Network element for a packet-switched network

摘要

A network element for a packet-switched network has a plurality of network ports for exchanging synchronization messages with further network elements, a local clock, a timestamp generation module associated to each network port for triggering generation of a timestamp, and a synchronization control module selectively configurable in a first operating mode and a second operating mode as a function of a configuration signal. When the synchronization control module is configured in the first operating mode, it is adapted to adjust an offset of the local clock as a function of the timestamps of the synchronization messages received through the slave port. When the synchronization control module is configured in the second operating mode, it is adapted to compute a residence time of a synchronization message in the network element as a function of the timestamps obtained at the time of receiving and sending the synchronization message.

主权项

1. A network element for a packet-switched network comprising:
a plurality of network ports for exchanging synchronization messages with further network elements; a local clock; a timestamp generation module associated to each network port for triggering generation of a timestamp by the local clock at the time of sending or receiving a synchronization message through the network port; and a first synchronization control module selectively configured in a first operating mode and a second operating mode; wherein when the first synchronization control module is configured in the first operating mode, it operates to:
select a first network port as a slave port and a second network port as a master port,adjust an offset of the local clock as a function of timestamps of the synchronization messages received through the slave port; andsend synchronization messages including timestamps obtained with the adjusted local clock through the master port; and wherein when the first synchronization control module is configured in the second operating mode, it operates to:
forward the synchronization message received through the first network port to the second network port;send the synchronization message through the second network port; andcompute a residence time of the synchronization message in the network element as a function of the timestamps obtained at the times of receiving and sending the synchronization message, characterized in that the first synchronization control module is selectively configured in the first operating mode and the second operating mode as a function of a configuration signal; wherein the network element further comprises a detection module for detecting the configuration signal as a signaling object within the synchronization message and wherein the first synchronization control module processes the synchronization message in accordance with the first operating mode or the second operating mode as a function of the signaling object included in the synchronization message.