Fault-tolerant distribution unit and method for providing fault-tolerant global time
US11489636B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 22, 2021 |
| Grant date | Nov 1, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 17, 2041 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/40176
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for providing a fault-tolerant global time and for the fault-tolerant transport of time-controlled messages in a distributed real-time computer system which comprises external computers and a fault-tolerant message distribution unit, FTMDU. The FTMDU comprises at least four components which supply the global time to the external computers by means of periodic external synchronization messages, wherein the external computers each set their local clock to the received global time, wherein each external sender of a time-controlled message transmits two message copies of the message to be sent via two different communication channels to two different components of the FTMDU at periodic sending times defined a priori in timetables, wherein these two message copies are delivered within the FTMDU via two independent communication paths to those two components of the FTMDU which are connected to an external receiver of the message via communication channels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.