Industrial Machine Time Synchronization for Accurate Trace Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems fail to accurately determine the time point at which state data is acquired from a second industrial machine by a first industrial machine, due to asynchronous data acquisition processes.
Innovation Solution
The communication system synchronizes global timers between the first and second industrial machines, allowing the first machine to accurately grasp the time point of state data acquisition by transmitting and receiving time information alongside the trace data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If asynchronous communication is used between industrial machines, then communication flexibility is improved, but time synchronization accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a timestamp as an intermediary element that mediates between asynchronous communication and time synchronization accuracy. Each state data packet includes a timestamp generated by the second machine's timer, allowing the first machine to accurately determine when the data was acquired without requiring synchronous communication. This intermediary timestamp mechanism enables both asynchronous operation and precise time tracking.
2Device complexity
If state data is transmitted without timestamp information, then communication protocol simplicity is improved, but time point determination capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by generating and attaching the timestamp to the state data at the moment of data acquisition, before transmission occurs. The second machine's timer generates a timestamp that is preliminarily associated with the state data, ensuring that when the data reaches the first machine, the time point information is already embedded and immediately available for analysis.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a communication system (1), in which a first industrial machine (20) and a second industrial machine (30) are configured to communicate to/from each other, the communication system (1) including a synchronization module (201) configured to synchronize first time information updated by the first industrial machine (20) and second time information updated by the second industrial machine (30) with each other. The second industrial machine (30) includes an acquisition module (303) configured to acquire state data on the second industrial machine (30), and a transmission module (304) configured to transmit to the first industrial machine (20) the second time information at a time when the state data is acquired and the state data.