{"id":7429,"date":"2023-05-12T10:42:48","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T08:42:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.delphin.de\/?post_type=glossar&#038;p=7429"},"modified":"2026-07-08T09:41:43","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T07:41:43","slug":"timestamp","status":"publish","type":"glossar","link":"https:\/\/www.delphin.de\/en\/glossar\/zeitstempel\/","title":{"rendered":"Timestamp"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <strong>Timestamp<\/strong> (Timestamp) is the unique time identifier for a measurement value or event. It records exactly when a measurement value was recorded, thereby enabling the chronological organization and analysis of measurement data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In modern measurement data acquisition, the timestamp is an indispensable piece of information, since measurement values often cannot be meaningfully analyzed without the correct time stamp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is a timestamp?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each measurement typically consists of several pieces of information. These include, for example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The actual measured value<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The corresponding measurement point or channel<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The time of recording (timestamp)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The timestamp includes the date and the exact time of the measurement, down to the millisecond or microsecond\u2014depending on the measurement system used.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Example<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes has-medium-font-size\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><th>Timestamp<\/th><th>Temperature<\/th><\/tr><tr><td>08.07.2026 10:15:00<\/td><td>22.5 \u00b0C<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>08.07.2026 10:15:01<\/td><td>22.6 \u00b0C<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>08.07.2026 10:15:02<\/td><td>22.8 \u00b0C<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is only through the time data that a measurement trend becomes visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why are timestamps important?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Timestamps form the basis for nearly all analysis and evaluation functions in modern measurement systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They make it possible to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Trend analyses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Event Analyses<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fault Diagnosis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Long-term recordings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Process monitoring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Synchronization of Multiple Measurement Systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Traceability of Measurements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Documentation and Quality Records<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Missing or inaccurate time information can lead to incorrect analyses and misinterpretations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Timestamps in Networked Measurement Systems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A uniform time base is particularly important for distributed measurement systems. When measurement data is collected simultaneously from multiple devices, the timestamps must be precisely synchronized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is important for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Comparison of Measurement Values from Different Measurement Points<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Correlation of Events<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Analysis of Complex Systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Decentralized Measurement Data Acquisition<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Condition Monitoring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fault Analysis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Only with synchronized timestamps is it possible to clearly determine the order in which events occurred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Synchronization via NTP<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In modern networks, time synchronization is usually performed via a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.delphin.de\/en\/glossary\/ntp-2\/\" data-type=\"glossar\" data-id=\"7371\">NTP Server<\/a> (Network Time Protocol)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In doing so, you will receive:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>measuring devices<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Server<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Databases<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Industrial PCs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Control Rooms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">a common and consistent system time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Advantages of NTP synchronization:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Uniform Time Base<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High time accuracy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consistent Data Analysis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unique Event Mapping<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Simplified Documentation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is particularly important in industrial facilities with many interconnected components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Timestamps in Delphin Measurement Systems<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In the measurement data acquisition solutions from <strong>Delphin Technology<\/strong> The timestamp is one of the key components of a data set. Each measurement is tagged with the current device time and is thus uniquely documented. To ensure consistent data analysis, device times should be synchronized with higher-level systems such as <strong>DataService<\/strong> or the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.delphin.de\/en\/products\/measurement-software\/delphin-data-center\/\" data-type=\"produkt\" data-id=\"2203\"><strong>Delphin Data Center<\/strong> <\/a>be synchronized. The systems support integration into networked environments and the centralized management of measurement data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In larger networks, time servers are typically synchronized via an NTP server, ensuring that measuring devices, servers, and analysis systems all use the same time base. This ensures precise temporal alignment of all recorded measurement data and events. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Benefits of Precise Timestamps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Unambiguous assignment of measured values<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Reliable Trend Charts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Precise Event Analysis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improved Troubleshooting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consistent Long-Term Records<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Synchronized Multi-Device Systems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High traceability and reliable documentation<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Precise timestamps are a fundamental requirement for reliable analyses, especially in automated test benches, monitoring systems, and Industry 4.0 applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Typical areas of application<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Industry 4.0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Measurement data acquisition<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Data logger<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Process monitoring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fault analysis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Condition Monitoring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Energy Monitoring<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Test Bench Technology<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Quality Management<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Laboratory automation<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-7429","glossar","type-glossar","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.delphin.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossar\/7429","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.delphin.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/glossar"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.delphin.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/glossar"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.delphin.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7429"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}