Real-Time Computing
Intel real-time technology supports new solutions that require a high degree of coordination, both within and across networked devices. Intel® Time Coordinated Computing (Intel® TCC)-enabled processors deliver optimal compute and time performance for real-time applications 1. Using integrated or discrete Ethernet controllers featuring IEEE 802.1 Time Sensitive Networking (TSN), these processors can power complex real-time systems.
Enable Real-Time Use Cases
Intel IoT real-time computing performance and solutions are focused on hard real-time use cases where missing a deadline is a system failure. Hard real-time is necessary in areas such as robotics, automotive, and utilities where a capability fails if it cannot be executed within the allotted time span (deadline).
Real-time offerings from Intel support new solutions that deliver both high-compute & real-time performance by:
- Prioritizing real-time workloads access to cache, memory, and networking
- Minimizing disruption from other workloads
- Optimizing performance for both real-time and non-real-time workloads
- Ensuring availability in both native and virtualized environments
Key Use Cases
Aviation
Factory Automation
Healthcare
Nuclear
Oil & Gas
Robotics
Transportation
Utilities & Water
Real-Time Performance
Intel® TCC and TSN
Intel® TCC Time Synchronization
Provides a hardware mechanism to coordinate the various clocks found in individual IP blocks.
Intel® TCC Timeliness
Provides a hardware mechanism to specify latency of data packets from one functional block to another.
Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN)
Provides bounded maximum latency for scheduled traffic through switched Ethernet networks. TSN is a set of IEEE 802 standards that are defined by the IEEE TSN task group. These standards enable ultra-reliable and low latency communication over Ethernet to support time sensitive applications. TSN achieves this by using time synchronization, traffic scheduling, and network configuration.
Time sensitive networking (TSN) refers to a collection of IEEE standards, specifications and capabilities based on standard Ethernet networks to support time-sensitive applications and supports precision time synchronization, timeliness for data delivery, and traffic scheduling.
Why TSN?
Secure and reliable delivery of data
Guaranteed latency for data delivery
Converged networks save operating costs
Simplifies system configuration and operation
Open ecosystem
Platform Features
- 1-3 integrated Ethernet TSN controllers
- Enable ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) machine-to-machine communication up to 2.5Gbps/port speeds
- Supports coexistence of hard real-time operational technology (OT) and soft real-time information technology traffic in a single network, reducing infrastructure cost
- Simplify board design with integrated Ethernet controllers; less power consumption, smaller form factor, bill of material cost saving
- Streamline software development with open standard reference software
Supported Ethernet TSN standards
- IEEE 802.1AS Generalized Precision Time Protocol
- IEEE 802.1Qbv Time-aware Shaper
- IEEE 802.1Qav Credit-based Shaper
- IEEE 802.1Qbu Frame Preemption
Learn more:
Article: Adopting Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) for Automation Systems
White Paper: The Business Impact of TSN for Industrial Systems
White Paper: Time-Sensitive Networking (From Theory to Implementation in Industrial Automation)
Key Elements
Time Synchronization provides hardware capabilities to achieve precise time synchronization and eliminate the need for software-based synchronization and associated adverse effects caused by the OS. Coordinate various clocks found in individual IP blocks, such as CPU, PCIe, network, audio, and more.
Timeliness provides hardware capabilities that minimize the latency of data packets from one IP block to another. Allocate critical resources, such as cache, for real-time applications. Prioritize I/O, such as PCIe traffic.
Benefits of Intel® Time Coordinated Computing (Intel® TCC) and Intel® TCC Tools:
Enable reliable worst-case execution time (WCET) I/O within compute node.
Speed time to market and reduce total cost of ownership with simple tuning.
Easily scale from Intel Atom® x6000E Series processors (code named Elkhart Lake) and 11th Gen Intel® Core™ processors (code named Tiger Lake UP3) to next gen with Intel® TCC.
Maximize efficiency by aggregating time-critical and non-time-constrained applications onto a single board.
