCSIS) communications protocol;

extract a global time of day (GTOD) clock from said received signal; and

synchronize communication on the premises-based network in accordance with a multimedia over cable alliance (MoCA) communications protocol by synchronizing orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) channel frequency offsets to less than a part per million, based at least in part on the extracted GTOD clock.

12. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to synchronize communication in a third communications protocol in the premises-based network, wherein the third communications protocol comprises a home phoneline networking alliance (HPNA) standard.

13. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to synchronize communication in a third communications protocol in the premises-based network, wherein the third communications protocol comprises an IEEE 802.11x standard.

14. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to synchronize communication in a third communications protocol in the premises-based network, wherein the third communications protocol comprises a non-public wireless network protocol.

15. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said extracted GTOD clock comprises one or more of: a GPS clock, a GLONASS clock, and a Galileo clock.

16. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits are operable to receive a second signal for extracting a GTOD, wherein the second signal comprises a satellite signal.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein said satellite signal conforms to a low Earth orbit satellite signal protocol.

18. The system according to claim 11 , wherein said one or more circuits is operable to synchronize communication on the premises-based network by, at least in part, being operable to synchronize timing of signals transmitted by a network controller of the premises-based network, based at least in part on the extracted GTOD clock.

19. The system according to claim 18 , wherein said network controller comprises wireless network and wired network capability.

20. A system for communication, the system comprising:

a multimedia over cable alliance (MoCA) network controller in a premises-based network, said MoCA network controller being operable to:

receive a DOCSIS signal;

extract a global time of day (GTOD) clock from said received DOCSIS signal; and

synchronize transmission of signals on a MoCA network by synchronizing orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) channel frequency offsets to less than a part per million based, at least in part, on said extracted GTOD clock.

Assignments (5)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 9, 2021
From: MAXLINEAR, INC.; MAXLINEAR COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; EXAR CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 056816/0089 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 23, 2021
From: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
To: MAXLINEAR, INC.; EXAR CORPORATION; MAXLINEAR COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 056656/0204 →
SUCCESSION OF AGENCY (REEL 042453 / FRAME 0001) Recorded Jul 1, 2020
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MUFG UNION BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 053115/0842 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2019
From: LING, CURTIS; GALLAGHER, TIMOTHY
To: MAXLINEAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 049458/0513 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 12, 2017
From: MAXLINEAR, INC.; ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC (F/K/A ENTROPIC COMMUNICATIONS, INC.); EXAR CORPORATION
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 042453/0001 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 12980202 · Dec 28, 2010
Provisional Application 61290449 · Dec 28, 2009
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