Patents by Inventor Hiroki SAKUMA

Hiroki SAKUMA has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20220060310
    Abstract: [Problem to be Solved] Optimizing a route of time synchronization in a network including apparatuses with different types of precision classes. [Solution to the Problem] A time transmission system includes BC nodes 200 with different types of apparatus performances, and multiple routes of PTP packets from GM nodes 101 and 102 to a BC node 220 via the BC node 200 are present. Each BC node 200 located upstream on a route performs notification of performance information indicating its apparatus performance to the BC node 200 located downstream with respect thereto. The BC node 220 includes a determination index calculation unit 11 that calculates a determination index for each route by referencing the performance information notified from the BC nodes 200 located upstream on each route, and a route selection unit 12 that selects a route for transmitting and receiving PTP packets from multiple routes of PTP packets to the BC node 220, based on the calculated determination index for each route.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Kaoru ARAI, Hiroki SAKUMA, Masahiro NAKAGAWA, Shunichi TSUBOI
  • Patent number: 11240141
    Abstract: [Problem] To select an optimal transmission path having a minimum total MTIE value of total MTIE values between a plurality of master apparatuses configured to transmit time information serving as a reference and a specific relay apparatus configured to receive the time information via a plurality of relay apparatuses to achieve time synchronization. [Solution] A time path selection apparatus 30 selects a transmission path employed for time synchronization, on the basis of a MTIE value evaluated in each of relay apparatuses 13 to 16, between master apparatuses 11 and 12 configured to transmit time information serving as a reference and a relay apparatus 15 or 16 at an edge configured to receive the time information via a relay apparatus 13 or 14 to achieve the time synchronization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Ryuta Sugiyama, Kaoru Arai, Hiroki Sakuma, Takaaki Hisashima, Shunichi Tsuboi, Osamu Kurokawa, Kazuyuki Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20220026857
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a time synchronization mechanism that is not affected by link asymmetry between time synchronization devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 27, 2022
    Inventors: Kaoru Arai, Hiroki Sakuma, Masahiro NAKAGAWA, Shunichi Tsuboi
  • Publication number: 20220021448
    Abstract: [Problem] To determine a time difference between clocks which, for example, are placed far apart from each other with high accuracy at low cost. [Solution] In a time comparison system 20, an intermediate station 21 disperses a single optical signal 21c in the spatial region using the optical complex amplitude modulation to simultaneously transmit the optical signal 21c to a plurality of comparative stations 22 and 23 apart from each other. The intermediate station 21 transmits the optical signal 21c while changing the transmission angle using phase modulation, performs intensity scanning for the reflected light c1 of the optical signal 21c, and detects the peak intensity to determine the directions of the comparative stations 22 and 23.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Hiroki SAKUMA, Kaoru ARAI, Ryuta Sugiyama
  • Publication number: 20220022151
    Abstract: [Problem] A time synchronization mechanism with which an impact of link asymmetry between time synchronization devices is reduced is provided. [Solution] A SW 3 used in the time transmission system in which a master node 1 and a slave node 2 performs transmission and reception of a PTP packet via the SW 3 and the time of the master node 1 is synchronized based on time information of the transmission and reception includes a delay calculator 32 that measures an intra-device delay between input and output of the PTP packet to and from the SW 3, and a delay information writing unit 33 that appends the intra-device delay measured by the delay calculator 32 to a packet subsequent to the PTP packet, and outputs the appended packet to an output destination of the PTP packet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Kaoru Arai, Hiroki Sakuma, Masahiro NAKAGAWA, Shunichi Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 11196499
    Abstract: [Problem] It is possible to improve the quality of time information by suppressing a jump in time which arises when switching a transfer path in a BC apparatus to which transfer paths of time information of at least 2 systems are connected to an input side. [Solution] A time synchronization apparatus 20 is mounted on a BC apparatus 12c in which two systems of at least a 0-system route (0-system) and a 1-system route (1-system) are connected to an input side, and includes a time correction value holding unit 26 configured to hold a 0-system correction value in which a time error resulting from delay of UTC due to performance inherent to the BC apparatus is the same value as a time error accumulated on the 0-system side and a 1-system correction value in which the time error is the same value as a time error accumulated on the 1-system side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Kaoru Arai, Hiroki Sakuma, Takaaki Hisashima, Ryuta Sugiyama, Shunichi Tsuboi, Osamu Kurokawa, Kazuyuki Matsumura
  • Patent number: 11196533
    Abstract: [Problem] To synchronize timings of transmitting and receiving a pulse signal (1 PPS signal) at a constant interval between communication apparatuses even in a case where an optical fiber connecting the communication apparatuses fluctuates in an optical characteristic and an optical fiber length. [Solution] The time synchronization system 20 transmits and receives a pulse signal at a constant interval between a local apparatus L (apparatus L) and a remote apparatus R (apparatus R) connected through the two-core bidirectional optical fibers F1 and F2 to synchronize time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Sakuma, Kaoru Arai, Ryuta Sugiyama, Takaaki Hisashima, Shunichi Tsuboi, Osamu Kurokawa, Kazuyuki Matsumura
  • Patent number: 11196535
    Abstract: A local device of a time synchronization system includes a path switching unit that connects respective remote devices using individual optical fibers and switches the respective optical fibers sequentially in a cyclic order, a counter unit, a phase difference memory unit, and a table unit. The counter unit counts a pulse signal P1d demodulated by a PPS demodulation unit to obtain a count value. The phase difference memory unit stores the count value as path information in association with a phase difference detected by a phase detection unit, and outputs the phase difference associated with this path information indicated by the count value to the variable delay unit. When the count value is input, the table unit outputs a path switching signal for switching to the next optical fiber in the cyclic order to the path switching unit and the path switching unit performs switching to the next optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroki Sakuma, Kaoru Arai, Takaaki Hisashima, Ryuta Sugiyama, Shunichi Tsuboi, Osamu Kurokawa, Kazuyuki Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20210314134
