Network Device Operation Synchronization via Timestamped Event Messages
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing synchronization techniques for devices in measurement systems, such as hardware trigger lines and software synchronization, face challenges like wiring complexities, latency, and inefficiencies in coordinating operations across distant instruments, while clock synchronization methods like NTP and IEEE 1588 primarily focus on maintaining synchronized clocks without addressing operational synchronization.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that synchronizes the operations of multiple devices via messages over a communication network, using synchronized local clocks according to IEEE 1588 or NTP, where event messages with timestamps coordinate actions among devices, allowing for dynamic programming of events and responsive actions, thus enabling precise temporal coordination of operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If hardware trigger lines are used to synchronize instruments, then precise synchronization is achieved, but wiring complexities and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical hardware trigger line system with a software-based message passing system over a communication network. Instead of using physical wires to transmit trigger signals between instruments, the system uses software messages containing timestamps and event identifiers that are processed by synchronized local clocks, thereby eliminating the need for complex physical wiring while maintaining synchronization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary message passing mechanism that facilitates synchronization without direct hardware connections. Messages act as intermediaries carrying timing information between instruments, allowing synchronization to occur through software coordination rather than direct hardware coupling, thus reducing wiring complexity.
2Measurement precision
If hardware trigger lines are used to synchronize instruments, then precise synchronization is achieved, but signal latency increases with distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical signal transmission through hardware wires with software-based message passing over a communication network. This substitution eliminates the propagation delays inherent in physical wire-based trigger lines, especially over long distances, while maintaining synchronization precision through the use of synchronized local clocks and timestamp-based coordination.
3Device complexity
If software synchronization with predefined time delays is used, then wiring complexities are reduced, but synchronization precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-synchronizing the local clocks of all instruments using IEEE 1588 or NTP protocols before the actual measurement process begins. This preliminary clock synchronization ensures that when events occur, each instrument's local clock is already aligned to a common time reference, enabling precise timestamp-based coordination without requiring complex runtime synchronization mechanisms or predefined time delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where instruments send event messages containing timestamps to other instruments. The receiving instruments use these timestamps, combined with their synchronized local clocks, to determine the precise timing of events and coordinate their actions accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that synchronization precision is maintained through continuous timing information exchange rather than relying on fixed predefined delays.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method synchronize operations of a plurality of devices via messages over a communication network. A plurality of devices are communicatively coupled via a communication network, and the devices have their local clocks synchronized to a high degree of precision a technique, such as IEEE 1588, for synchronizing their local clocks. Event messages can be sent that include an identification of an event, as well as a timestamp that is based on the local clock of the sender. The recipient of an event message determines if it is configured to act on the identified event, and if so it takes its action based on the timestamp included in the event message. In certain embodiments, the events that are to trigger an action and/or the specific responsive actions to be taken for a given event are dynamically programmable for each device.