IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP)

The PTP protocol defined in the IEEE1588 – 2002 standard allows for precise synchronization of distributed networks. It is not restricted to any particular network but Ethernet based will be first. Accuracy from milliseconds to nanoseconds can be achieved using software or hardware generated timestamps. Imsys is developing platform support for this standard as it is foreseen that future applications by customers will require a more exact clock including its distribution. IEEE 1588 from Imsys is supported on different levels.

In April 2007 Imsys demonstrated the SNAP1588 platform at the ESC 2007 and declared availability of the first the hardware platforms and later the availablity of the 1588 Protocol Stack from Zurich University Appliced Sciences.

IEEE 1588 is of interest for many

Deterministic behavior is of big importance in automation, motion control, military, measurement and numerous other applications. Ethernet equipped products is now becoming a commodity and many times these products will be in need to be synchronized with other such devices as precisely as possible over the network.

Industrial support

Many groups in the industrial sector have decided to adapt the protocol in their Ethernet-based devices. The ODVA, www.odva.org, has decided to use IEEE1588 for CIPSync, the real-time extension for Ethernet/IP - CIP. Siemens is working on an adoption for Profinet. Companies in the test and measurement industry has been in the forefront in the development and adoption of the standard, see www.lxistandard.org for further reading. More and more companies come from telecommunications and electrical power distribution.

Further reading: ieee1588.nist.gov

More info about Imsys and IEEE 1588: info@imsystech.com