Precision Time Protocol (PTP)

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Introduction:

Electronic devices connected to a computer network generally require a method to synchronise their individual clocks. On an Ethernet network, there are three options, and in order of increasing accuracy, they are Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP), Network Time Protocol (NTP), and Precision Time Protocol (PTP).

As its name suggests, SNTP is a simplified version of NTP, differing from the latter in its error checking and time correcting algorithm. In use since before 1985, NTP is one of the oldest internet protocols and is accurate to tens of milliseconds on the internet and a few milliseconds on a Local Area Network.

Measurement and Control, financial transactions, mobile phone communications, and other technologies require increased accuracy and with clock synchronisation in the nanosecond range on a LAN, Precision Time Protocol is today’s method of choice.

Precision Time Protocol derives time from International Atomics Time (TAI), the number of seconds since the start of January 1st 1970. PTP devices are able to convert to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) and account for leap seconds.

At the time of writing, 1650467317 seconds have passed since January 1st 1970 began, thus making it Wednesday 20th April 2022, 15:08:37 International Atomics Time (TAI), or 15:08:00 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) subtracting the 37 leap seconds added since the count began.

PTP is fully defined by IEEE standard 1588 first published in 2002. A second non-backward compatible version 2 was published in 2008, and yet another in 2019 detailing enhancements that are backward compatible with IEEE 1588-2008.

Before going on to look at the PTP network topology, it’s worth a brief explanation of clock strata.

Clock Strata:

PTP and NTP use a hierarchical system of time sources in which there are multiple levels or stratum. A reference clock sits at the top most level is assigned the stratum number zero and is typically a GPS or a device with an atomic clock oscillator.

Any clock synchronised with a stratum 0 clock becomes a stratum 1 clock. Any clock synchronised with a stratum 1 clock becomes a stratum 2 clock, and so it continues to stratum 15, the stratum number indicating the distance from the reference clock rather than providing an indication of accuracy or reliability.

PTP Network Topology:

A PTP network requires PTP aware devices (routers, hubs, switches, etc.). Such devices can be classified as one of the following.

• Grand Master Clock (GMC)
• Master Clock (MC)
• Boundary Clock (BC)
• Transparent Clock (TC)
• Slave Device

The Grand Master Clock is the primary time source for all other devices on the network. It itself acquires time from a GPS or an atomic clock oscillator. The GMC is expected to be a stratum 1 clock device. Both our MDR flight test data recorders and On-Time range of rugged and airborne network switches include the ability to act as a PTP Grand Master Clock when connected to a GPS aerial. Should a Grand Master or Master Clock be required, the ITS 6115G-3E Janus Time Code Generator is ideal.

A wide network may require a Master Clock. These are slaved to either a Grand Master Clock or other PTP clock. They are therefore a stratum 2 device or lower in the hierarchy. Frequently multiple Master Clocks exist upon a network, and in these circumstances a Best Master Clock Algorithm (BMCA) is used to calculate which is the accurate and can provide some redundancy in event of a failure. A Boundary Clock has multiple network connections and can accurately synchronize one network segment to another. One port is a slave to a GMC or MC, whilst the other ports act as a MC to its dependent Local Area Network.

A Transparent Clock was introduced in the PTP V2. These may modify the PTP message as it passes through it, correcting the timestamp as it does so. Transparent Clocks are usually network nodes such as switches.

A Slave Device sits at the bottom of the topology. It may be a PC, an IP Camera, or other device that received and uses the PTP timecode for part of it functionality. Our Kappa FE-320 IP cameras are examples of a slave device that uses PTP V2 to accurately timestamp IP video streams.

How PTP Works:

Now let us take a look at how PTP actually works. Let us do so by using a simple example examining the timestamps during the synchronisation of a Slave Device to a Master Clock Device.

We will use some easy numbers, and leap into the future, 18th May 2033, at 03:33:20 (TAI), when 2000000000 seconds have passed since initiation. The slave device timestamp is running ten seconds behind.

PTP Network Devices:

Many of the devices Photo-Sonics International Ltd offer for test ranges and on-board flight test are PTP compatible.

	Time Code Generators The 6115G-3E Janus Time Code Generator (JTCG), when synchronized to the internal GPS or and external 1PPS, may be set to perform as a local PTP Master Clock in accordance with IEEE standard 1588 V2 default profile. In Master Clock mode the JTCG can synchronize up to 10 devices on its network. While acting as a Master Clock or when the JTCG time master is synchronized to an external PTP master or boundary clock, an external IRIG B (AM or DCLS), 1PPS or is a client of an NTP server the JTCG is synchronized IRIG B time code generator.
	Switches We offer a range of On-Time network switches that will act as a Grand Master Clock. Some will support the co-existence of Slave Devices operating either PTP V1 or PTP V2 on the same network.
	Flight Test Data Recorder The MDR family from Safran Data Systems continues to set the standard in flight test data recording for today and tomorrow. With its internal GPS, the MDR is able to act as either a Grand Master Clock, Master Clock, or Slave Device.
	Flight Test Video Camera The Full HD Flight Eye Camera FE 320 has been developed in close cooperation with major OEM aviation clients, for very low latency performance on Ethernet networks in extreme airborne requirements. It can be time synchronised by a PTP V2 Master Clock device.