Abstract
An IEEE 1588 based application scheme was proposed to achieve accurate time synchronization for a deep seafloor observatory network based on the communication topological structure of the Zhejiang University Experimental and Research Observatory. The principles of the network time protocol (NTP) and precision time protocol (PTP) were analyzed. The framework for time synchronization of the shore station, undersea junction box layer, and submarine science instrument layer was designed. NTP and PTP network signals were decoded by a PTP master clock on a shore station that receives signals from the Global Positioning System and the BeiDou Navigation Satellite System as reference time sources. These signals were remotely transmitted by a subsea optical-electrical composite cable through an Ethernet passive optical network. Accurate time was determined by time synchronization devices in each layer. Synchronization monitoring experiments performed within a laboratory environment indicated that the proposed system is valid and has the potential to realize microsecond accuracy to satisfy the time synchronization requirements of a high-precision seafloor observatory network.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Carta, A., Locci, N., Muscas, C., Pinna, F., Sulis, S., 2011. GPS and IEEE 1588 synchronization for the measurement of synchrophasors in electric power systems. Comput. Stand. Interf., 33(2):176–181. [doi:10.1016/j.csi.2010.06.009]
Chen, Y.H., Yang, C.J., Li, D.J., Jin, B., Chen, Y., 2012a. Design and application of a junction box for cabled ocean observatories. Mar. Technol. Soc. J., 46(3):50–63. [doi:10.4031/MTSJ.46.3.4]
Chen, Y.H., Yang, C.J., Li, D.J., Jin, B., Chen, Y., 2012b. Development of a direct current power system for a multinode cabled ocean observatory system. J. Zhejiang Univ.-Sci. C (Comput. & Electron.), 13(8):613–623. [doi:10.1631/jzus.C1100381]
Chen, Y.H., Yang, C.J., Li, D.J., Jin, B., Chen, Y., 2013. Study on 10 kVDC powered junction box for a cabled ocean observatory system. China Ocean Eng., 27(2):265–275. [doi:10.1007/s13344-013-0023-y]
del Rio, J., Toma, D., Shariat-Panahi, S., Mànuel, A., Ramos, H.G., 2012. Precision timing in ocean sensor systems. Meas. Sci. Technol., 23(2):025801. [doi:10.1088/0957-0233/23/2/025801]
Du, Z.P., Lu, Y.M., Ji, Y.F., 2011. An enhanced end-to-end transparent clock mechanism with a fixed delay ratio. IEEE Commun. Lett., 15(8):872–874. [doi:10.1109/LCOMM.2011.062911.110918]
Ferrari, P., Flammini, A., Marioli, D., Taroni, A., 2008. IEEE 1588-based synchronization system for a displacement sensor network. IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., 57(2):254–260. [doi:10.1109/TIM.2007.909471]
Ferrari, P., Flammini, A., Rinaldi, S., Bondavalli, A., Brancati, F., 2011. Evaluation of Timestamping Uncertainty in a Software-Based IEEE1588 Implementation. IEEE Conf. on Instrumentation and Measurement Technology, p.1–6. [doi:10.1109/IMTC.2011.5944319]
Han, J., Jeong, D.K., 2010. A practical implementation of IEEE 1588–2008 transparent clock for distributed measurement and control systems. IEEE Trans. Instrum. Meas., 59(2):433–439. [doi:10.1109/TIM.2009.2024371]
Jin, S.G., 2013. Recent progresses on BeiDou/COMPASS and other global navigation satellite systems (GNSS)-I. Adv. Space Res., 51(6):941. [doi:10.1016/j.asr.2012.12.007]
Kanazawa, T., Shinohara, M., Sakai, S., Utada, H., Shiobara, H., Yamada, T., Mochizuki, K., 2011. New Innovative Ocean Bottom Cabled Seismometer System and Observation in the Sea of Japan. IEEE Int. Symp. on Scientific Use of Submarine Cables and Related Technologies, p.1–3. [doi:10.1109/UT.2011.5774112]
Lentz, S., Lécroart, A., 2009. Precision Timing in the NEPTUNE Canada Network. OCEANS, p.1–5. [doi:10.1109/OCEANSE.2009.5278121]
Li, D.J., Yang, J.C., Lin, D.D., Yang, C.J., Jin, B., 2012. Power monitor system in seafloor junction box based on MCU and CPLD. J. Zhejiang Univ. (Eng. Sci.), 46(8):1369–1374 (in Chinese). [doi:10.3785/j.issn.1008-973X.2012.08.003]
