Time Server Based on NMEA and SNTP Protocols

Abstract

Modern technical ship systems very often use information and communication technologies. One of the basic requirements of these systems is ensuring time synchronization that aim is to coordinate clocks of all devices working in a computer network. This requirement results from, among others, the necessity to log events with a unified timestamp. To achieve this goal, most frequently expensive time servers are used. This article presents an easy method of time synchronization, which can serve as a reserve or alternative solution to the methods currently used. That is why a proprietary software has been developed, allowing to expand the functionality of a PC so that it can operate as a time server. A time reference in proposed solution would be provided by a GPS receiver. The developed application allows, with the use of the NMEA protocol, to synchronize the current time with the GPS receiver and then, with the help of the SNTP protocol, to distribute it to all network devices operating on the ship.

Keywords

• time service
• nmea protocol
• sntp protocol
• time server
• time synchronization
• computer network
• gps receiver
• universal time coordinated (utc)