Time Synchronization in SpaceFibre Networks

Abstract

Real-time requirements are actual for most aerospace systems. Time synchronization in all network devices needs for implementation of real-time mechanisms. The SpaceFibre standard is developed for aerospace networks. But current version of this standard does not include any time synchronization mechanism. In this paper, we consider time synchronization mechanisms supported in standards currently used for aerospace systems and propose several mechanisms for time synchronization in SpaceFibre networks. We evaluate achievable synchronization accuracy for proposed mechanisms. For some of them achievable synchronization accuracy is better than that for considered standards. We propose implementation of proposed mechanisms based on dynamically reconfigurable local time controller unit. This implementation made it possible to explore the achievable characteristics of all proposed mechanisms. It is planned to use it in further research due to the possibility of reconfiguration. In the paper we show that in different networks, it may be advisable to use different synchronization mechanisms depending on user requirements. Our implementation with the dynamic reconfiguration provides the possibility of using various mechanisms, including when implemented with ASIC technology.