Intel® TCC Software Enabling
There is no “one size fits all” solution. After choosing the right Enhanced for IoT Intel processor, the steps below are a recommended sequence in which customers should apply various “tuning” capabilities that Intel offers as part of our real-time offering:
- Leverage our Board Support Package (BSP) with real-time optimizations
- Enable Intel® TCC Mode in BIOS
- Utilize Intel® TCC Tools (coming soon) for the most granular real-time tuning or to balance between real-time performance, power consumption, and general compute performance
Silicon
Intel Atom® Processors
The following SKUs are optimized for real-time featuring Intel® Time Coordinated Computing (Intel® TCC) and 3 integrated TSN-ready Ethernet ports. It can also be paired with discrete Intel® Ethernet controller i225/i226 Series with TSN:
- Intel Atom® x6427FE Processor
- Intel Atom® x6425RE Processor
- Intel Atom® x6414RE Processor
- Intel Atom® x6212RE Processor
- Intel Atom® x6200FE Processor
11th Gen Intel® Core™ Processors
The following SKUs are optimized for real-time featuring Intel® Time Coordinated Computing (Intel® TCC) and 1 integrated TSN-ready Ethernet port. It can also be paired with discrete Intel® Ethernet controller i225/i226 Series with TSN:
- Intel® Core™ i7-1185GRE Processor
- Intel® Core™ i5-1145GRE Processor
- Intel® Core™ i3-1115GRE Processor
12th Gen Intel® Core™ Processors
The following SKUs are optimized for real-time featuring Intel® Time Coordinated Computing (Intel® TCC) and 2 integrated TSN-ready Ethernet ports. It can also be paired with Intel Ethernet controller i225/i226 Series with TSN:
- Intel® Core™ i9-12900E Processor
- Intel® Core™ i7-12700E Processor
- Intel® Core™ i5-12500E Processor
- Intel® Core™ i3-12100E Processor
Intel® Xeon® D Processors
The following SKUs are optimized for real-time featuring Intel® Time Coordinated Computing (Intel® TCC) and can also be paired with Intel Ethernet controller i225/i226 Series with TSN:
- Intel® Xeon® D-2752TER Processor
- Intel® Xeon® D-1746TER Processor
- Intel® Xeon® D-1735TR Processor
- Intel® Xeon® D-1715TER Processor
- Intel® Xeon® D-1712TR Processor
Intel® Xeon® W Processors
The following SKUs are optimized for real-time featuring Intel® Time Coordinated Computing (Intel® TCC) and 2 integrated TSN-ready Ethernet ports. It can also be paired with Intel Ethernet controller i225/i226 Series with TSN:
- Intel® Xeon® W-11865MRE Processor
- Intel® Xeon® W-11865MLE Processor
- Intel® Xeon® W-11555MRE Processor
- Intel® Xeon® W-11555MLE Processor
- Intel® Xeon® W-11155MRE Processor
- Intel® Xeon® W-11155MLE Processor
Discrete Ethernet Products
The following Ethernet products have TSN functionality:
- Intel® I225-LM (Embedded use conditions, 2.5G TSN capable discrete ethernet)
- Intel® I225-IT (Extended temp, 2.5G TSN capable discrete ethernet)
Software and Developers Tools
Intel® Edge Controls
Intel® Edge Controls for Industrial is a software Reference Platform running on compatible hardware that integrates real-time compute, standards-based connectivity, safety, virtualization, and IT-like management. It accelerates the transformation of Industrial Control Systems to software defined solutions.
Intel® Time Coordinated Computing (Intel® TCC) Tools
Intel is introducing a new product, called Intel® Time Coordinated Computing Tools (Intel® TCC Tools), which contains APIs, utilities, sample applications, documentation, and more to help customers and developers unlock the potential of Intel processor's real-time capabilities. It is characterized by 3 main areas:
- Real-time configuration and optimization focus on workload-aware processor tuning and optimizations helping bound data access timings for applications.
- Time Sync and communications contain samples that developers can use as starting points for the applications requiring precise time synchronization.
- Measurement and Analysis contents help developers in their debugging, troubleshooting, measurements, and analysis needs.
Customer Solution Briefs
- Siemens delivers high-performance industrial PC in a small footprint
- Congatec brings next-gen performance plus real-time computing to compact, industrial form factors
- Vecow simplifies and accelerates mobile robot deployments
- SECO pushes performance boundaries with new standards and the latest-gen platform
Partners Enabling
Intel is committed to cultivating an ecosystem dedicated to building real-time solutions.
- RTS: Introducing Real-Time Systems Hypervisor for Real-Time Workload Consolidation with 11th Gen Intel® Core™ and Intel Atom® X6000E Processor Series (SB)
- TTTech: Nerve Blue from TTTech Industrial features Intel® Edge Controls for Industrial
- Codesys: Accelerating Codesys Real-Time Applications (Video)
- RTS: How Real-Time Systems and Intel® Real-Time Capabilities Are Making Industry 4.0 Possible
Documentation
Get design documents, drivers, datasheets, release notes & more for IoT real-time solutions.
Real-Time Systems Overview
Discover the impact real-time systems have on Internet of Things applications in industries ranging from manufacturing to healthcare to oil and gas and robotics.
IoT Technologies
Browse related technologies which allow you to capture more data, analyze it faster, and act on it sooner.
Product and Performance Information
Intel® technologies' features and benefits depend on system configuration and may require enabled hardware, software or service activation. Performance varies depending on system configuration. No product or component can be absolutely secure. Check with your system manufacturer or retailer or learn more at https://www.intel.in