A method generates an asynchronous trigger signal in a position-measuring device having a position-sensing unit, a processing unit and an interface unit. The position-measuring device is connectable via the interface unit and a bidirectional data channel to subsequent electronics for communication purposes. A synchronous data stream is generated from an asynchronous data stream arriving at the position-measuring device from a direction of the subsequent electronics by sampling the asynchronous data stream in a time pattern of a clock signal. A gate signal is generated upon an enable condition for outputting the trigger signal being detected by evaluating the synchronous data stream. The asynchronous trigger signal is generated upon the gate signal being present and a signal edge of the asynchronous data stream occurring.

A communication system (1000) includes communication devices (10, 20) to share common time after correction of synchronization error including a communication delay with each other via a network (400). The communication device (10) includes a set time acquirer to acquire set time set by a user, a setter to set the set time as first system time, which is system time of the communication device (10), and a time difference data transmitter to transmit time difference data, which indicates a time difference between the common time and the set time, to the communication device (20). The communication device (20) includes a time difference data receiver to receive the time difference data, and a setter to set the sum of the common time and the time difference indicated by the time difference data as second system time, which is system time of the communication device (20).

A communication system (1000) includes communication devices (10, 20) to share common time after correction of synchronization error including a communication delay with each other via a network (400). The communication device (10) includes a set time acquirer to acquire set time set by a user, a setter to set the set time as first system time, which is system time of the communication device (10), and a time difference data transmitter to transmit time difference data, which indicates a time difference between the common time and the set time, to the communication device (20). The communication device (20) includes a time difference data receiver to receive the time difference data, and a setter to set the sum of the common time and the time difference indicated by the time difference data as second system time, which is system time of the communication device (20).

In a combination of diverse devices, system control with high real-time property is realized. A control device includes: a control indication acceptor receiving a control target indication to be a target of control with respect to plural controlled devices; and a control processing generator generating a control signal with respect to each of the plural controlled devices based on the control target indication, in which operations of the plural controlled devices are controlled so that the plural controlled devices cooperate to achieve the target, based on at least one of a communication delay time, a phase shift time, and an operation cycle time of the plural controlled devices.