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Timed Commands

Most USRPs support timed commands, which allow execution of commands at a specific time. Timed commands fall into one of two categories: Stream Commands and General Timed Commands.

# Stream Commands

All USRPs (with the exception of the USRP1) allow specifying times for stream commands. This allows capturing/receiving and transmitting samples at specific times.

For receiving samples, simply provide a time specification to the stream command. Example:

using namespace uhd;
auto usrp = usrp::multi_usrp::make("");
// Configure the USRP here, incl. frequency, gain, etc.
uhd::stream_args_t st_args("fc32", "sc16");
auto rx_stream = usrp->get_rx_stream(st_args);
rx_metadata_t md{};
// Figure out the current time
auto time_now = usrp->get_time_now();
// Craft timed command
stream_cmd_t stream_cmd(stream_cmd_t::STREAM_MODE_START_CONTINUOUS);
stream_cmd.stream_now = false; // Enable timed streaming
stream_cmd.time_spec = time_now + 1.0; // Start 1s in the future
rx_stream->issue_stream_cmd(stream_cmd);
// We assume buffers etc. have been allocated
const double timeout = 2.0; // We need to wait at least 1 seconds before samples arrive
num_recvd = rx_stream->recv(buffs, nsamps_per_buff, md, timeout);
// The first sample in 'buffs' will be captured at the requested time. Also,
// the metadata object (md) will most likely contain a timestamp which then will
// match that in the stream command.
uhd::usrp::multi_usrp::make
static sptr make(const device_addr_t &dev_addr)
uhd::usrp
Definition container.hpp:15
uhd
Definition build_info.hpp:12
uhd::rx_metadata_t
Definition metadata.hpp:23
uhd::stream_args_t
Definition stream.hpp:51
uhd::stream_cmd_t
Definition stream_cmd.hpp:40
uhd::stream_cmd_t::STREAM_MODE_START_CONTINUOUS
@ STREAM_MODE_START_CONTINUOUS
Definition stream_cmd.hpp:42

For transmitting samples, simply attach a timestamp to the outgoing data. The USRP will buffer the data until the requested time has been reached. Example:

using namespace uhd;
auto usrp = usrp::multi_usrp::make("");
// Configure the USRP here, incl. frequency, gain, etc.
uhd::stream_args_t st_args("fc32", "sc16");
auto tx_stream = usrp->get_tx_stream(st_args);
tx_metadata_t md{};
md.has_time_spec = true;
// Start 1s in the future
md.time_spec = usrp->get_time_now() + 1.0;
// We assume buffers etc. have been allocated
tx_stream->send(buffs, nsamps_per_buff, md);
uhd::tx_metadata_t
Definition metadata.hpp:163
uhd::tx_metadata_t::time_spec
time_spec_t time_spec
When to send the first sample.
Definition metadata.hpp:172
uhd::tx_metadata_t::has_time_spec
bool has_time_spec
Definition metadata.hpp:169

# General Timed Commands

There are other commands that can also be executed in a timed fashion, including, but not limited to:

- Configuring the gain
- Configuring the center frequency
- Switching antenna ports
- Toggling GPIO lines

This can be used to implement features such as frequency hopping, AGC (automatic gain control) loops, bit-banging serial protocols over GPIO lines, etc.

Unlike timed stream commands, these timed commands are not atomic with respect to setting the command time. Instead, the command time needs to be set for all subsequent commands. Example:

using namespace uhd;
auto usrp = usrp::multi_usrp::make("");
// Configure the USRP here, incl. frequency, gain, etc.
// Now we set timed commands to occur 1s into the future:
usrp->set_command_time(usrp->get_time_now() + 1.0);
// All of these commands will be queued up in the FPGA until the desired command
// time is reached:
usrp->set_tx_freq(1.0e9); // Tune to 1 GHz
usrp->set_tx_gain(40); // Bump Tx gain to 40 dB
// Now we should reset the command time so future commands are not affected:
usrp->clear_command_time();
// The following command will be executed as soon as the FPGA has received the
// command and has finished processing previous commands:
usrp->set_tx_gain(30); // Bump Tx gain to 30 dB

## Command Queues

Every command that is submitted to the USRP is placed into a command queue, and commands in such a queue are always executed in the order they are received.

When a command has a command time attached to it, the command is held in the queue until the desired time has been reached. This has consequences:

- If multiple commands are received that all carry the same command time, they will be executed serially in the order they were placed in the queue.
- If a command with an earlier command time is received after a command with a later command time, there is no reordering occurring in the FPGA. This means that in this case, the command with the earlier command time would still be executed after the command with the later command time.

Because of this mode of operation, "late" commands (commands with a command time that is in the past) are executed immediately.

In RFNoC devices, each RFNoC block has its own command queue. Older devices have fewer (or only one command queue).

When the command queue is full, UHD will block until the USRP has signaled that there is space for more commands. That can cause timed commands to reach the FPGA after their desired execution time.

## Which commands can be timed?

The choice of timed commands which can be executed in a timed fashion depend entirely on the underlying device, and for RFNoC devices, depend also on the RFNoC blocks receiving the commands. Typical RF configuration commands, such as setting gain, frequency, or antenna ports are often capable of being timed, but not for all devices. Refer to the individual device manual pages for more details.

# Command Time Resolution

When a command time is requested in software, the command time (stored as a uhd::time_spec_t) will be converted into an integer value (a 64-bit tick count value). This conversion will quantize the command time, potentially causing an offset from the desired value.

UHD will quantize the command time according to the tick rate of the RFNoC block or device (in case of pre-RFNoC USRPs). For radio blocks, and commands that affect the radio (including stream commands, and RF controls) this tick rate is equal to the master clock rate. For example, if a USRP X310 is operating at a 200 MHz master clock rate, then the timing resolution of the timed commands is \( 1/200 MHz = 5 ns \). Specifying a command time at 2.000000001 s in this case would be rounded to a command time at 2s.

Additionally, devices may physically operate at a lower clock frequency. For example, the USRP X440, when operating at a master clock rate of 500 MHz, internally uses a 62.5 MHz clock (operating at 8 samples per clock edge). The command processor can only compare the command time with the current time every 16 ns, resulting in a further quantization of effective command times.