Wireless Synchronized Clock Systems Glossary Of Terms
The following list of terms are found across our web site and can be used to help you understand how wireless synchronized clock systems work. For more information on how our line of synchronized clocks works please contact us today!
Analog Clock – A clock that represents time by position of hands on a dial.
Atomic Clock – A clock reference to an atomic oscillator at a remote location. Today, atomic clocks receive their signal from the U.S. Naval Observatory in Fort Collins, Colorado. The signal is transmitted over an AM radio frequency.
Client – A computer that retrieves information from an/or uses resources provided by a server or main computer. Many network protocols and applications use client-server relationships. In Network Time Protocol, a Time Server provides time server provides timing services to a time client.
Clock – A device that generates periodic, accurately spaced signals used for timing applications. A clock consists of at least three parts: an Oscillator, a device that counts the oscillations and converts them to units of time interval (such as seconds, minutes, hours and days), and a means of displaying or recording the results. Clocks can be slaved by a process known as synchronization to a master clock.
Clock Drift – Is the time drift compared to the actual time. That is why one must reset their time occasionally. Clocks often drift differently depending on their quality, the exact power they get from the battery, the surrounding temperature and other environmental variables. Thus the same clock can have different clock drift rates at different occasions.
Daylight Saving Time - is the convention of advancing clocks so that afternoons have more daylight and mornings have less. Typically clocks are adjusted forward one hour near the start of spring and are adjusted backward in autumn.
Digital Clock – A clock that displays time with numerical display (12:00).
Ethernet – A very popular technology for networking computers and other devices. This communication method is used for transmitting and receiving precise timing signals by the KRONOsync system using our NTP receiver.
FCC – Federal Communication Commission. A U.S. government agency in charge of regulating non-federal government use of radio spectrum, television, wire, satellite and cable communications.
FCC Registration Number (FRN)- A 10-digit number that is assigned to an entity registering with the FCC.
Firewall – A network configuration, usually both hardware and software, that forms a fortress between networked computers within an organization and those outside the organization. It is commonly used to protect information such as e-mail and data files within a physical building or organization site.
Frequency – The rate of a repetitive event. The standard unit for frequency is the
Hertz (Hz), defined as the number of events or cycles per second. The frequency
of electrical signals is often measured in multiples of hertz, including kilohertz (kHz),
Megahertz (MHz), or Gigahertz (GHz).
GPS – Global Positioning System. A constellation of 24 satellites operated by the United States Military (US Naval Observatory) that broadcast precisely timed signals from space. These signals are used for extremely accurate global navigation as well as the distribution of precise time.
Internet – A worldwide system of computer networks in which any one computer can get information from/or talk to any other connected computer using the TCP/IP protocols
Local Area Network - A computer network covering a small physical area, like a home,
office or small group of buildings, such as a school or airport. The defining characteristics
of LAN's (Local Area Networks) include their usually high data-transfer rates, smaller
geographic range and lack of a need for leased telecommunications lines.
Master Clock – In a timekeeping or clock system, a device that acts as the source of time. The Master Clock, or System Controller, transmits the time to any number of secondary (slave) clocks.
Navigation Message – A message, transmitted by each GPS satellite, containing its orbital elements, clock behavior, system time and status messages.
Network – A group of interconnected computers or other electronic devices, capable of transferring data signals with each other.
Network Synchronization – A concept where all the clocks attached to a network
run at the same time and rate.
Network Time Protocol (NTP)- An internet standard protocol that allows synchronization
to millisecond accuracy for computer clocks in a network of computers. NTP synchronizes
client clocks. Running as a continuous background client program on a computer, NTP sends
periodic time requests to servers, obtaining timing information from a Time Server and
using them to adjust the client’s clock.
NIST – National Institute of Standards and Technology. The Time and Frequency Division, part of NIST's Physics Laboratory, maintains the standard for frequency and time interval for the United States and provides official time to the United States. This includes traceability from the GPS timing signals to the NIST national frequency standard
Schedule – A group of events. For example, a school might program 4 events for their morning Elementary recess schedule. Or, a high school might program alternative schedules for their exam weeks.
Secondary Clock – Also known as a slave clock. This is a clock that synchronizes its timekeeping to that of a system master clock.
Server – A host computer or host device on a network, which shares resources and "serves" data to client computers or other servers
Static IP Address – An Internet Protocol (network) address permanently assigned to an individual machine, account or user.
Subnet Mask – A number that helps to define the relationship between the host (computers, routers, switches, etc.) and the rest of the network.
Synchronization – The process of bringing two clocks or time sources into phase so their difference is zero. In the case of a timekeeping system, time synchronization takes place between the master clock and all secondary clocks.
UL – Underwriters Laboratory. U.S. non-profit safety testing and certification organization.
USNO – U.S. Naval Observatory. An organization within the United States Navy which determines precise time and maintains the master clock for the United States. The USNO monitors the timing of the Global Positioning System (GPS) to provide a reliable and stable coordinated time reference for the GPS satellite navigation system.
UTC – Universal Coordinated Time. A time-scale that forms the basis of a coordinated distribution of standard frequencies and time signals throughout the world. It is often referred to as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Zulu Time (military and aviation).
Wireless Clock – A clock that receives its precise synchronization from a radio signal.