Apparatus, and an associated method, for facilitating synchronization in a wireless mesh network

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.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a network time register coupled to receive a time reference signal of values representative of a reference time, said network time register being configured to buffer and maintain updated values of the reference time; and    a data formatter coupled to said network time register, said data formatter being configured to format 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,    further comprising a latch register coupled to said network time register, said latch register being configured to latch buffered values of the reference time buffered at said network time register,    said apparatus being configured for use in a wireless mesh network having a first communication station and at least a second communication station, and being configured to perform time-synchronizing communication of data between the first and at least second communication stations.    
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , said latch register being further configured to receive a trigger signal being selectably applied to said latch register, and to buffer and latch the updated values of the reference time upon application of the trigger signal to said latch register.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22 , said latch register being further configured to receive the trigger signal being applied to said latch register responsive to occurrence of a selected event, buffering and latching at said latch register event-driven responsive to the occurrence of the selected event.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 23 , at least a selected one of the first and at least second communication stations being configured to access the latched values buffered at said latch register, the values accessible thereat representative of the reference time at which the selected event occurs.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , said network time register forming a portion of a selected one of the first and at least second communication stations and the selected one of the first and at least second communication stations at which said network time register is formed forming a time-reference communication station used by a nonselected at least one of the first and at least second communication stations to be synchronized thereto.  
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , the data communicated between the first communication station and the at least the second communication station comprising packet data and said data formatter being further configured to format the data into data packets of which at least selected ones of the data packets include the indicia associated with the updated values of the reference time.  
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising a strobe register coupled to said network time register, said strobe register being configured to generate the trigger signal which is selectably applied to said latch register.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27 , said strobe register being further configured to be set with a strobe value, and the trigger signal being generated each time in which the strobe value counts out.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising a clock oscillator, said clock oscillator being configured to generate the time reference signal, values of which said network time register is coupled to receive.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 29 , further comprising interface circuitry coupled to said clock oscillator and to said network time register, said interface circuitry coupled to receive an externally-generated master clock signal, and said interface circuitry being configured to selectively bias the clock oscillator to alter the time reference signal generated thereat.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 30 , said network time register, said data formatter, said clock oscillator, and said interface circuitry being formed at a selected one of the first communication station and the at least the second communication station and another of the first and at least second communication stations being configured to generate the externally-generated master clock signal.  
     
     
         32 . In the wireless mesh network of  claim 31 , an apparatus for the other of the first and at least second communication stations, said apparatus comprising an extractor for extracting the indicia associated with the updated values of the reference time when the data is communicated to the other of the first and at least second communication stations.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , said network time register comprising a first network time register formed at the selected one of the first and at least second communication stations and a second time register formed at the other of the first and at least second communication stations, said data formatter comprising a first data formatter formed at the selected one of the first and at least second communication stations and a second data formatter formed at the other of the first and at least second communication stations.  
     
     
         34 . A method, comprising: 
 buffering and maintaining updated values of a reference time responsive to reception of a time reference signal of values representative of a reference time; and    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 during said buffering,    further comprising the operation of latching a buffered value of the reference time buffered during said buffering,    said method for communicating in a wireless mesh network having a first communication station and at least a second communication station, and for time-synchronizing communication of data between the first and at least second communication stations.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising the operation of selectably generating a trigger signal, said operation of latching being performed responsive to generation of the trigger signal.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , said operation of selectably generating the trigger signal being performed responsive to occurrence of a selected event.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , the data to be communicated between the first and at least second communication stations comprising packet data and said operation of formatting comprising adding the indicia associated with the updated values of the reference time to at least select ones of data packets of the packet data.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , said operations of buffering and formatting being performed at the first communication station and said method further comprising the operations of: 
 sending the packet data to the second communication station;    extracting the indicia associated with the updated values of the reference time from the at least selected ones of the data packets; and    using the indicia extracted during said operation of extracting to synchronize the second communication station to the reference time buffered during said operation of buffering and maintaining.    
     
     
         39 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a network time register means coupled to receive a time reference signal of values representative of a reference time, said network time register means for buffering and maintaining updated values of the reference time; and    a data formatter means coupled to said network time register means, said data formatter means 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 means,    further comprising a latch register means coupled to said network time register means, said latch register means for latching buffered values of the reference time buffered at said network time register means,    said apparatus being configured for use in a wireless mesh network having a first communication station and at least a second communication station, and for performing time-synchronizing communication of data between the first and at least second communication stations.