Time synchronizing sensor continuous and state data signals between nodes across a network

摘要

Techniques are provided for synchronization of sensor signals between devices. One or more of the devices may collect sensor data. The device may create a sensor signal from the sensor data, which it may make available to other devices upon a publisher/subscriber model. The other devices may subscribe to sensor signals they choose. A device could be a provider or a consumer of the sensor signals. A device may have a layer of code between an operating system and software applications that processes the data for the applications. The processing may include such actions as synchronizing the data in a sensor signal to a local time clock, predicting future values for data in a sensor signal, and providing data samples for a sensor signal at a frequency that an application requests, among other actions.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
determining, by a first electronic device, which sensor signals are available over one or more networks, each of the sensor signals is available from another electronic device that has a sensor from which the sensor signal is derived, wherein the sensor signals include a first type of signal for continuous signals and a second type of signal for state signals; subscribing, by the first electronic device, to a first sensor signal of the sensor signals; establishing a common time reference between the first electronic device a second electronic device that publishes the first sensor signal; receiving the first sensor signal at the first electronic device over the one or more networks, the first sensor signal including timing information, a continuous signal based on sensor data, and a state signal; synchronizing the data in the first sensor signal to a local clock at the first electronic using the common time reference, including;
i) accessing samples and associated first time stamps in the continuous signal;ii) converting the first time stamps to local time using the common time reference; andiii) processing the first sensor signal at the first electronic device, the processing including extrapolating data in the continuous signal to predict a value for the continuous signal for a future point in time that is beyond any point in time for which the first device has received a value for the continuous signal;iv) accessing state information and associated second time stamps in the state signal;v) converting the second time stamps to local time using the common time reference; andvi) sending acknowledgments for state information that is received to the second electronic device that publishes the first sensor signal; andproviding the synchronized data to an application on the first electronic device.