| 摘要 |
<p>Each of the nodes of a plurality of nodes communicating with one another via a network (20) is provided with a time synchronization circuit (43) for synchronizing time values maintained by each node of the network (20). Each node includes a random access memory (40 or 62) and an electronically erasable read only memory (38 or 63), an internal clock (42) and a processing unit (36 or 60) electronically coupled to the clock (42) for: (a) causing the node to determine if the node is a unique node based on a predetermined protocol and, if the node is a unique node, causing the node to generate and transmit synchronization packets (64) to the other nodes connected to the network (20); and (b) process any received synchronization packets (64) in order to adjust the rate at which the time value maintained by the node is incremented in response to pulses from the clock (42) so that the time value maintained by the node is synchronized to the time value maintained by the unique node. The time synchronization circuit includes a synchronized time portion (99), a rate adjustment portion (92) and a timer portion (82). The synchronized time portion maintains the time value of the node. The rate adjustment portion receives a rate adjustment factor computed by the processor and uses the rate adjustment factor to adjust the rate at which the time value maintained by the synchronized time portion is incremented. The timer portion receives a local computation time interval computed by the processor and transfers the rate adjustment factor to the rate adjustment portion upon expiration of the local computation time interval.</p> |
