Configuration of synchronisation network having synchronization trails for time sync and frequency sync

摘要

Configuring a node (410) of a synchronization network involves identifying (10) possible alternative time synchronization trails arranged to carry time synchronization information for time synchronization at the node, and possible alternative frequency trails, arranged to carry frequency synchronization information for frequency synchronization at the node. Using information about the sources (20), a comparison of the trails (30) is biased to increase a likelihood of choosing time synchronization and frequency trails which share the same source, over a likelihood of choosing trails with different sources. This can help avoid divergence and consequent bit errors arising from phase errors, resulting from trails having different sources. It can encompass for example changing both to a new common source, or changing one or both trails while still using the old common source.

主权项

1. A method of configuring a node of a synchronization network, the method comprising the steps of:
identifying a plurality of possible alternative synchronization trails for passing synchronization information from a synchronization source to the node, the possible alternative synchronization trails comprising a plurality of time synchronization trails arranged to carry time synchronization information for time synchronization at the node, and a plurality of frequency synchronization trails, arranged to carry frequency synchronization information for frequency synchronization at the node, determining information about the sources of the possible alternative synchronization trails, and comparing automatically the possible alternative synchronization trails, using the information about the sources, to choose:
a first one of the plurality of time synchronization trails for the node to use for time synchronization; anda first one of the plurality of frequency synchronization trails for the node to use for frequency synchronization, wherein the comparison of the plurality of possible alternative synchronization trails is biased to increase a likelihood that the first one of the plurality of time synchronization trails and the first one of the plurality of frequency synchronization trails share the same source, over a likelihood that the first one of the plurality of time synchronization trails and the first one of the plurality of frequency synchronization trails have different sources.