Time format conversion method, device and system

A device for facilitating conversion between a first time format and a second time format different from the first time format, utilizing a processor, said device comprising:

• a processor interface for sending and receiving signals to and from the processor;
• a first counter for counting time in the first time format;
• a second counter for counting time in the second time format;
• a time update controller connected to the first time counter, the second time counter and the processor interface;
• wherein, when the processor interface receives a latch time request signal from the processor, the update controller sends a set time signal representing current time in the first time format to the processor and commences an adjustment counter in the second counter in the second time format;
• and
• wherein, when the processor interface receives a set time converted signal representing the current time converted to the second time format from the processor, the second counter sums the set time converted to the second time format as represented by the set time converted signal with the contents of the adjustment counter in the second counter to initialize a time base in the second time format.

In a network having a plurality of nodes, each node connected to the network and communicating with at least one other remotely located node connected to the network, a system for converting between different time formats at the local unit, said system comprising:

• in a first node:
• a first counter for counting time in a first time format;
• a second counter for counting time in a second time format;
• a processor for converting time in the first time format to the second time format:
• a processor interface for sending and receiving signals to and from the processor;
• and
• a time update controller connected to the first time counter, the second time counter and the external processor interface;
• wherein when the processor interface receives a latch time request signal from the processor, the update controller sends a set time signal representing the current time in the first time format to the processor and commences an adjustment counter in the second counter in the second time format;
• wherein when the processor receives the set time signal, the processor converts the current time as represented by the set time signal from the first time format to the second time format and sends a set time converted signal representing the current time converted to the second time format;
• and
• wherein when the processor interface receives the set time converted signal from the processor, the second counter sums the set time converted to the second time format as represented by the set time converted signal, with the contents of the local adjustment counter to initialize a time base in the second time format.