Local Time Server Synchronization for Manufacturing Workstations
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Solution Overview
Problem
In manufacturing, newly manufactured computer machines often have incorrect date and time settings, leading to installation issues, poor user experience, and increased costs due to time zone differences, and existing methods are inefficient for synchronizing time across multiple machines, especially in environments without external network connections.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for synchronizing computer time in a manufacturing environment, where a server maintains timing information and transmits it over a network to newly assembled computers, which retrieve and configure their internal clocks, allowing for precise time and zone settings before shipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard methods are used to synchronize time with external servers, then time accuracy is improved, but network connectivity requirements increase manufacturing complexity and time constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a local time server as an intermediary within the manufacturing environment. Instead of directly connecting to external NTP servers, the system deploys a local time server that receives time from external sources and distributes it to all workstations on the manufacturing network. This intermediary eliminates the need for each workstation to have direct external network connectivity while maintaining time synchronization accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary time synchronization by pre-configuring a local time server before manufacturing operations begin. The local server is pre-synchronized with external time sources, and then all workstations automatically obtain time from this pre-configured local server throughout the manufacturing process, eliminating the need for real-time external network access during assembly.
2Measurement precision
If time synchronization is performed using external server connections, then time accuracy is improved, but manufacturing time increases beyond the 2-hour assembly window
Solution Approach 1:
The local time server is pre-configured and pre-synchronized with external time sources before manufacturing operations begin. All workstations are pre-configured to use this local server as their time source. This preliminary setup allows all time synchronization to occur instantly from the local server during the 2-hour assembly window, rather than requiring each workstation to independently synchronize with external servers during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a local copy of the external time server functionality within the manufacturing environment. The local time server replicates the time synchronization service, allowing all workstations to obtain time information from this local copy rather than making individual connections to external servers. This copying enables instantaneous time distribution to multiple workstations simultaneously within the constrained assembly time.
3Ease of manufacture
If generic time settings are used on newly manufactured computers, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but time accuracy deteriorates causing installation and user experience issues
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service time configuration where workstations automatically obtain time settings from the local time server during the manufacturing process. Instead of requiring manual time configuration or complex pre-configuration scripts, each workstation autonomously queries the local time server and configures its clock accordingly. This maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving accurate time settings specific to the manufacturing location's time zone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the time parameters (time zone, date, time) on each workstation based on the location of the manufacturing facility. Rather than using fixed generic time settings, the local time server provides location-appropriate time parameters, and workstations automatically adopt these parameters. This allows the same manufacturing process to produce accurately timed machines for different global locations without increasing manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for synchronizing computer time in a computer manufacturing environment. Briefly described, in architecture, one embodiment of the system, among others, can be implemented as follows. The system includes a computer network with a server maintaining timing information, the server communicatively coupled to a newly assembled computer via the computer network; time configuration logic which can be executed on the newly assembled computer which performs the actions of retrieving timing information from the server; and configuring a local clock on the newly assembled computer to a date and time corresponding to the timing information; and time transmittal logic which can be executed on the server which performs the action of transmitting the timing information over the computer network. Other systems and methods are also provided.