Nanosecond accuracy under precision time protocol for ethernet by using high accuracy timestamp assist device

A synchronization unit comprising:

• a clock connection connected to an external clock signal control unit, said clock connection receives a clock signal from said external clock signal control unit;
• a timestamp unit connection connected to an external timestamp unit;
• a time protocol decoder connected to a transmission medium, said time protocol decoder decodes a time protocol message being transmitted on said transmission medium;
• and
• a processor electrically connected to said clock connection, said timestamp unit connection, and said time protocol decoder,
• said processor identifies a start frame delimiter of said time protocol message by matching patterns in said time protocol message to known start frame delimiter patterns,
• said processor captures a clock time at which said start frame delimiter is identified by referring to said clock signal while identifying said start frame delimiter, and
• said processor outputs said clock time as a timestamp to said timestamp unit through said timestamp unit connection.

A synchronization system comprising:

• a master node synchronization unit electrically connected to:
• a transmission medium;
• a master node clock signal control unit generating a master node clock signal;
• and a master node timestamp unit;
• and
• a slave node synchronization unit electrically connected to:
• said transmission medium;
• a slave node clock signal control unit generating a slave node clock signal;
• and a slave node timestamp unit,
• said master node synchronization unit identifies a master node start frame delimiter of a time protocol message on said transmission medium by matching patterns in said time protocol message to known start frame delimiter patterns,
• said slave node synchronization unit identifies a slave node start frame delimiter of said time protocol message on said transmission medium by matching said patterns in said time protocol message to said known start frame delimiter patterns,
• said master node synchronization unit captures a master node clock time at which said master node start frame delimiter is identified by referring to said master node clock signal while identifying said master node start frame delimiter,
• said slave node synchronization unit captures a slave node clock time at which said slave node start frame delimiter is identified by referring to said slave node clock signal while identifying said slave node start frame delimiter,
• said master node synchronization unit outputs said master node clock time as a master node timestamp to said master node timestamp unit, and
• said slave node synchronization unit outputs said slave node clock time as a slave node timestamp to said slave node timestamp unit.