Patent ID: 9032237
Filing Date: 2015-05-12
Classification: H04J,H04L,Y04S

Abstract:
1. A computer program product, comprising: a non-transitory computer readable medium; and computer program instructions recorded on the computer readable medium and executable by a processor for carrying out a method comprising sending a time inquiry from at least one device in a substation to a time provider; receiving a message including a reference time from the time provider; evaluating an accuracy of the reference time by comparing the reference time with calculations based on prior communications between the at least one device and the time provider; improving accuracy of simple network time protocol, whereby if the accuracy of the reference time is less than a threshold value improving the accuracy of the reference time by sending a second time inquiry from the at least one device in the substation to the time provider, wherein a second message including a second reference time from the time provider is received, the accuracy of the second reference time, if evaluating the accuracy of the second reference time is less than a threshold value improving the accuracy of the second reference time, and utilizing the second reference time for synchronization; and utilizing the reference time for synchronization of the at least one device in the substation, wherein if the accuracy of the reference time is greater than a threshold value, the method further comprises: determining if the accuracy of the reference time is less than an increased threshold value and increasing the threshold value of the accuracy is within the increased threshold value; calculating an offset value based on time values; utilizing the offset to synchronize the at least one device; and putting the at least one device to sleep for a period of time.