Industrial Time Synchronization Across Multiple Protocols
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Solution Overview
Problem
Supporting multiple time synchronization protocols in industrial devices is complex, leading to potential clock desynchronization and increased bandwidth usage due to the need for frequent communication with multiple time servers and the handling of different synchronization messages.
Innovation Solution
A nodal industrial device supports the TSN synchronization protocol and receives time references from time masters supporting different protocols. It identifies a principal time reference, correlates it with other time references, and controls communication with other time masters and devices to ensure synchronization and optimize bandwidth usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an industrial device supports multiple time synchronization protocols to ensure compatibility with different devices, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a time reference correlation mechanism that acts as an intermediary layer between multiple time synchronization protocols. The device receives time references from different protocols (IEEE 802.1AS, NTP, PTP), correlates them through a unified time reference framework, and distributes synchronized time to connected devices. This mediator approach enables protocol compatibility without requiring the device to implement complex multi-protocol synchronization logic directly.
2Measurement precision
If the device communicates frequently with multiple time servers to maintain synchronization across different protocols, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple time reference sources into a single correlated time reference framework. Instead of maintaining separate synchronization communications with multiple time servers for different protocols, the device consolidates time references from IEEE 802.1AS, NTP, and PTP protocols into a unified correlation mechanism. This reduces redundant communications and bandwidth consumption while maintaining synchronization accuracy across all protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The device performs preliminary time reference correlation by receiving and correlating time references from multiple protocols in advance, before distributing them to connected devices. This preliminary action establishes a unified time baseline that prevents the need for frequent corrective communications, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining synchronization accuracy.
Data Source
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AI summary
Examples for supporting multiple time synchronization protocols within an industrial device, are described. In one example, time references from each industrial device within the first set of industrial devices and the second set of industrial devices are obtained. The time reference provides the basis for synchronization of the clock and other clocks of first set of industrial devices and the second set of industrial devices. Thereafter, a principal time reference from amongst the time references, is selected. Once selected, the principal time reference is correlated with each of the time references obtained from the first set of industrial devices and the second set of industrial devices. With the principal time reference correlated, related communication with the second device may be controlled.