The Software Solution: A Complete Timing Architecture
Today's most sophisticated systems—from AI datacenters to 5G infrastructure—require nanosecond (ns)-level precision and uninterrupted reliability. Anything less leads to wasted computing resources and system outages, reducing productivity. Clocks and oscillators lay the foundation for managing network efficiency, data integrity and compliance across distributed applications. Achieving the precision demanded by today’s advanced systems, however, calls for an approach beyond the capabilities of hardware alone. Making the shift to a software-defined timing architecture, where intelligent software works together with high-performance hardware is the next step in solving the industry’s toughest timing challenges.
The Unified Clock Tree: SiTime's Evolution
As the quartz timing market disruptor, SiTime pioneered the MEMS resonator, then integrated those resonators into advanced oscillators and clock chips. For the next generation of innovation, SiTime introduced the TimeFabricTM Software Suite—providing adaptive control for a unified clock tree.
The TimeFabric Software Suite consists of two specialized modules: the IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) Servo and Stack, to manage synchronization accuracy, and the Holdover Extension feature to ensure system resilience. Together, these elements produce the end-to-end timing solution necessary for optimal performance. This holistic approach to a hardware and software clock tree establishes SiTime as the only vendor to offer all categories of timing products.
The Advantage of Precision
Precise synchronization is often governed by the IEEE 1588 PTP, a digital framework that coordinates every clock in a network. Relying on generic PTP implementations, however, can severely hinder precise timing. The TimeFabric PTP standard-compliant servo and stack is an autonomous system designed to actively manage the clock and deliver superior levels of precision.
The software’s adaptive control cuts the synchronization error from the maximum 5 ns limit required for Class-D down to an industry-leading 0.5 ns (sub-nanosecond) accuracy, showcasing a 9x increase in precision compared to traditional quartz-based solutions. Without this level of precision, poor synchronization jams network traffic, directly impacting error rates and the overall throughput. This coordination is essential to maximize platform utilization in high-traffic environments like AI datacenters (e.g., faster queuing and better load balancing) and is crucial for tighter control and stability in 5G domains. This functionality is offered as a complete software package, including drivers for SiTime network synchronizers. Because of this, the integration of the timing solution on a customer’s main device is a seamless, “plug-and-play” deployment.
24 Hour Holdover Benefit
Even the most synchronized network is vulnerable to the threat of losing the external timing signal, for instance, a GNSS/GPS outage. This can be caused by interference, weather or cyberattacks. When an outage occurs, a system must rely on holdover—the local clock's ability to maintain accurate time independently.
SiTime's TimeFabric Holdover Extension delivers a breakthrough in system resilience. Instead of forcing engineers to design expensive, redundant hardware to meet service continuity requirements, the Holdover Extension software module learns the timing hardware’s unique, ultra-low daily drift behavior. When the external reference signal is lost, the software actively uses this learned data to compensate for the anticipated drift.
The TimeFabric Holdover Extension can extend the holdover duration by up to 24 hours without modifying or replacing existing hardware. The duration is paramount for uninterrupted operations, providing an ample window for service personnel to respond, diagnose and repair signal failures or outages. This holdover extension secures continuous operation for infrastructures like datacenter switches, 5G centralized units (CUs)/distributed units (DUs) and core routers. It can also be applied to industrial systems and specialized aerospace and defense subsystems. This software-enabled upgrade improves network resilience without increasing size or power consumption, while simultaneously enhancing scalability by adapting the same hardware to multiple performance grades.
The Complete Solution: An Adaptive Timing Platform
The integration of intelligent software into the timing architecture drives SiTime's high-performance clocks to deliver measured results, translating industry standards into real-world benefits like tighter synchronization and extended operational reliability. As applications grow more complex, choosing the right software is now as vital as choosing the right timing hardware to increase performance and efficiency. This complete clock tree solution is a platform of adaptive control. It is the key differentiator in next-generation timing architectures, allowing customers to accelerate their time-to-market.
SiTime is the only full service timing provider that enables the entire clock tree. SiTime’s comprehensive timing expertise ensures the optimum customer experience, but also greater design longevity, unmatched system performance and adaptability to evolving specifications.
Take the next step toward advancing clock control and streamlining development. Learn more about the TimeFabric Software Suite.