System for synchronizing multiple computers with a common timing reference

• US 6,324,586 B1
• Filed: 09/17/1998
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jennifer K. Wallace, Susan Horwitz and Aric R. Johnson, Jennifer Wallace, Sustainable Stability LLC
• Original Assignee: Aric Johnson, Jennifer Wallace
• Inventors: Johnson, Aric R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US09/154,818
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 709/248, 342/352, 342/354, 342/356, 342/358, 342/381, 342/384, 342/442, 342/451, 342/153, 342/157, 375/356, 701/215, 343/745, 706/22, 706/21, 706/17
• US Class Current: 709/248
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 7/02 by radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0638 Clock or time synchronisation among nodes; Internode synchronisation synchronization for ring networks H04L12/422; data switching networks with synchronous transmission H04L12/43

Abstract

A synchronized timing system is disclosed for one or more of a plurality of network interconnected computers. The system utilizes a global satellite system and includes a receiver device for detecting out-of-phase signals from a plurality of satellite sources of the satellite system. A mechanism is provided for processing and phase correlating these signals to generate a single absolute time reference signal therefrom. An interface device is disposed in each computer for receiving the reference signal and adapting this signal as the internal master clock reference for the operating system of the computer. Finally, a mechanism interconnects each computer in the network of computers to synchronize the internal master clocks of the computers to the absolute time reference signal to create a plurality of network interconnected time synchronized computers. These computers may be additionally time synchronized and interconnected to other networks of computers through a global communication system such as the global Internet.

Claims

1. A system for synchronizing the clock cycle of a computer using output timing signals from a global satellite system, said synchronizing system comprising:

means for receiving uncorrected output signals from at least two satellites of the satellite system;

means for processing and correlating said uncorrected satellite signals and outputting a single corrected absolute time reference signal;

linking means for directing said reference signal to said computer;

means disposed in each said computer for receiving said absolute time reference signal; and

means for utilizing said absolute time reference signal as an internal reference master clock to create a discrete clock cycle for said computer referenced to said single absolute time reference signal.

2. The synchronization system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said synchronization system further includes network means for interconnecting a plurality of said synchronized computers to synchronize the internal master clocks of all said computers to said single absolute time reference signal.

3. The synchronization system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said plurality of computers comprise a first network of computers, and wherein said synchronization system includes a plurality of said networks of computers interconnected by data transmission means, all said computers of said plurality of networks of computers being synchronized to said absolute time reference signal.

4. The synchronization system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said computer is linked to a global communications system and synchronized with each other by said absolute timing reference signal.

5. The synchronization system as claimed in claim 4, wherein each said computer includes means for transmitting data to all other computers linked thereto in synchronized form utilizing said absolute time reference signal.

6. The synchronization system as claimed in claim 5, wherein each said computer has its own discrete clock cycle referenced to said single absolute time reference signal.

7. The synchronization system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said receiving means comprises a multiple antennae assembly containing multi-channel antennae for receiving said satellite signals.

8. The synchronization system as claimed in claim 7, wherein each said multi-channel antennae includes means for receiving a time reference signal from said multiple satellite signals, said satellite system comprising the global positioning satellite (GPS) system.

9. The synchronization system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said processing means comprises a pre-processor assembly adapted to perform data comparison, averaging and error correction to the signals produced by each multi-channel antennae within said antennae assembly and to output said absolute time reference signal, and amplifier means for transmitting said absolute time reference signal to said computers.

10. A synchronized timing system utilizing a global satellite system for linking a network of a plurality of network interconnected computers with each other, said system comprising:

receiver means for detecting out-of-phase signals from a plurality of satellite sources of the satellite system including means for processing and phase correlating said signals to generate a single absolute time reference signal therefrom;

interface means disposed in each said computer for receiving said reference signal;

means disposed in each said computer for adapting said signal as the internal master clock reference for the operating system of said computer; and

means interconnecting said computers in the network of computers to synchronize the internal master clocks of said computers to said absolute time reference signal to create a plurality of network interconnected time synchronized computers.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said receiver means comprises an antennae assembly containing spaced multi-channel antennae for receiving out-of-phase signals from a plurality of said satellite sources, said multi-channel antennae being spaced a known distance from each other, and wherein said processing means comprises a processor assembly adapted to perform signal differential correction between the signals detected at the spaced multi-channel antennae within said antennae assembly and to output said absolute time reference signal, and amplifier means for transmitting said absolute time reference signal to said interface means of each computer.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said plurality of network interconnected computers comprises an intranet of computers, and wherein said synchronizing interconnection means comprise local area network connection members interconnecting said interface means of said computers with each other and with said receiver means.

13. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein said plurality of computers comprise a network of interconnected time synchronized computers, and wherein each said computer in said network has its own discrete clock cycle referenced to said absolute time reference signal.

14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said plurality of computers comprise a plurality of said networks of computers in a distributed system linked together by a global communications system, each individual computer including data transmission means timed by said clock cycle to permit uninhibited non-buffered data access to any other said linked computer.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein said global communication network comprises the global internet.

16. A synchronized timing system utilizing a global satellite system to link a plurality of network interconnected computers with each other through a global communications network, said system comprising:

receiver means for detecting out-of-phase signals from a plurality of satellite sources of the satellite system including means for processing and phase correlating said signals to generate a single absolute time reference signal therefrom;

interface means disposed in each said computer for receiving said reference signal;

means disposed in each said computer for adapting said signal as the internal master clock reference for the operating system of said computer so that each said computer has its own discrete clock cycle referenced to said absolute time reference signal;

means interconnecting said computers in a network to synchronize the internal master clocks of said network interconnected computers to said absolute time reference signal; and

means interconnecting said plurality of networks of computers in a distributed system linked together by the global communications network, each said individual computer including means timed by said clock cycle to permit uninhibited non-buffered data access to any other computer linked through said global communications network.

17. The synchronized timing system as claimed in claim 16, wherein a plurality of said networks of computers are interconnected by a neural network.

18. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said receiver means comprises an antennae assembly containing spaced multi-channel antennae for receiving out-of-phase signals from a plurality of said satellite sources, said multi-channel antennae being spaced a known distance from each other, and wherein said processing means comprises a processor assembly adapted to perform signal differential correction between the signals detected at the spaced multi-channel antennae within said antennae assembly and to output said absolute time reference signal, and amplifier means for transmitting said absolute time reference signal to said interface means of each computer.

19. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said plurality of network interconnected computers comprises an intranet of computers, and wherein said synchronizing interconnection means comprise local area network connection members interconnecting said interface means of said computers with each other and with said receiver means.

20. A synchronization system for coordinating and synchronizing data transfer between computers through a global communications network, said timing system comprising:

a common timing reference for generating a single absolute time reference signal;

interface means disposed in each said computer for receiving said reference signal;

means disposed in each said computer for adapting said signal as an internal master clock for the operating system of said computer, each said computer having its own discrete clock cycle referenced to said absolute time reference signal and which comprises a time segment representing a specific unit of time which is assigned to a specific computer address; and

means linking said computers to each other through a global communications network and timed by said computer clock cycles to synchronize the internal master clocks of said computers to identify said computer by said specific computer address in the global communications network to permit uninhibited non-buffered data access between any said linked computers.

21. The synchronized timing system as claimed in claim 20, wherein said common timing reference for generating a single absolute time reference signal comprises a global satellite system.

22. The synchronized timing system as claimed in claim 21, wherein said system further comprises means for detecting uncorrected output signals from at least two satellites of said satellite system;

and means for processing and correlating said uncorrected satellite signals to generate said single absolute time reference signal.

23. A synchronized timing system for coordinating and synchronizing data transfer between functionally-identified computer subnetworks through a global communications network, said timing system comprising:

a common timing reference for generating a single absolute time reference signal;

interface means disposed in each said computer for receiving said reference signal;

means disposed in each said computer for adapting said signal as an internal master clock for the operating system of said computer, each said computer having its own discrete clock cycle referenced to said absolute time reference signal which comprises a time segment representing a specific unit of time within a specific block of time which unit is assigned to a specific computer address and which block of time is assigned to a specific function subnetwork; and

means linking said computers of each said subnetwork to each other through the global communications network and timed by said computer clock cycles to synchronize the internal master clocks of said computers to identify said computer within each said functional subnetwork by said specific computer address in the global communications network to permit uninhibited non-buffered data access between any said linked computers of a subnetwork.

24. The synchronized timing system as claimed in claim 23, wherein said common timing reference for generating a single absolute time reference signal comprises a global satellite system.

25. The synchronized timing system as claimed in claim 24, wherein said system further comprises means for detecting uncorrected output signals from at least two satellites of said satellite system;

and means for processing and correlating said uncorrected satellite signals to generate said single absolute time reference signal.

26. A massive parallel processing system utilizing distributed interacting computers synchronized through a global communications network utilizing a system for synchronizing the clock cycle of each computer using output timing signals from a global satellite system, said processing system comprising:

means for detecting output signals from at least two satellite sources of the global satellite system;

means for processing and phase correlating said satellite signals to generate a single absolute time reference signal;

interface means disposed in each said computer for receiving said reference signal;

means disposed in each said computer for adapting said signal as an internal master clock for the operating system of said computer, each said computer having its own discrete clock cycle referenced to said absolute time reference signal and comprising a time segment representing a specific unit of time which is assigned to a specific computer address;

means linking said computers to each other through the global communications network and timed by said computer clock cycles to synchronize the internal master clocks of said computers to identify said computer by said specific computer address in the global communications network to permit uninhibited non-buffered data access between any said linked computers; and

means for synchronizing and coordinating processing tasks to segment and distribute them to said plurality of synchronized computers to enhance the speed of said system.

