Patent ID: 7564864

Claim:
A communication timing control apparatus provided in each of a plurality of nodes in a communication system in which the nodes transmit data to each other, the communication timing control apparatus comprising: a selecting unit for selecting a positive number P; a transmitting and receiving unit for periodically transmitting, to at least one other node in the communication system, for each integer n from one to P, a series of output state variable signals indicating an operating state or operating timing of its own node, and receiving, from the at least one other node in the communication system, at least one series of input state variable signals indicating an operating state or operating timing of the at least one other node; and a timing decision unit for generating, for each said integer n from one to P, a series of transitions in the operating state or operating timing of its own node, the transitions occurring at a basic transition rate, but at timings adjusted according to the at least one series of input state variable signals and to the transitions in the series of transitions generated for integers from one to P other than n, and using said transitions to schedule data transmissions to the at least one other node; wherein the series of output state variable signals transmitted by the transmitting and receiving unit are synchronized with respective series of transitions generated by the timing decision unit.