The present invention provides a method for time synchronizing one or more devices in a control network using a first device. The method comprises selecting a first device from information of the topology of the control network. The method further comprises sending a first set of packets to the second device, receiving a first set of delay requests in response to the first set of packets, and sending a first set of delay responses in response to the first set of delay requests. The method further comprises, determining a first set of forward times and first set of backward times. The method further comprises, determining a first minimum forward time and a first minimum backward time. Further the method comprises determining a first correction factor. The method also comprises, applying the first correction factor to a clock provided at the second device and storing the first correction factor.

System and method for secure time synchronization in an industrial facility, wherein a synchronization request of a facility component is transmitted to a registration service of a certificate management of the facility and the synchronization request is examined by the registration service, where the synchronization request includes a signature of the requesting facility component, and where depending on an outcome of the examination, a synchronization response is then transmitted to the requesting facility component a system time of the facility component is matched to a system time of the registration service based on the synchronization response.

A system and method includes partitioning a network into first and second sub-networks connected by a network connection. A first component with first configuration data and a first local server are located in the first sub-network; a second component with second configuration data and a second local server are located in the second sub-network. The first configuration data is stored on the first and second local servers. The network connection is interrupted and the first configuration data is updated on the first local server. The network connection is re-connected, and if the first configuration data on the second local server is unchanged, the first configuration data on the second local server is overwritten.

A machine control system includes: a machine configured to execute a motion according to a machine command; and one or more servers configured to control the machine. The one or more servers include control circuitry configured to: repeat an execution of a motion program to generate the machine command for the machine; add first cycle information designating a first use timing to the machine command; and transmit the machine command including the first cycle information to the machine via a communication network. The machine includes a machine circuitry configured to: repeat a local processing for controlling the machine according to a machine control cycle; receive the machine command from the one or more servers; store the received machine command; and call the stored machine command, based on the first cycle information added to the stored machine command, to use the machine command in the local processing corresponding to the first use timing.

System and method for secure time synchronization in an industrial facility, wherein a synchronization request of a facility component is transmitted to a registration service of a certificate management of the facility and the synchronization request is examined by the registration service, where the synchronization request includes a signature of the requesting facility component, and where depending on an outcome of the examination, a synchronization response is then transmitted to the requesting facility component a system time of the facility component is matched to a system time of the registration service based on the synchronization response.

A method for use in an automated wireless industrial system comprising a device configured to act as a control node and at least one field level device, wherein the method comprises: issuing a control communication; inserting at least one time delay (tk) to the control communication; noting the communication time (TCL) for the communication; comparing the time for communication (TCL) to an expected time for communication (TR); and determining if any of the at least one time delay (tk) should be adapted, and if so, adapting at least that time delay.

A method of managing databases (DBs) in duplex servers includes: updating a DB in the backup server to a first version; transmitting a list of name keys in the backup server to the active server; transmitting name keys that are identical between the active server and the backup server to the backup server; and synchronizing DBs between the active server and the backup server by using the identical name keys. The data can be synchronized between DBs having different versions based on name keys.

Systems and methods for supporting multiple time synchronization protocols within an industrial device include obtaining a time reference from each industrial device within the first set of industrial devices and the second set of industrial devices. The time reference provides the basis for synchronization of the clock and other clocks of first set of industrial devices and the second set of industrial devices. A principal time reference is selected from among the time references. Once selected, the principal time reference is correlated with each of the time references obtained from the first set of industrial devices and the second set of industrial devices. With the principal time reference correlated, related communication with the second device may be controlled.

A data processing device (10), which is connectable to another data processing device (20), includes a data collector (150) to collect data from a machine (31, 32), a data processor (120) to process input data, a coordination processor (160) to provide the data collector (150) or the data processor (120) with data transmitted from the another data processing device (20) and provide the another data processing device (20) with the data collected by the data collector (150) or the data processed by the data processor (120), and an execution controller (130) to control collection of data by the data collector (150), processing of data by the data processor (120), and transmission and reception of data to and from the another data processing device (20) by the coordination processor (160) in accordance with predetermined setting information for a data processing flow.

A data processing device (10), which is connectable to another data processing device (20), includes a data collector (150) to collect data from a machine (31, 32), a data processor (120) to process input data, a coordination processor (160) to provide the data collector (150) or the data processor (120) with data transmitted from the another data processing device (20) and provide the another data processing device (20) with the data collected by the data collector (150) or the data processed by the data processor (120), and an execution controller (130) to control collection of data by the data collector (150), processing of data by the data processor (120), and transmission and reception of data to and from the another data processing device (20) by the coordination processor (160) in accordance with predetermined setting information for a data processing flow.