IEEE-1588 is a “Precision Clock Synchronization Protocol for Network and Control Systems”, designed for factory systems and harsh environments. PTP adds a clock and an ID address to permit synchronized operation between devices. Both endpoints need to support IEEE-1588 in order for the system to work. PTP is a precision clock synchronization protocol with microsecond accuracy and very low latency between each end point within the system. This is something that is shared with the Stellaris family and because the core is also shared with them, many of the Stellaris applications are compatible with the Concerto™ device. The clocks in IEEE-1588 are typically used to coordinate the activities of the primary application executing the system, there must be a host controller talking to the motors. It is necessary to bring sensor data in and get it out to the motors as fast as possible. By using IEEE-1588 it is possible to timestamp the sensor data and store it, so if this is a redundant system and it is necessary to do a safety critical application all of the sensor data can be sent over IEEE-1588, time stamped and stored. For example, in a typical Concerto device application with IEEE-1588 for multiple sensors if something fails, all of the sensor data has been stored in external flash memory. By conducting a rolling check on the memory, in a black box type application the last values are always available. These values have been time stamped with the sensor, and may also have a data packet involved with them. Therefore it is possible to know what sensor failed, what position the sensor was in when it failed, or when our system faulted. Clocks are used to initiate the actions in one or more of the components, and an actuator can be changed by its value at time T while a sensor measures a value at time T plus delta.