Systems and Methods for Time Synchronization of IEDs via Radio Link

An intelligent electronic device (IED) configured to adjust a time signal received via a radio signal from a second IED by a calculated propagation delay, comprising:

• a radio transmitter configured to transmit radio signals;
• a radio receiver configured to receive radio signals;
• a time signal module configured to maintain a local time signal;
• a time signal synchronization module configured to:
• transmit a request via the radio transmitter for a master time signal;
• and
• receive the master time signal via the radio receiver after a first time delay;
• and
• a propagation delay calculation module configured to determine a propagation delay associated with the received master time signal;
• and
• a time signal adjustment module configured to adjust the received master time signal by the propagation delay and use the adjusted time signal to synchronize the local time signal with the master time signal.

A method for synchronizing a first intelligent electronic device (IED) and a second IED, comprising the first IED:

• transmitting a radio signal to the second IED requesting a response from the second IED;
• receiving a response via a radio signal from the second IED after a first time delay;
• determining a propagation delay between the first IED and the second IED by dividing the first time delay in half;
• and
• transmitting a time signal of the first IED adjusted by the propagation delay to the second IED via a radio signal in order for the second IED to synchronize a time signal of the second IED with the time signal of the first IED.

A method for synchronizing a first intelligent electronic device (IED) and a second IED, comprising the first IED:

• transmitting a radio signal to the second IED requesting a time signal of the second IED;
• receiving a radio signal response from the second IED after a first time delay, the response including the time signal of the second IED;
• determining a propagation delay between the first IED and the second IED by dividing the first time delay in half;
• and
• synchronizing a time signal of the first IED with the time signal of the second IED using the determined propagation delay.

An intelligent electronic device (IED) configured to adjust a time signal received via a radio signal from a second IED by a calculated propagation delay, comprising:

• a radio transmitter configured to transmit radio signals;
• a radio receiver configured to receive radio signals;
• a time signal module configured to maintain a local time signal;
• a time signal synchronization module configured to receive a master time signal from the second IED transmitted at a known interval via the radio receiver after a propagation time delay;
• and
• a time signal adjustment module configured to adjust the received master time signal by the propagation delay and use the adjusted time signal to synchronize the local time signal with the master time signal.