    Abstract: [Problem] To reduce a total equipment cost. [Solution] A local device (20A) of a time synchronization system (10A) includes a path switching unit (33) that connects respective remote devices (40A1 to 40An) using individual optical fibers (60a to 60n) and switches the respective optical fibers (60a to 60n) sequentially in a cyclic order, a counter unit (31), a phase difference memory unit (30), and a table unit (32). The counter unit (31) counts a pulse signal P1d demodulated by a PPS demodulation unit (23) to obtain a count value (T1). The phase difference memory unit (30) stores the count value (T1) as path information in association with a phase difference (?1) detected by a phase detection unit (22), and outputs, when the count value (T1) is input, the phase difference (?1) associated with this path information indicated by the count value (T1) to the variable delay unit (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2019
    Publication date: October 7, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroki Sakuma, Kaoru Arai, Takaaki Hisashima, Ryuta Sugiyama, Shunichi Tsuboi, Osamu Kurokawa, Kazuyuki Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20210302499
    Abstract: [Problem] To monitor a frequency difference between an input clock and a synchronous clock synchronized with the input clock. [Solution] A clock frequency monitoring apparatus that monitors the frequency of an input clock 18a includes a phase comparator 12 that compares a phase of a synchronous clock 18e phase-synchronized with the input clock 18a or a first frequency-divided clock 18f obtained by frequency-dividing the synchronous clock 18e with the phase of the input clock 18a, a filter 13 that low-pass filters an output signal of the phase comparator 12, an oscillator 14 that generates the synchronous clock 18e having a frequency corresponding to a control value from the filter 13, and a determiner 19 that determines that the frequency of the input clock 18a is abnormal when the variation amplitude of the output signal of the filter 13 is equal to or more than a predetermined range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Takaaki HISASHIMA, Hiroki SAKUMA, Kaoru ARAI, Ryuta SUGIYAMA, Shunichi TSUBOI, Osamu KUROKAWA, Kazuyuki MATSUMURA
  • Publication number: 20210072707
    Abstract: A management apparatus in a time synchronization system includes a time variation information receiving unit configured to acquire time variation information and position information of a time synchronization apparatus, a position information classifying unit configured to classify time synchronization apparatuses into predetermined categories based on the acquired position information, a time variation analysis configured to determine majority based on whether patterns of time variation of the time synchronization apparatuses belonging to an identical category are identical to each other, and to analyze the time variation based on the determined results, and a filtering and delivery unit configured to output an instruction to block the time information received from the positioning satellite, to the time synchronization apparatus having abnormal time variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Takaaki Hisashima, Hiroki Sakuma, Kaoru Arai, Ryuta Sugiyama, Shunichi Tsuboi, Osamu Kurokawa, Kazuyuki Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20210058223
    Abstract: [Problem] To synchronize timings of transmitting and receiving a pulse signal (1 PPS signal) at a constant interval between communication apparatuses even in a case where an optical fiber connecting the communication apparatuses fluctuates in an optical characteristic and an optical fiber length. [Solution] The time synchronization system 20 transmits and receives a pulse signal at a constant interval between a local apparatus L (apparatus L) and a remote apparatus R (apparatus R) connected through the two-core bidirectional optical fibers F1 and F2 to synchronize time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: February 25, 2021
    Inventors: Hiroki SAKUMA, Kaoru ARAI, Ryuta SUGIYAMA, Takaaki HISASHIMA, Shunichi TSUBOI, Osamu KUROKAWA, Kazuyuki MATSUMURA
  • Publication number: 20210021362
    Abstract: [Problem] It is possible to improve the quality of time information by suppressing a jump in time which arises when switching a transfer path in a BC apparatus to which transfer paths of time information of at least 2 systems are connected to an input side. [Solution] A time synchronization apparatus 20 is mounted on a BC apparatus 12c in which two systems of at least a 0-system route (0-system) and a 1-system route (1-system) are connected to an input side, and includes a time correction value holding unit 26 configured to hold a 0-system correction value in which a time error resulting from delay of UTC due to performance inherent to the BC apparatus is the same value as a time error accumulated on the 0-system side and a 1-system correction value in which the time error is the same value as a time error accumulated on the 1-system side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Publication date: January 21, 2021
    Inventors: Kaoru Arai, Hiroki Sakuma, Takaaki Hisashima, Ryuta Sugiyama, Shunichi Tsuboi, Osamu Kurokawa, Kazuyuki Matsumura
  • Publication number: 20200403901
    Abstract: [Problem] To select an optimal transmission path having a minimum total MTIE value of total MTIE values between a plurality of master apparatuses configured to transmit time information serving as a reference and a specific relay apparatus configured to receive the time information via a plurality of relay apparatuses to achieve time synchronization. [Solution] A time path selection apparatus 30 selects a transmission path employed for time synchronization, on the basis of a MTIE value evaluated in each of relay apparatuses 13 to 16, between master apparatuses 11 and 12 configured to transmit time information serving as a reference and a relay apparatus 15 or 16 at an edge configured to receive the time information via a relay apparatus 13 or 14 to achieve the time synchronization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2019
    Publication date: December 24, 2020
    Inventors: Ryuta SUGIYAMA, Kaoru ARAI, Hiroki SAKUMA, Takaaki HISASHIMA, Shunichi TSUBOI, Osamu KUROKAWA, Kazuyuki MATSUMURA