The objective of the IEEE1588 standard is to specify a protocol to synchronize independent clocks running on separate nodes of a distributed measurement and control system to a high degree of accuracy and precision. The clocks communicate with each other over a communication network.

1. Published on Your Electronics Open Source (http://dev.emcelettronica.com)
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IEEE1588 Protocol Supported by Freescale
Semiconductor
By Ionela
Created Mar 31 2009 - 07:06
The objective of the IEEE1588 [1] standard is to specify a protocol to synchronize independent clocks
running on separate nodes of a distributed measurement and control system to a high degree of accuracy
and precision. The clocks communicate with each other over a communication network.
IEEE1588 Protocol Applications
- Powerline networks which synchronize across large-scale distributed power grid switches to
enable smooth transfer of power
- Industrial network switches which synchronize sensors and actuators over a single wire
distributed control network for automated assembly process control
- Time-sensitive telecommunication services which require precision time synchronization between
communicating nodes
- Test/measurement devices which must maintain accurate time synchronization with the device
under test in many different operating environments
- or video equipment which must ensure customers don't hear or see the effects of packet delay or
loss from Ethernet-connected speakers and monitors
The protocol generates a master-slave relationship among the clocks in the system. Within a given subnet
of a network, there will be a single master clock. All clocks ultimately derive their time from a clock known
as the grandmaster clock.
Measurement and control applications are increasingly using distributed system technologies such as
network communication, local computing, and distributed objects. Many of these applications will be
enhanced by having an accurate systemwide sense of time achieved by having local clocks in each
sensor, actuator, or other system device. Existing protocols for clock synchronization are not optimal for
these applications. For example, Network Time Protocol (NTP) targets large distributed computing systems
with millisecond synchronization requirements. Although IEEE1588 [2] allows software-only
implementations, hardware-assisted implementations deliver more precise clock synchronization.
Freescale products supporting IEEE 1588
All ColdFire processors [3] and MPC83xx and MPC85xx PowerQUICC processors can run the IXXAT
protocol stack with microsecond level clock sync accuracy with no hardware timestamping.
The simplest IEEE1588 implementations include ordinary applications at the top of the network protocol
stack and generate timestamps at the application level. Typically, this implementation incurs the largest

2. protocol stack delay fluctuation, thus yielding the least accuracy as the largest amount of error is
introduced into the timestamp.
Read the Italian version: Protocollo IEEE1588 supportato da Freescale Semiconductor [4]
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Technology Ethernet ieee1588
Trademarks
Source URL: http://dev.emcelettronica.com/ieee1588-protocol-supported-freescale-semiconductor
Links:
[1] http://www.freescale.com/webapp/sps/site/overview.jsp?code=IEEE_1588&fsrch=1
[2] http://www.freescale.com/files/32bit/doc/ref_manual/MPC8360ERM.pdf?fsrch=1&WT_TYPE=Reference
Manuals&WT_VENDOR=FREESCALE&WT_FILE_FORMAT=pdf&WT_ASSET=Documentation
[3] http://dev.emcelettronica.com/coldfire-kirin3-and-free-rtos-mqx-freescale
[4] http://it.emcelettronica.com/protocollo-ieee1588-supportato-da-freescale-semiconductor
[5] http://it.emcelettronica.com/contact/freescale