US Patent 7391835 Optimizing synchronization between monitored computer system signals

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that optimizes synchronization between monitored signals in a computer system. During operation, the system receives a number of monitored signals. The system then forms a number of signal pairs by grouping each signal with every other signal. Next, the system optimizes synchronization between the signals by iteratively perturbing the timing of each signal in an attempt to increase the value of an objective function which reflects the overall synchronization between all the signals.