22. A modular system, comprising:
first instrument bay for holding a first set of modules each capable of communication via a first set of network communication
links, the first set of modules each having a clock and means for synchronizing the clock in response to messages on the first
set of network communication links, the first set of modules each performing a function such that the functions of the first
set of modules are coordinated by a synchronized time in the clocks in the first set of modules, the first instrument bay
holding a first communication device that enables communication among the first set of modules via the first set of network
communication links and that enables communication via a communication network;
second instrument bay for holding a second set of modules each capable of communication via a second set of network communication
links, the second set of modules each having a clock and means for synchronizing the clock in response to messages on the
second set of network communication links, the second set of modules each performing a function such that the functions of
the second set of modules are coordinated by a synchronized time in the clocks in the second set of modules, the second instrument
bay holding a second communication device that enables communication among the second set of modules via the second set of
network communication links and that enables communication via the communication network such that the synchronized time in
the clocks in the first and second sets of modules enables placement of one or more modules of the first and second sets of
modules outside of the first and second instrument bays with no change to an underlying functionality in the modules.
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