Method and apparatus for synchronizing measurements taken by multiple metrology devices

A method for communicating between at least two metrology devices in a bidirectional manner, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first one of the at least two metrology devices with an IEEE 1588 precision time protocol interface configured for bidirectional communications in both a wired manner and a wireless manner with a second one of the at least two metrology devices;
• providing the second one of the at least two metrology devices with an IEEE 1588 precision time protocol interface configured for bidirectional communications in both a wired manner and a wireless manner with the first one of the at least two metrology devices;
• wherein one of the at least two metrology devices includes a master clock and the other one of the at least two metrology devices includes a slave clock, the master clock communicating a time to the slave clock and the slave clock is responsive to the communicated time from the master clock for adjusting a time of the slave clock if necessary to substantially correspond to the time of the master clock, thereby time synchronizing the at least two metrology devices together;
• and
• wherein each metrology device measures a parameter and wherein the measurements made by each metrology device occur in a time synchronized manner as a result of the time of the slave clock substantially corresponding to the time of the master clock.

A computer program product for implementing communications between at least two metrology devices in a bidirectional manner, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory storage medium having computer readable program code embodied thereon, which when executed by a computer causes the computer to implement a method, the method including the steps of:

• providing a first one of the at least two metrology devices with an IEEE 1588 precision time protocol interface configured for bidirectional communications in both a wired manner and a wireless manner with a second one of the at least two metrology devices;
• providing the second one of the at least two metrology devices with an IEEE 1588 precision time protocol interface configured for bidirectional communications in both a wired manner and a wireless manner with the first one of the at least two metrology devices;
• wherein one of the at least two metrology devices includes a master clock and the other one of the at least two metrology devices includes a slave clock, the master clock communicating a time to the slave clock and the slave clock is responsive to the communicated time from the master clock for adjusting a time of the slave clock if necessary to substantially correspond to the time of the master clock, thereby time synchronizing the at least two metrology devices together;
• and
• wherein each metrology device measures a parameter and wherein the measurements made by each metrology device occur in a time synchronized manner as a result of the time of the slave clock substantially corresponding to the time of the master clock.