Li, Z.S., Li, D.J., Lin, L., Chen, Y., 2010. Design considerations for electromagnetic couplers in contactless power transmission systems for deep-sea applications. J. Zhejiang Univ.-Sci. C (Comput. & Electron.), 11(10):824–834. [doi:10.1631/jzus.C0910711]
Lixia, M., Muscas, C., Sulis, S., 2009. Application of IEEE 1588 to the Measurement of Synchrophasors in Electric Power Systems. IEEE Int. Symp. on Precision Clock Synchronization for Measurement, Control and Communication, p.1–6. [doi:10.1109/ISPCS.2009.5340198]
López, J.M., Ruiz, M., Borrego, J., de Arcas, G., Barrera, E., Vega, J., 2010. A versatile trigger and synchronization module with IEEE1588 capabilities and EPICS support. Fus. Eng. Des., 85(3–4):340–344. [doi:10.1016/j.fusengdes.2010.04.021]
Loschmidt, P., Exel, R., Nagy, A., Gaderer, G., 2008. Limits of Synchronization Accuracy Using Hardware Support in IEEE 1588. IEEE Int. Symp. on Precision Clock Synchronization for Measurement, Control and Communication, p.12–16. [doi:10.1109/ISPCS.2008.4659205]
Mànuel, A., Roset, X., del Rio, J., Mihai Toma, D., Carreras, N., Shariat Panahi, S., Garcia-Benadí, A., Owen, T., Cadena, J., 2012. Ocean bottom seismometer: design and test of a measurement system for marine seismology. Sensors, 12(12):3693–3719. [doi:10.3390/s120303693]
Milevsky, A., Walrod, J., 2008. Development and Test of IEEE 1588 Precision Timing Protocol for Ocean Observatory Networks. OCEANS, p.1–7. [doi:10.1109/OCEANS.2008.5152029]
Mills, D.L., 2003. A brief history of NTP time: memoirs of an Internet timekeeper. ACM SIGCOMM Comput. Commun. Rev., 33(2):9–21. [doi:10.1145/956981.956983]
Mills, D.L., Martin, J., Burbank, J., Kasch, W., 2010. Network Time Protocol (Version 4) — Protocol and Algorithms Specification. DARPA Network Working Group Report RFC-5905, University of Delaware. Available from http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc5905.txt [Accessed on Mar. 23, 2013].
Moreno-Muñoz, A., Pallarés-López, V., de la Rosa, J.J.G., Real-Calvo, R., González-Redondo, M., Moreno-García, I.M., 2013. Embedding synchronized measurement technology for smart grid development. IEEE Trans. Ind. Inf., 9(1):52–61. [doi:10.1109/TII.2012.2209659]
Neagoe, T., Cristea, V., Banica, L., 2006. NTP versus PTP in Computer Networks Clock Synchronization. IEEE Int. Symp. on Industrial Electronics, p.317–362. [doi:10.1109/ISIE.2006.295613]
Ouellette, M., Ji, K., Liu, S., Li, H., 2011. Using IEEE 1588 and boundary clocks for clock synchronization in telecom networks. IEEE Commun. Mag., 49(2):164–171. [doi:10.1109/MCOM.2011.5706325]
Refan, M.H., Valizadeh, H., 2011. Redundant GPS Time Synchronization Boards for Computer Networks. 19th Telecommunications Forum, p.904–907. [doi:10.1109/TELFOR.2011.6143691]
Sun, J., Ma, H.H., Xu, D., 2010. High Precision Time Synchronization Scheme for Distributed Intrusion Detection System. Int. Conf. on Computer Application and System Modeling, p.V2-219–V2-223. [doi:10.1109/ICCASM.2010.5619315]
Wang, Y.W., Long, F., 2010. Research of Time Synchronization in Digital Substation Based on IEEE1588. 2nd Int. Conf. on Information Science and Engineering, p.2320–2325. [doi:10.1109/ICISE.2010.5691671]
Ye, S., 2011. Beidou time synchronization receiver for smart grid. Energy Proc., 12:37–42. [doi:10.1016/j.egypro.2011.10.007]
Ying, G., 2012. Energy attenuation-based time synchronization for mobile underwater sensor networks. J. China Univ. Posts Telecommun., 19(2):57–64. [doi:10.1016/S1005-8885(11)60443-3]
Zhang, X.L., Tang, X.Q., Chen, J.H., 2008. Time synchronization of hierarchical real-time networked CNC system based on Ethernet/Internet. Adv. Manuf. Technol., 36(11–12):1145–1156. [doi:10.1007/s00170-007-0934-y]
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Project supported by the National High-Tech R&D (863) Program of China (No. 2012AA09A408) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51221004)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, Dj., Wang, G., Yang, Cj. et al. IEEE 1588 based time synchronization system for a seafloor observatory network. J. Zhejiang Univ. - Sci. C 14, 766–776 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.C1300084
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1631/jzus.C1300084