JP2000162346A - Computer system with clock function and its time correction method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically set and correct the year, month, day, hour, minute, and second of a clock (RTC) that is built into an information-processing device of a computer or the like by a timecode signal that is supplied by a long-wave standard electronic wave. SOLUTION: A long wave standard electronic wave 2 that is transmitted from a long wave standard electronic wave transmission station 1 is received from a long wave receiver 3 that is built into a computer 4. The computer 4 successively calculates each time information of 'minute', 'hour', 'day', and 'year' from a digital timecode signal being included in the long wave standard electronic wave 2, compares the obtained time information with the time of a built-in clock 4F, and immediately corrects the day and time of the built-in clock 4F when an error results, thus constantly synchronizing the day and time of the built-in clock 4F to the Japanese Standard Time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a computer system having a clock function and a time correction method therefor, and more particularly, to a computer system for automatically setting time using a time code signal included in a standard radio wave, and a computer system therefor. It relates to a time correction method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a system using a computer network which has been rapidly developed in recent years, it is required that a plurality of information processing devices constituting the network operate accurately in synchronization with each other. A calendar and clock function (hereinafter referred to as "RTC") that is mostly backed up by batteries etc. RTC: Rial T
ime Clock). According to this RTC, even if power is not supplied to the computer system, the time can be kept for a long time by a battery or the like.

[0003]

However, RTC has the following problems. (1) Configuration When the information processing device is in a remote place, the operator cannot correct the time. (2) In order to set the date and time of the RTC, it is necessary to check the date visually from a newspaper or the like, and to set the time by operating the computer while checking the time using a time signal service or the like by telephone. Generally, there is a limit in the setting accuracy, and when a leap second is inserted at the standard time, there is no means for immediately reflecting the correction to the RTC.

(3) A battery or the like for making the RTC function has a lifetime, and if the function cannot be maintained due to discharge or deterioration, the RTC also stops its function. (4) Most of the RTC uses a crystal oscillator, and its accuracy depends on a temperature change or the like, and is usually about several tens of seconds per month. Therefore, if the time is used without correcting the time for a long period of time, the error is accumulated, resulting in an error of several minutes.

As a prior art for solving these problems included in the RTC, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-180617 discloses a method in which a regular time signal is received and a specific time signal pattern is detected from the received radio waves. A technique is described in which a specific signal is output based on the signal of the hour and the zero-second of each hour of the internal clock of the computer is adjusted.

[0006] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-65697 discloses that
Pulses of at least two kinds of frequencies of the emission pattern of the received signal that repeats automatically for 10 seconds of the omega radio waves of a plurality of stations are sequentially captured, the pulse pattern is extracted using a computer, and the start time of the different pulse pattern is set to the time. As a basis of the calibration, a technique is described in which the time accuracy of 100 msec is maintained for a long time by automatically correcting the time difference of the time of the clock IC.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 10-31083 discloses that a GPS satellite signal is received, data giving Greenwich Mean Time is extracted from the signal, the time is converted by software into Japan Standard Time, and transmitted every second. Coming G
A technique is described in which a clock incorporated in a computer is compared at the timing of a PS signal, and an error is automatically corrected so that the clock is always synchronized with a clock in a GPS satellite in seconds.

However, these conventional techniques have the following problems. The first problem is that, according to the conventional technology using the omega radio wave and the time signal, there is a problem that the device becomes large. Further, according to the conventional technology using GPS radio waves, an external antenna is required to receive GPS radio waves, and it is necessary to capture at least three satellites. Etc. is limited.

The second problem is that, in the conventional technology using GPS, time and date can be obtained, but it takes up to 15 minutes to obtain the time. The third problem is that none of the prior arts has a main purpose of correcting time, and does not support accurate setting of Japan Standard Time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and uses a time code signal included in a long-wave standard time signal to increase the date and time of a clock built in a computer system without increasing the size of the device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer system having a clock function capable of automatically and accurately and quickly setting and correcting the time in Japan Standard Time, and a method for correcting the time.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has the following arrangement. In other words, the invention according to claim 1 is a time measuring means for measuring the time based on a predetermined oscillation output and outputting a time, a receiving means for receiving a standard radio wave including a time code signal, and a time code signal included in the standard radio wave. And time setting means for setting the time output by the clocking means based on the time information obtained from the time code signal. In the present invention, “time” represents a concept including all elements that define time, such as year, month, day, day of the week, in addition to hours, minutes, and seconds.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the time acquiring means detects a predetermined pulse included in the time code signal, and detects time information from an array of pulses detected by the pulse detecting section. And a time calculating unit for calculating.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a time correction method for a computer system having a clock function.
(A) receiving a standard time signal including a time code signal; (b) obtaining time information from a time code signal included in the received standard time signal;
(C) setting the time of a built-in clock based on the time information obtained from the time code signal.

