Method and system for synchronization between network elements

摘要

A system for synchronizing a first network device and a second network device. The first network device comprises an interface configured to release over a communication link a first signal carrying a first data stream clocked by a first clock signal. The second network device comprises an interface configured to receive the first signal over the communication link. The second network device also comprises a clock extraction module configured to generate an extracted clock signal from the received first signal; and a data coding module configured to clock a second data stream with an output clock signal selected based on a speed of a locally generated clock signal relative to the first clock signal or the extracted clock signal, thereby to produce a second signal for transmission from the second network element to the first network element.

主权项

1. A system for synchronizing a plurality of network devices in a network, the system comprising:
a communication link for transporting signals in compliance with a standard that defines a first nominal frequency and a first tolerance; a first network device communicatively coupled to the communication link, the first network device being configured to transmit over the communication link a first signal carrying a first data stream clocked by a first clock signal expressly synthesized to have a frequency different from the first nominal frequency but within the first tolerance; and a second network device communicatively coupled to the communication link, the second network device being configured:
to receive the first signal over the communication link;to generate an extracted clock signal from the first signal;to select between a locally generated clock signal and the extracted clock signal based on a speed of the locally generated clock signal relative to the extracted clock signal to provide a selected clock signal; andto clock a second data stream with the selected clock signal to produce a second signal for transmission from the second network device to the first network device.