Method for optimizing the time synchronization between network devices connected via a communications network

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a functional unit of a server-based control device, define a grandmaster clock in a system of control devices networked with one another via a first network or multiple first sub-networks, wherein at least one of the networked control devices is the server-based control device, wherein the server-based control device combines multiple functional units that are suitable as a source of the grandmaster clock and are connected in terms of communication within the server-based control device by way of a second network via switches in one physical unit, which is connected to the first network or multiple first sub-networks via one or more network interfaces, by performing operations comprising:

• ascertaining, by applying a Best Master Clock algorithm, a best clock of the system of control devices,
• wherein, when the best clock is located in a server-based control device:
• ascertaining a plurality of distances between functional units, which are suitable as a source of the grandmaster clock, and active network interfaces that connect the server-based control device to the first network or multiple first sub-networks,
• determining, for each of the functional units, which are suitable as a source of the grandmaster clock, a respective average distance to all selected network interfaces, and
• defining, as a defined grandmaster clock for the first network or the first sub-networks, a functional unit that has a smallest average distance to all network interfaces of the system of control devices.

A vehicle having a server-based control device, the server-based control device having multiple functional units connected to one another in terms of communication via a second network and at least one switch, wherein a network interface of a functional unit or of a switch connects the second network to a first network, or multiple network interfaces of functional units or switches connect the second network to in each case one of multiple first sub-networks that is or are located outside of the server-based control device, wherein two or more of the functional units or switches are configured to define a grandmaster clock, wherein the server-based control device combines multiple functional units that are suitable as a source of the grandmaster clock, by performing operations comprising:

• ascertaining, by applying a Best Master Clock algorithm, a best clock of the system of control devices,
• wherein, when the best clock is located in a server-based control device:
• ascertaining a plurality of distances between functional units, which are suitable as a source of the grandmaster clock, and active network interfaces that connect the server-based control device to the first network or multiple first sub-networks,
• determining, for each of the functional units, which are suitable as a source of the grandmaster clock, a respective average distance to all selected network interfaces, and
• defining, as a defined grandmaster clock for the first network or the first sub-networks, a functional unit that has a smallest average distance to all network interfaces of the system of control devices.