According to the above-mentioned invention, the date and time obtained from the standard radio wave transmitted from the standard radio wave transmitting station are compared with the date and time of the internal clock of the computer, and if an error occurs, it is immediately corrected. This makes it possible to always synchronize the date and time of the computer clock with Japan Standard Time.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, “time” includes hours, minutes, seconds, year, month, day,
It represents a concept that includes all elements that define time, such as days of the week.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a long-wave standard radio wave transmitting station for transmitting a long-wave standard radio wave 2 including a time code signal (hereinafter simply referred to as “standard radio wave”), and reference numeral 3 denotes a standard radio wave that receives the standard radio wave 2 and receives the standard radio wave. This is a long wave receiver as a receiving means for outputting the time code signal TC included in the radio wave 2, and is built in the computer system according to the present embodiment. Reference numeral 4 denotes a computer constituting the computer system.

Reference numeral 4A denotes a reference mark pulse detector as a pulse detector for detecting a predetermined pulse included in the time code signal TC, and reference numerals 4B to 4E denote "minutes" and "hours" based on the arrangement of the detected pulses. , "Date", and "year", which are a minute calculator, an hour calculator, a date calculator, and a year calculator, respectively. The reference mark pulse detecting section 4A, minute calculating section 4B, hour calculating section 4C, date calculating section 4D, and year calculating section 4E constitute time information obtaining means for obtaining time information from a time code signal included in a standard radio wave. For example, it is realized on software.

Reference numeral 4F denotes a built-in clock (RT) as a time measuring means for measuring the time based on a predetermined oscillation output and outputting the time.
C), and reference numeral 4G denotes a time setting unit as time setting means for setting the time of the internal clock 4F based on the time information obtained from the time code signal TC.

Here, the time code signal TC included in the standard radio wave will be described. This time code signal TC
Is a signal containing time information such as "minutes" and "hours". As shown in FIG. 2, the signal includes 60 pulses having different pulse widths within a period of 60 seconds, It is composed of a combination of three types of pulses: a mark pulse P1 having a pulse width, a mark pulse P2 having a pulse width of 0.5 seconds, and a mark pulse P3 having a pulse width of 0.8 seconds.

The mark pulse P1 further includes a reference mark pulse P1A for defining the head of the time code signal every 60 seconds.
And a position pulse P defining the position of each time code
Classified as 1B. The rise of each pulse represents exactly every second. Each time information of "year", "hour" and "minute" is composed of eight pulse trains (8 bits), and a time code of "day" is composed of 11 pulse trains (11 bits).

As shown in FIG. 2, each pulse is weighted by a value representing time (hereinafter, referred to as a "time value") in correspondence with the position. The time information is expressed by an arrangement (pulse position) of mark pulses P2 (pulsed hatched), and is obtained as a sum of time values corresponding to the pulse positions of each mark pulse P2.

For example, in the pulse train representing the time information of "minute" shown in FIG. 2, the first pulse (number of pulses = 1) following the reference mark pulse P1 represents 40 minutes as a time value, and the second pulse (Number of pulses = 2) represents 20 minutes. The sum of the time values represented by the hatched mark pulse P2 is 40 + 10 + 2 + 1 = 53 minutes. That is, the time information of “minute” of the time code signal TC is:
Represents "53 minutes".

The operation of the computer system according to this embodiment will be described below with reference to FIG. The standard radio wave 2 transmitted from the long-wave standard radio wave transmitting station 1 is received by the long-wave receiver 3, and is subjected to detection / amplification and waveform shaping.
The digital signal is output to the computer 4 as a time code signal. The digital time code signal supplied from the long wave receiver 2 is processed by the computer 4.

Specifically, it is as follows. Step S1: Confirm that the time data signal TC having a pulse width that can be received is received. Step S2: When the time data signal TC is received (Step S1: YES), the reference mark pulse P1A indicating the head of the pulse train included in the time data signal TC is detected. Then, the reference mark pulse P1
When A is detected (step S2: YES), the following calculation steps for each data are executed.

Step S3: Data of "minute" is calculated as first time information. Here, with reference to FIG. 4, the calculation processing of the data of “minute” will be described. Step S301: Reset the data of "minute". Step S302: Count the order of eight pulses indicating "minute" data included in the time data signal TC.

Step S303: A mark pulse P2 indicating an actual time value is detected. When the mark pulse P2 is detected (step S303: YES), in the following steps S304 to S318, time values corresponding to the pulse positions where the mark pulse P2 is detected are added one after another, and the "minute" is set. When all eight pulses indicating data are detected, "minute" at that time is obtained. In the case of the time data signal TC shown in FIG. 2, steps S305 and S3
Steps S09, S315 and S317 are executed, and finally time information representing "53 minutes" is obtained.

