We introduce logical synchrony, a framework that allows distributed computing to be coordinated as tightly as in synchronous systems without the distribution of a global clock or any reference to universal time. We develop a model of events called a logical synchrony network, in which nodes correspond to processors and every node has an associated local clock which generates the events. We construct a measure of logical latency and develop its properties. A further model, called a multiclock network, is then analyzed and shown to be a refinement of the logical synchrony network. We present the bittide mechanism as an instantiation of multiclock networks, and discuss the clock control mechanism that ensures that buffers do not overflow or underflow. Finally we give conditions under which a logical synchrony network has an equivalent synchronous realization.

翻译：我们提出逻辑同步性（logical synchrony）这一框架，使得分布式计算能够像同步系统一样紧密协调，而无需分发全局时钟或依赖任何通用时间参照。我们构建了一个名为逻辑同步性网络（logical synchrony network）的事件模型，其中节点对应处理器，每个节点拥有一个生成事件的本地时钟。我们定义了逻辑延迟（logical latency）的度量方式，并推导了其性质。随后分析了一个名为多时钟网络（multiclock network）的进阶模型，证明其是逻辑同步性网络的精化形式。我们以bittide机制作为多时钟网络的具体实例，并讨论了确保缓冲区不发生上溢或下溢的时钟控制机制。最后给出了逻辑同步性网络存在等价同步实现的充分条件。