INTERFACE SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

An interface system has a first media access controller having a first MAC buffer for storing at least one first-type frame in a first frame format according to a first communication protocol. A time synchronization module is arranged to, upon detecting the start of the first-type frame, determine a first timestamp from a master clock signal and latch the first timestamp into a first timestamp register. A processor is arranged to: retrieve the first timestamp from the first timestamp register, and transfer a first-type frame between the first MAC buffer and a first local memory in a block-wise manner as a plurality of blocks. The processor is arranged to process the plurality of blocks of the first-type frame using the first timestamp as retrieved from the first timestamp register.

主权项

1. An interface system, comprising:
a first media access controller for providing a first communication interface over a first port using first-type frames according to a first communication protocol, the first media access controller having a first MAC buffer for storing at least one first-type frame in a first frame format according to the first communication protocol, a time synchronization module arranged to:
detect a start of a first-type frame provided to the first media access controller,upon detecting the start of the first-type frame, determine a first timestamp from a master clock signal provided from a master clock unit, latch the first timestamp into a first timestamp register in the time synchronization module and keep the first timestamp in the first timestamp register at least until a start of a next first-type frame is detected, and a processor having a first local memory and being arranged to:
retrieve the first timestamp from the first timestamp register,transfer a first-type frame between the first MAC buffer and the first local memory (in a block-wise manner, the first-type frame being hereby copied as a plurality of blocks, andprocess the plurality of blocks of the first-type frame using the first timestamp as retrieved from the first timestamp register.