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It’s a situation that many have faced at one point or another – multiple devices, each with their own clock and each showing a different time. The challenge can be a simple annoyance, but it’s also a real risk for data synchronization and live media. The new Wi-Fi TimeSync initiative led by the Wi-Fi Alliance is an attempt to help solve that challenge.
The Wi-Fi TimeSync feature is able to provide sub-microsecond clock synchronization between connected Wi-Fi devices. With proper time synchronization, the promise is that there will be less packet jitter and smoother content streaming, providing a more consistent experience for time-sensitive content.
According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, Wi-Fi TimeSync is standard based technology that serves as a building block for coordinated connectivity among devices from multiple brands within a Wi-Fi network.Wi-Fi TimeSync devices connect and synchronize through an access point or peer-to-peer connectivity with Wi-Fi Direct.
“Wi-Fi TimeSync enables interconnectivity between various rich, media components and also entire systems. This enhanced capability will create an excellent, fully-synchronized media experience with Wi-Fi devices,” Edgar Figueroa, president and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance, said in a statement.
The plan is for Wi-Fi TimeSync to become a feature on certified Wi-Fi equipment in 2017.
Sean Michael Kerner is a senior editor at EnterpriseNetworkingPlanet and InternetNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TechJournalist.
