DISTRIBUTING CLOCK SYNCHRONIZATION INORMATION WITHIN AN OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

摘要

A method distributes clock synchronization information within an optical communications network having a plurality of network elements. The method receives an ingress clock synchronization message at a first said network element. The ingress clock synchronization message includes a clock synchronisation message identifier and a correction field. The clock synchronisation message identifier is inserted into an optical channel frame overhead and the ingress clock synchronisation message is inserted into an optical channel frame payload. The optical channel frame overhead and the optical channel frame payload are transmitted across the first network element, across the network to a second said network element, and across the second network element. A transit time of the clock synchronisation message identifier is determined across each of the network elements. At the second network element, the correction field of the ingress clock synchronisation message is updated with said transit times to form an egress clock synchronisation message.

主权项

1. A method of distributing clock synchronization information within an optical communications network comprising a plurality of network elements, the method comprising:
a. receiving an ingress clock synchronization message at a first said network element, the ingress clock synchronization message comprising a clock synchronisation message identifier and a correction field; b. inserting the clock synchronisation message identifier into an optical channel frame overhead and inserting the ingress clock synchronisation message into an optical channel frame payload; c. transmitting the optical channel frame overhead and the optical channel frame payload across the first network element, across the network to a second said network element, and across the second network element, and determining a transit time of the clock synchronisation message identifier across each of the network elements; and d. at the second network element, updating the correction field of the ingress clock synchronisation message with said transit times to form an egress clock synchronisation message.