Systems and methods for time-synchronized communication

Abstract

The present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for publishing time-synchronized information. In one embodiment, a system may include a time interface configured to receive a common time signal and a network interface configured to transmit a plurality of data packets using a network. A publishing subsystem may be configured to cause the system to publish at least one data value according to a schedule and the common time signal. A processing sequence number subsystem may be configured to generate a processing sequence number to be included in the plurality of data packets and to reset the processing sequence number at a fixed interval based on the common time signal. A data packet subsystem may be configured to generate a plurality of data packets comprising a respective processing sequence number and the at least one data value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for publishing time-synchronized information, comprising:
 a time interface configured to receive a common time signal;   a network interface configured to transmit a plurality of data packets using a network;   a publishing subsystem configured to cause the system to publish at least one data value according to a schedule and the common time signal;   a processing sequence number subsystem configured to:
 generate a processing sequence number to be included in the plurality of data packets, and 
 reset the processing sequence number at a fixed interval based on the common time signal; and 
   a data packet subsystem configured to generate a plurality of data packets comprising a respective processing sequence number and the at least one data value.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the time interface comprises a global navigation satellite system interface. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of data packets comprise data packets formatted according to a GOOSE (Generic Object Oriented Substation Events) protocol. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the publishing subsystem further comprises a logic engine configured to modify a setting according to the schedule, the setting configured to cause publication of the at least one data value according to the GOOSE protocol. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fixed interval corresponds to a top of each second. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a time of transmission of the plurality of messages is determined solely using the processing sequence number and a previous time at which the processing sequence number was reset. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the schedule comprises a user-selectable value configured to accommodate bandwidth of the network. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a data acquisition component configured to measure at least one electrical condition in an electrical power distribution system;
 wherein the at least one electrical condition comprises the at least one data value.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data packet subsystem is further configured to generate an indicator of a status of the common time signal. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a data acquisition component configured to generate a measurement of at least one electrical condition in an electrical power distribution system;
 wherein the at least one data value comprises the measurement.   
     
     
         11 . A method for publishing time-synchronized information, comprising:
 receiving a common time signal;   receiving at least one data value to be published;   generating a processing sequence number;   generating a plurality of data packets comprising a respective processing sequence number and the at least one data value.   publishing the at least one data value according to a schedule and the common time signal; and   resetting the processing sequence number at a fixed interval based on the common time signal.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of data packets comprise data packets formatted according to a GOOSE (Generic Object Oriented Substation Events) protocol. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fixed interval corresponds to a top of each second. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising determining a time of transmission of each of the plurality of messages using the processing sequence number and a previous time at which the processing sequence number was reset.