Method for synchronizing execution of multiple processing devices and related system

A method comprising:

• substantially synchronizing multiple processing devices, including:
• receiving, at a first of the processing devices, status flags from at least one other of the processing devices, each status flag identifying whether one or more of the processing devices are ready for operation;
• determining that all processing devices are ready for operation using at least one of the status flags;
• and
• waiting for a specified amount of time before entering operation, the specified amount of time selected so that the processing devices are substantially synchronized;
• and
• controlling at least a portion of an industrial process using the processing devices as substantially synchronized, wherein the processing devices as substantially synchronized execute common control logic, receive common measurements of the industrial process, and generate control signals for controlling one or more common characteristics of the industrial process.

A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying a computer program, the computer program comprising computer readable program code for:

• substantially synchronizing multiple processing devices, including:
• receiving, at a first of the processing devices, status flags from at least one other of the processing devices, each status flag identifying whether one or more of the processing devices are ready for operation;
• determining that all processing devices are ready for operation using at least one of the status flags;
• and
• waiting for a specified amount of time before entering operation, the specified amount of time selected so that the processing devices are substantially synchronized;
• and
• controlling at least a portion of an industrial process using the processing devices as substantially synchronized;
• wherein the processing devices as substantially synchronized execute common control logic, receive common measurements of the industrial process, and generate control signals for controlling one or more common characteristics of the industrial process.