Here, the description returns to FIG. Minutes as described above
Using the same procedure as the calculation procedure of the data of step (a), the values obtained in accordance with the position of the mark pulse P2 are added in steps S4 to S10 below, and "hour", "date", Get the time information of each. Step S5: When the calculation processing of “minutes” is completed and the position pulse P1B is detected (step S4: YES),
Calculate the data of "time". In the example shown in FIG.
As the time information of “hour”, 10 + 4 + 1 = 15 minutes is obtained.

Step S7: When the "hour" calculation process is completed and the position pulse P1B is detected (step S7).
6: YES), the data of “date” is calculated. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the time information of “date” is 200 + 40
+ 20 + 2 + 1 = 263 days (total days) are obtained. Step S10: The “date” calculation process is completed, and the position pulse P1B is detected (step S8: YES),
If the parities match (step S9: YES),
Calculate the data of "year". In the example shown in FIG.
As data of “year”, 80 + 10 + 8 = 98 (lower 2
Digits).

Step S12: When the "year" calculation process is completed and the position pulse P1B is detected (step S12).
11: YES), if there is a leap second, the leap second is corrected to obtain final time information. Step S13: The time indicated by the obtained time information is compared with the time of the built-in clock (RTC) 4F to check for an error. Step S14: When there is an error (Step S13: Y
ES), the time of the built-in clock (RTC) 4F is automatically set.

By the above steps, the computer 4
The built-in clock 4F performs accurate time measurement in synchronization with Japan Standard Time. The clock obtained in this manner is used as a reference for setting the time according to the method of the present invention.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the time, date, hour, minute, and second of the RTC incorporated in an information processing device such as a computer are automatically set by a time code signal supplied by a long-wave standard radio wave. A computer system for correction and correction was realized. Long-wave standard radio waves can be received indoors with a very small antenna, and the supplied time code signal is
It is based on multiple atomic clocks that engrave Japan Standard Time,
In addition to year information in the last two digits of the year, information on the day of the week, the total day from January 1, the hour, the minute, and the second are supplied as digital signals. Further, it is possible to cope with correction for time operation such as daylight saving time, and the time can be acquired in a maximum of two minutes.

Also, according to this embodiment, it is possible to synchronize individual computers and information processing equipment in a short time in Japan standard time using a time code signal included in a standard radio wave broadcast for 24 hours. Become. In addition, a plurality of RTCs with built-in computers can be accurately maintained in Japan standard time without connecting an antenna or the like to each other or outside the room.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and the present invention is applicable to any design change or the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. included. For example, it is not necessary to set the built-in clock 4F every time a time data signal is received.
It may be performed by setting an appropriate period.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention, a standard radio wave including a time code signal is received, time information is obtained from the time code signal included in the standard radio wave, and time is measured based on the time information. Since the time output by the means is corrected, without increasing the size of the device,
It is possible to automatically and accurately and quickly set and correct the date and time of a clock built in a computer system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a waveform chart showing an example of a time code signal used in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation (time setting process) of the computer system according to the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the computer system according to the embodiment of the present invention (calculation processing of “minute” data).

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Long wave standard radio wave transmitting station, 2 ... Long wave standard radio wave (standard radio wave), 3 ... Long wave receiver, 4 ... Computer, 4A ... Reference mark pulse detection part, 4B ... Minute calculation part, 4C ... Time calculation part, 4D ... Date calculation unit, 4E: Year calculation unit, 4F: Built-in clock (RTC), 4G: Time setting unit, TC: Time data signal, P1 to P3: Mark pulse, P1A: Reference mark pulse, P1B: Position pulse.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A time measuring means for measuring the time based on a predetermined oscillation output to output time, a receiving means for receiving a standard radio wave including a time code signal, and acquiring time information from a time code signal included in the standard radio wave. A computer system having a clock function, comprising: a time information obtaining unit that performs the operation; and a time setting unit that sets a time that is output by the clock unit based on the time information obtained from the time code signal. 2. The time acquisition unit includes: a pulse detection unit that detects a predetermined pulse included in the time code signal; and a time calculation unit that calculates time information from an array of pulses detected by the pulse detection unit. The computer system having a clock function according to claim 1, comprising: 3. A time correction method for a computer system having a clock function, comprising: (a) receiving a standard radio wave including a time code signal; and (b) detecting a time from a time code signal included in the received standard radio wave. A time correction method for a computer system having a clock function, comprising: obtaining information; and (c) setting a time of an internal clock based on time information obtained from the time code signal.