Patent ID: 7260652

Claim:
A method for exchanging data between at least two stations connected to one another via a distributed bus system, the data being contained in messages sent by the at least two stations via the distributed bus system, the method comprising: synchronizing a common global time base with an external reference time at a predefinable instant in the at least two stations of the distributed bus system as a function of corresponding correction values and the common global time base, wherein the synchronizing includes: at least one of the at least two stations: receiving from a source external to the bus system a time signal of the external reference time; based on a content of the time signal, determining a correction target value between the received time signal and the common global time base; and sending the correction target value to other ones of the at least two stations of the distributed bus system; and the at least two stations of the distributed bus system determining the corresponding correction values as a function of the correction target value; and providing the common global time base that is synchronized with the external reference time at the predefinable instant for the at least two stations of the distributed bus system.