Method and a system for synchronizing a first and a second simulation system

A method for synchronizing a first and a second simulation system (PLCSIM, Process Simulate), each operating in a free running operation thereby exchanging data to run the first and the second simulation system, which comprises the steps of:

• a) providing the first simulation system being enabled to run in operation cycles at a linear speed, wherein the linear speed is determined by setting a scaling factor sn constant over at least one operation cycle;
• b) providing the second simulation system being enabled to run in operation cycles, wherein a speed within an operation cycle may vary;
• c) executing the first and the second simulation system, wherein the second simulation system requests at an end of the operation cycle a virtual time stamp from the first simulation system;
• d) calculating on a basis of the virtual time stamp from the first simulation system a virtual duration time Atnfs and on a basis of the virtual time stamp after completion of the operation cycle of the second simulation system a virtual duration time Atnss;
• e) calculating an updated scaling factor sn+i for the scaling factor according to a most recent said scaling factor sn multiplied by Atnss/Atnfs;
• and
• f) applying the updated scaling factor sn+i to determine the linear speed of the first simulation system over a course of at least a next operation cycle of the second simulation system.

A system for synchronizing a first and a second simulation system (PLCSIM, Process Simulate), each operating in a free running operation thereby exchanging data to run the first and the second simulation system, the system comprising:

• a) the first simulation system (PLCSIM) being enabled to run in operation cycles at a linear speed, wherein the linear speed is determined by setting a scaling factor (sn) constant over at least one operation cycle;
• b) the second simulation system (Process Simulate) being enabled to run in operation cycles wherein a speed within an operation cycle may vary;
• c) an execution engine for executing the first and the second simulation system, wherein the second simulation system requests at an end of the operation cycle a virtual time stamp from the first simulation system;
• d) an evaluation unit enabled to calculate on a basis of the virtual time stamp requested from the first simulation system a virtual duration time Atnfs and on a basis of the virtual time stamp after completion of the operation cycle of the second simulation system a virtual duration time Atnss;
• e) said evaluation unit further being enabled to calculate an updated scaling factor sn+i for the scaling factor according a most recent said scaling factor sn multiplied by Atnss/Atnfs;
• and
• f) said execution engine further being enabled to apply the updated scaling factor sn+i to determine the linear speed of the first simulation system over a course of at least a next operation cycle of the second simulation system.

A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with executable instructions that when executed on at least one processor, cause said at least one processor to carry out a method for synchronizing a first and a second simulation system (PLCSIM, Process Simulate), each operating in a free running operation thereby exchanging data to run the first and the second simulation system, which comprises the steps of:

• a) providing the first simulation system being enabled to run in operation cycles at a linear speed, wherein the linear speed is determined by setting a scaling factor sn constant over at least one operation cycle;
• b) providing the second simulation system being enabled to run in operation cycles, wherein a speed within an operation cycle may vary;
• c) executing the first and the second simulation system, wherein the second simulation system requests at an end of the operation cycle a virtual time stamp from the first simulation system;
• d) calculating on a basis of the virtual time stamp from the first simulation system a virtual duration time Atnfs and on a basis of the virtual time stamp after completion of the operation cycle of the second simulation system a virtual duration time Atnss;
• e) calculating an updated scaling factor sn+i for the scaling factor according to a most recent said scaling factor sn multiplied by Atnss/Atnfs;
• and
• f) applying the updated scaling factor sn+i to determine the linear speed of the first simulation system over a course of at least a next operation cycle of the second simulation system.