FPGA-Based System Implementation of IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol: A Review

The IEEE 1588 precision time protocol (PTP) has emerged as a critical standard for achieving highly accurate time synchronization across distributed systems, particularly where precision and low latency are essential. Widely applied in domains such as industrial automation, telecommunications, power grid management, nuclear fusion, and scientific facilities. PTP facilitates synchronized operations and enhances control reliability across networked devices. Utilizing the versatility, real-time processing capabilities, and hardware timestamping of field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), recent implementations of PTP on FPGA platforms have brought forth advancements in time synchronization precision, flexibility, and integration with complex systems. FPGAs offer significant advantages in implementing PTP, including customizable hardware acceleration, low latency, and compatibility with high-performance interfaces, which enable precise, scalable, and cost-effective solutions for time-critical applications. This article presents a comprehensive review of FPGA-based PTP implementations, examining the selection of FPGA platforms, design of intellectual property (IP) cores, and evaluation of application-specific performance metrics. By synthesizing recent research, we outline the advancements, challenges, and future directions for FPGA-based PTP solutions, with an emphasis on addressing the needs of modern distributed control and data acquisition systems.