Sub-Millisecond Internal LAN Time Synchronization

ABSTRACT: High precision and low cost test data acquisition and analysis systems are of wide interest in both military and commercial circles today. These systems depend on accurate time or clock synchronization across the entire system in order to correlate individual data samples across multiple sensors. This proposal will outline a method to provide time synchronization across a network of computers using COTS networking equipment and general-purpose operating systems. Highly accurate time within 0.5ms will be available for direct use by data acquisition programs. This synchronization system will be flexible and scalable for future technology improvements through the use of industry standard time protocols. BENEFIT: The SW-only solution developed in this solicitation is highly attractive in both the DoD and the commercial sector due to its non-expensive and easy to setup property. This SBIR program obviously develops into a potential product for the military market, where accurate clock synchronization is required and time references may not always be accessible, such as DoD ground and flight test facilities, data acquisition systems, data fusion, internal aircraft or weapon system networks. Potentially interested parties, in addition to the Air Force, include all services of DoD. There is also a large market within the commercial sector where similar needs exist. That includes all data acquisition systems and any system requiring clock synchronization in API level.