27. A neural network of distributed interacting computers synchronized utilizing a common timing system, said neural network comprising:

a common timing reference for generating a single absolute time reference signal;

a plurality of interconnected first processing nodes each containing a plurality of individual computers, each said computer including interface means disposed for receiving said reference signal;

a plurality of interconnected second processing nodes each containing a plurality of individual computer servers, each said computer server including interface means disposed for receiving said reference signal;

a plurality of interconnected third processing nodes each containing a plurality of individual computer servers, each said computer server including interface means disposed for receiving said reference signal; and

a neural network interconnecting said first, second and third nodes adapted to synchronize said nodes to said absolute time reference signal.

28. The synchronized timing system as claimed in claim 27, wherein said common timing reference for generating a single absolute time reference signal comprises a global satellite system.

29. The synchronized timing system as claimed in claim 28, wherein said system further comprises means for detecting uncorrected output signals from at least two satellites of said satellite system;

and means for processing and correlating said uncorrected satellite signals to generate said single absolute time reference signal.

30. The neural network as claimed in claim 27, wherein said neural network further includes means disposed in each said computer and computer server for adapting said signal as an internal master clock reference for the operating system of said computer and server, each having its own discrete clock cycle referenced to said absolute time reference signal.

31. The neural network as claimed in claim 30, wherein each said computer and computer server includes data transmission means linking said computers and servers to each other through the global communications network and timed by said computer clock cycles to synchronize the internal master clocks of said computers and servers and to permit uninhibited non-buffered data access between any said linked computers and servers in the neural network.

32. The neural network as claimed in claim 31, wherein each said computer clock cycle comprises a time segment representing a specific unit of time which is assigned to a specific computer address to identify said computer or server in the global communications network to permit uninhibited non-buffered data access between any said linked computers and servers.

33. The neural network as claimed in claim 32, wherein said specific unit of time comprises no greater than a nanosecond.

34. An antennae assembly for synchronizing a plurality of interactive computers using differential signals from a plurality of satellite sources of a global satellite system, said antennae assembly comprising:

mounting means including at least one mounting arm of specified known length;

an antennae receiver member disposed at each end of said mounting arm, each said receiver member being adapted to detect the differential signals from a plurality of said satellite sources;

means for maintaining the horizontal alignment of said mounting member in one plane; and

means for processing and phase correlating said signals based on the known length of said mounting member to generate a single absolute time reference signal therefrom.

35. The antennae assembly as claimed in claim 34, wherein said mounting means comprises a pair of mounting arms aligned substantially perpendicular to each other in the same plane.

36. The antennae assembly as claimed in claim 35, wherein said mounting arms are mounted on a gyro to maintain the attitude thereof.

37. The antennae assembly as claimed in claim 35, wherein said mounting arms are retractable.

38. The antennae assembly as claimed in claim 34, wherein the specific unit of time for said single absolute time reference signal comprises no greater than a nanosecond.

39. A method of time synchronizing a plurality of network linked computers with each other utilizing a global satellite system, said method comprising:

receiving and detecting out-of-phase signals from a plurality of satellite sources of the global satellite system;

processing and phase correlating said signals to generate a single absolute time reference signal therefrom;

directing said reference signal to the interface of each said computer;

adapting said signal within each said computer as the internal master clock reference for the operating system of said computer; and

interconnecting said computers in the network of computers to synchronize the internal master clocks of said computers to said absolute time reference signal to create a plurality of network interconnected time synchronized computers.

40. The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein said plurality of network linked computers comprises an intranet of computers, and wherein said computers are interconnected to synchronize the internal master clocks of said computers by local area network connection members interconnecting the interfaces of said computers with each other and with the means for receiving and detecting out-of-phase signals.

41. The method as claimed in claim 39, wherein said plurality of computers comprise a plurality of said networks of computers in a distributed system linked together by a global communications system, and wherein each said computer in each said network has its own discrete clock cycle referenced to said absolute time reference signal, each individual computer including data transmission means timed by said clock cycle to permit uninhibited non-buffered data access to any other said linked computer.

42. The method as claimed in claim 41, wherein the discrete clock cycle referenced to said absolute time reference signal of each said computer is selected to be a time segment representing a specific unit of time within a specific block of time which unit is assigned to a specific computer address and which block of time is assigned to a specific function subnetwork within said linked network of computers.