TL;DR: This presentation explains in detail the design and implementation of the NTP interleaved modes, and some of the mechanisms used for transferring data between servers and reference clocks.
Abstract: BASIC CONCEPTS Time Synchronization Time Synchronization Protocols Computer Clocks Processing Time Values Correctness and Accuracy Expectations Security NTP in the Internet Parting Shots References HOW NTP WORKS General Infrastructure Requirements How NTP Represents the Time How NTP Reckons the Time How NTP Disciplines the Time How NTP Clients and Servers Associate How NTP Discovers Servers How NTP Manages Network Resources How NTP Avoids Errors How NTP Performance Is Determined How NTP Controls Access How NTP Watches for Terrorists How NTP Clocks Are Watched Parting Shots References Further Reading IN THE BELLY OF THE BEAST Related Technology Terms and Notation Process Flow Packet Processing Clock Filter Algorithm Selection Algorithm Clustering Algorithm Combining Algorithm Huff-'n-Puff Filter Mitigation Rules and the Prefer Peer Poll Process Parting Shots References Further Reading CLOCK DISCIPLINE ALGORITHM Feedback Control Systems Phase and Frequency Discipline Weight Factors Poll Interval Control Popcorn and Step Control Clock State Machine Parting Shots References Further Reading NTP SUBNET CONFIGURATION Automatic Server Discovery Manual Server Discovery and Configuration Evaluating the Sources Selecting the Stratum Selecting the Number of Configured Servers Engineering Campus and Corporate Networks Engineering Home Office and Small Business Networks Hardware and Network Considerations Parting Shots References Further Reading NTP PERFORMANCE IN THE INTERNET Performance Measurement Tools System Clock Latency Characteristics Characteristics of a Primary Server and Reference Clock Characteristics between Primary Servers on the Internet Characteristics of a Client and a Primary Server on a Fast Ethernet Results from an Internet Survey Server and Network Resource Requirements Parting Shots References PRIMARY SERVERS AND REFERENCE CLOCKS Driver Structure and Interface Reference Clock Drivers Further Reading KERNEL TIMEKEEPING SUPPORT System Clock Reading Algorithm Clock Discipline Algorithms Kernel PLL/FLL Discipline Kernel PPS Discipline Clock Adjust Algorithm Proof of Performance Kernel PLL/FLL Discipline Performance Kernel PPS Discipline Parting Shots References Further Reading CRYPTOGRAPHIC AUTHENTICATION NTP Security Model NTP Secure Groups Autokey Security Protocol Parting Shots References Further Reading IDENTITY SCHEMES X509 Certificates Private Certificate (PC) Identity Scheme Trusted Certificate (TC) Identity Scheme Schnorr (IFF) Identity Scheme Guillou-Quisquater (GQ) Identity Scheme Mu-Varadharajan (MV) Identity Scheme Parting Shots References Further Reading ANALYSIS OF ERRORS Clock Reading Errors Timestamp Errors Sawtooth Errors Maximum Error Budget Expected Error Budget Parting Shots References MODELING AND ANALYSIS OF COMPUTER CLOCKS Computer Clock Concepts Mathematical Model of the Generic Feedback Loop Synthetic Timescales and Clock Wranglers Parting Shots References Further Reading METROLOGY AND CHRONOMETRY OF THE NTP TIMESCALE Scientific Timescales Based on Astronomy and Atomic Physics Civil Timescales Based on Earth Rotation How NTP Reckons with UTC Leap Seconds On Numbering the Calendars and Days On the Julian Day Number System On Timescales, Leap Events, and the Age of Eras The NTP Era and Buddy Epoch Comparison with Other Computer Timescales Primary Frequency and Time Standards Time and Frequency Dissemination Parting Shots References Further Reading NTP REFERENCE IMPLEMENTATION NTP Packet Header Control Flow Main Program and Common Routines Peer Process System Process Clock Discipline Process Clock Adjust Process Poll Process Parting Shots Reference Further Reading TECHNICAL HISTORY OF NTP On the Antiquity of NTP On the Proliferation of NTP around the Globe Autonomous Authentication Autonomous Configuration Radios, We Have Radios Hunting the Nanoseconds Experimental Studies Theory and Algorithms Growing Pains As Time Goes By Parting Shots References Further Reading BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX
TL;DR: In this paper, a media synch player includes a time control module, a digital data storage and retrieval device coupled to and responsive to the time controller, and an audiovisual data signal output.
Abstract: A media synch player includes a time control module, a digital data storage and retrieval device coupled to and responsive to the time control module and an audiovisual data signal output configured to supply audiovisual data to a display by playing a first media file from the digital data storage and retrieval device in response to commands from a system controller. The time control module is configured to request a system time from an external time server, reset the time control module in accordance with the system time, lock to a master clock contained in the external time server and resynchronize the first time control module in response to predetermined criteria being met.
TL;DR: In this article, a system and method for controlling the frequency of a common clock which is shared by a plurality of processing elements is described, and the frequency is determined as a function of the measured common clock usage by the plurality of elements.
Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling the frequency of a common clock which is shared by a plurality of processing elements. The usage of the common clock by each of the plurality of processing elements is measured, and the common clock is controlled to have a frequency determined as a function of the measured common clock usage by the plurality of processing elements.
TL;DR: In this paper, a Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) multiplexed data bitstream includes encoded video and audio data units, which are prefixed with headers including Presentation Time Stamps (PTS) indicating desired presentation times for the respective data units.
Abstract: A Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) multiplexed data bitstream includes encoded video and audio data units, which are prefixed with headers including Presentation Time Stamps (PTS) indicating desired presentation times for the respective data units. The data units are decoded, and presented at a fixed time after decoding, such that the fixed time can be subtracted from the PTS to provide a desired decoding time. The bitstream is parsed, the video and audio headers are stored in video and audio header memories, and the associated video and audio data units are stored in video and audio channel memories respectively. A first interrupt is generated each time a header is stored, and a host microcontroller responds by storing the PTS from the header and the starting address of the corresponding data unit in the channel memory as an entry in a list. A second interrupt is generated each time a data unit is decoded, and the host microcontroller responds by accessing the list using the starting address of the data unit to obtain the corresponding PTS and thereby the desired decoding time. Decoding and presentation are synchronized by comparing the desired decoding time with a system clock time. If the desired decoding time is later than the system clock time by more than one presentation (frame) time period for the data unit, presentation of the data unit is skipped. If the desired decoding time is earlier than the system clock time by more than the presentation time period, presentation of the data unit is repeated.
TL;DR: A system and methods for proving dates of digital-imaging files, which are accessed, created, modified, received, saved, or transmitted by a computer includes a trusted time source in a tamperproof environment as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: A system and methods for proving dates of digital-imaging files, which are accessed, created, modified, received, saved, or transmitted by a computer includes a trusted time source in a tamperproof environment, a first subsystem for saving the file at a moment in time, a second subsystem for retrieving from the trusted time source a date and a time corresponding to the moment in time, a third subsystem for appending the date and the time retrieved from the trusted time source to the saved file, a fourth subsystem for signing the saved file with the date and the time retrieved from the trusted time source appended thereto, a fifth subsystem for hashing the signed file to produce a digest, a sixth subsystem for signing the digest with a key to produce a certificate, a seventh subsystem for appending the certificate to the saved file, and an eighth subsystem for saving the file with the certificate appended thereto. The trusted time source is a real time clock, which is not resettable, is independent of any system clock of the computer, and is installed locally relative to the computer.