Timing in a data communications network

摘要

A data communication network comprises a local clock (22) within a node (2) of the network which may be synchronized and syntonized by any node in the network. Each node contains a time packet detector (6) that detects and recognizes timing data packets and produces a recognition signal. Each node has a time server (10) that includes the local clock (22). The time server records the time of the recognition signal. The recorded time is used for correcting the local clocks of the various nodes (2) in the network. A transfer device such as a gateway, a bridge or a router may include a time server and a time packet detector to correct for the transit time of a time packet through such transfer device. The time packet detector (6) is connected at the point of final encoding for transmission or recovery of the clock and data. <IMAGE>