Arcom Control Systems

News Release from: Real-Time Systems
Subject: VxWorks for x86
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 14 December 2006

Time synchronisation via Ethernet

Real-Time Systems brings to market an example implementation of its software-only implementation of the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol on real time operating system

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Real-Time Systems (RTS), a leader in real-time software development, brings to market an example implementation of its software-only implementation of the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol on the real time operating system VxWorks for x86 architectures. With the example implementation, customers using the RTOS VxWorks in instrumentation, automation systems and process control networks will benefit from an off-the-shelf solution eliminating the need for hardware-based timestamping and delivering possible accuracies of +/- five microseconds or better. In the past, all implementations of the IEEE 1588 protocol requiring high accuracy also required hardware-implemented timestamping.

Typically hardware-implemented timestamping adds extra non-standard components and costs.

The Real-Time Systems implementation achieves high accuracy using only common network interfaces, and does not require hardware-implemented timestamping.

The new product includes all servo algorithms, regulators, filters, PTP-Clock based on hardware timer and direct Timer access.

The RTS IEEE 1588 stack is fully tested and comes complete with documentation.

The RTS IEEE 1588 Software Protocol Stack is available with source code.

The RTS IEEE 1588 Master and Slave software stack incorporates the full specification and functionality of the Precision Clock synchronisation Protocol for Networked Measurement and Control Systems (PTP).

Through PTP, multiple devices are automatically synchronised with the most accurate clock found in a packet-based network - typically Ethernet.

The RTS protocol stack automatically determines the most accurate clock, otherwise known as the Grand Master Clock.

During operation and after initial synchronisation, the PTP real-time clocks are constantly adjusted by exchanging timing messages.

The RTS implementation uses statistical techniques to further reduce residual fluctuations.

Because the RTS IEEE 1588 protocol stack supports the PTP hot-pluggable functionality requirement, devices may join or leave the network at any time.

The software is simple, administration free and requires minimal resources of host components or networks.

To monitor, tune and analyse a PTP network, Open Source Tools are available in the market for free.

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