Timing and synchronization for Quasi-Real-Time systems using IEEE 1588v2 over Ethernet

Ethernet and IEEE 1588 are continuing to emerge in a wide range of industries. Increasingly, they are replacing industry-specific interconnects, delivering performance and cost efficiencies. Initiatives including Industrial Ethernet, IEC 61850, and LXI are all adopting commercial off- the-shelf technologies to achieve broader communications at far lower costs. However, significant investments that are warranted for large automation systems become prohibitively expensive for a diverse set of less, ambitious Quasi-Real-Time (QRT) applications that also require distributed communications and timing. This paper proposes an approach to address the communications and timing/synchronization requirements for QRT systems, characterized by simple and low-cost devices interconnected and synchronized over a real-time network. To achieve the aggressive cost targets, a highly integrated attachment device is introduced that integrates Ethernet communications, IEEE 1588v2 distributed synchronization, and precision I/O for local synchronization in a single, energy efficient device. Systems issues are also raised affecting the applicability for applications that can exploit a QRT network.