TIME SYNCHRONIZATION WITHIN A DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING SYSTEM

摘要

The present invention provides time synchronization across a distributed processing system (10) by sending a synchronization set up command over a first bus (72) and sending a synchronization execution command over a second bus (80). A distributed system reference clock (56) is used to insure that central (14) and distributed (38) controllers each synchronize to the same clock signal. Synchronization is set up through a software controlled communication bus (32) and actual synchronization is executed through a hardware controlled communication bus (33). Use of a hardware controlled communication bus (33) provides immediate synchronization of a high resolution real time clock and permits delayed synchronization of a lower resolution real time clock.