Industrial device supporting multiple time synchronization protocols

A method implemented by a nodal industrial device supporting a primary time synchronization protocol and an other time synchronization protocol for time synchronization in an industrial network, wherein the nodal industrial device is one of a first set of industrial devices and is connected to a second device from amongst a second set of industrial devices, with the first set of industrial devices supporting a primary time synchronization protocol, and the second set of industrial devices supporting at least one other time synchronization protocol, wherein the one other time synchronization protocol is different from the primary time synchronization protocol, the method comprising:

• obtaining time references from a first time master and from at least one second time master, wherein the first time master and the at least one second time master are coupled to the nodal industrial device, wherein the time references provide a basis for synchronization of a clock of each of the first set of industrial devices and other clocks of each of the second set of industrial devices;
• selecting a principal time reference from amongst the obtained time references;
• correlating the obtained time references based on the principal time reference;
• controlling synchronization related communication with the at least one second time master based on one of the correlating and the principal time reference by:
• translating time reference obtained from the second time master based on the correlation of the principal time reference to obtain a translated reference;
• providing the translated reference to an industrial device within the second set of industrial devices for time-related synchronization;
• and
• further disabling synchronization related communication with the second time master in response to obtaining the translated reference.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising non-transitory program instructions for execution within a nodal industrial device supporting a primary time synchronization protocol and an other time synchronization protocol for time synchronization in an industrial network, wherein the nodal industrial device is one of a first set of industrial devices and is connected to a second device from amongst a second set of industrial devices, wherein the first set of industrial devices supports a primary time synchronization protocol, and wherein the second set of industrial devices supports at least one other time synchronization protocol which is different from the primary time synchronization protocol, cause the nodal industrial device to:

• obtain time references from a first time master and at least one second time master, wherein the first time master and the at least one second time master are coupled to the nodal industrial device, wherein the time references provide a basis for synchronization of a clock of each of the first set of industrial devices and other clocks of each of the second set of industrial devices;
• select a principal time reference from amongst the obtained time references;
• correlate the obtained time references based on the principal time reference;
• and
• control synchronization related communication with the at least one second time master based on one of the correlation of the obtained time references and the principal time reference, wherein to control synchronization related communication further comprises one of:
• generate a translated reference for the second device, wherein the second device is configured to utilize the translated reference for time synchronization;
• update a message exchange rate with the at least one second time master for synchronization related communication;
• and
• reschedule traffic pertaining to the time synchronization operation for the first set of industrial devices and the second set of industrial devices.