Clock network

Clock network

A clock network or clock system is a set of clocks designed to always show exactly the same time by communicating with each other. Clock networks usually include a central master clock kept in sync with an official time source, and one or more slave clocks which receive and display the time from the master.

Contents

Synchronization sources

The master clock in a clock network can receive accurate time in a number of ways: through the United States GPS satellite constellation, a Network Time Protocol server, the CDMA cellular phone network, a modem connection to a time source, or by listening to radio transmissions from WWV or WWVH, or a special signal from an upstream broadcast network. Some master clocks don't determine the time automatically. Instead, they rely on an operator to manually set them.

Clock networks in critical applications often include a backup source to receive the time, or provisions to allow the master clock to maintain the time even if it loses access to its primary time source. For example, many master clocks can use the reliable frequency of the alternating current line they are connected to.

Slave clocks

Slave clocks come in many shapes and sizes. They can connect to the master clock through either a cable or a short-range wireless signal. Some slave clocks will run independently if they lose the master signal, often with a warning light lit. Others will freeze until the connection is restored.

Device synchronization

Many master clocks include the capability to synchronize devices like computers to the master clock signal. Common features include the transmission of the time via RS-232, a Network Time Protocol, or a Pulse Per Second (PPS) contact. Others provide SMPTE time code outputs, which are often used in television settings to synchronize the video from multiple sources. Master Clocks often come equipped with programmable relay outputs to synchronize other devices such as lights, doors, etc.

Applications

One of the driving factors in developing clock networks was the broadcast industry. Television, in particular, operates on a very strict schedule, where each second of airtime is planned ahead of time and must be executed precisely. A central clock system allows a television station's master control and production personnel to work within that schedule. A clock network synchronized to the standard UTC time also allows different television facilities to coordinate their activities without complicated out-of-band signaling. It also provides accurate timing to equipment in stations that are becoming increasingly automated.

While television broadcasters were some of the first users of clock networks, the equipment is becoming increasingly useful in other industries. For example, the National Emergency Number Association issued directive NENA-04-002, offering standards in timekeeping for 911 dispatch centers throughout the United States. Other common clock network users include airports and schools.

History

One of the first clock networks was installed by Charles Shepherd for the Great Exhibition, held in London in 1851. Shepherd's technology was then installed at the Royal Greenwich Observatory, and his clock outside the gate is still working.

In the period before the universal availability of A.C. mains or atomic clocks, many clock networks were installed using a highly accurate pendulum clock as a master clock. This clock resembled a longcase clock, but had a very robust mechanism and a less ornate case. Electrical contacts attached to the mechanism generated minute, half minute and sometimes one second electrical pulses which were fed to the slave clocks on pairs of wires. The devices driven could be wall clocks, employee time clocks, tower clocks and occasionally clock chiming mechanisms. Some master clocks were set up to control the frequency of a generating authority's mains output; others, in the UK, were arranged to synchronise themselves with the Greenwich Time Signal pips.

See also

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Clock synchronization — is a problem from computer science and engineering which deals with the idea that internal clocks of several computers may differ. Even when initially set accurately, real clocks will differ after some amount of time due to clock drift, caused by …   Wikipedia

  • Clock distribution network — In a synchronous digital system, the clock signal is used to define a time reference for the movement of data within that system. The clock distribution network (or clock tree, when this network forms a tree) distributes the clock signal(s) from… …   Wikipedia

  • Clock — For other uses, see Clock (disambiguation). Timepiece redirects here. For the Kenny Rogers album, see Timepiece (album). Platform clock at King s Cross railway station, London …   Wikipedia

  • Network On Chip — or Network on a Chip (NoC or NOC) is an approach to designing the communication subsystem between IP cores in a System on a Chip (SoC). NoCs can span synchronous and asynchronous clock domains or use unclocked asynchronous logic. NoC applies… …   Wikipedia

  • Clock Tower (video game) — Clock Tower Japanese cover art Developer(s) Human Entertainment Publisher(s) H …   Wikipedia

  • Network 7 — logo from Series 2 Format Youth current affairs show Created by Jane Hewland, Janet Street Porter …   Wikipedia

  • Network 7 (TV series) — Network 7 was a shortlived but influential BAFTA award winning youth music and current affairs programme screened on Channel 4 over two series in 1987 and 1988. The series was created by Jane Hewland and Janet Street Porter who was also editor of …   Wikipedia

  • Network Time Protocol — (NTP) Familia: Familia de protocolos de Internet Función: Sincronización de relojes de sistemas informáticos Puertos: 123/UDP Ubicación en la pila de protocolos Aplicación …   Wikipedia Español

  • Network Time Protocol — The Network Time Protocol (NTP) is a protocol and software implementation for synchronizing the clocks of computer systems over packet switched, variable latency data networks. Originally designed by David L. Mills of the University of Delaware… …   Wikipedia

  • Clock skew — Contents 1 In circuit design 1.1 Harmful skew 1.2 Beneficial skew 2 On a network 3 Interfaces …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”