SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR CREATING TIME AWARE NETWORKS USING INDEPENDENT ABSOLUTE TIME VALUES IN NETWORK DEVICES

摘要

A time aware network having an inherent time reference that enables the sharing of network resources in a network environment wherein the transfer of synchronized time information is not required is provided. The internal time reference is established using absolute time values which are time coordinates extracted from a GPS signal. The absolute time values and a defined clock parameter block, coordinate how the time-aware devices use the internal time reference and are further used to establish a network domain. Devices capable of meeting the network clock domain timing requirements may participate in the domain. Upon joining a network clock domain, a client may access a shared resource through a locking authority which maintains the data coherency of the shared resource. The client, locking authority and shared resource are all time aware devices participating in the same network clock domain communicating using the internal time reference.