Time of day synchronization and distribution within a multiprocessor embedded system and related methods

A system for synchronizing time of day within a software defined radio comprising:

• a red (command) and black (data) radio subsystem having an operating environment conformable to the Software Communications Architecture (SCA) specification and operable for loading a plurality of waveform plugins at the same or different times such that one or more waveforms can be instantiated;
• and
• a field programmable gate array (FPGA) and free running timer within each radio subsystem wherein said timers are synchronized and any time sources within the radio subsystems are set to the free running timers, and further comprising a time of day service for obtaining time when one or more waveforms are instantiated, wherein a time offset is obtained from the time of day service and a time update occurs via a human machine interface or GPS when a waveform is not instantiated, and the time offset used by instantiated waveforms is tracked until there is no waveform instantiated, at which time a time update occurs such that one or more waveforms are later instantiated.