Systems and methods for precise time synchronization with optical modules
AssigneeCiena Corporation
InventorsDaniel Claude Perras, Sebastien Gareau
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical module for use in an optical system, the optical module implementing Precision Time Protocol (PTP) clock functionality therein. The optical module includes an electrical interface with the optical system; circuitry connected to the electrical interface and configured to implement a plurality of functions of functionality; an optical interface connected to the circuitry; and timing circuitry connected to the electrical interface and one or more of the plurality of functions, wherein the timing circuitry is configured to implement the PTP clock functionality.
Claims17
An optical module for use in an optical system, wherein the optical module implements Precision Time Protocol (PTP) clock functionality therein, the optical module comprising:
- an electrical interface with the optical system;
- circuitry connected to the electrical interface and configured to implement a plurality of functions;
- an optical interface connected to the circuitry;
- and
- timing circuitry connected to the electrical interface and the circuitry, wherein the timing circuitry is configured to implement the PTP clock functionality, which is a timestamping function for use in a Boundary Clock implementation,
- wherein the plurality of functions include management and operation of a data path, and the plurality of functions introduce delay asymmetry in the optical module between a forward direction and a reverse direction in the optical module and the timing circuitry is used to mitigate the effect of the delay asymmetry, and
- wherein the optical module utilizes an Ethernet extension scheme where Alignment Markers are used on a coherent line, wherein the timing circuitry utilizes reserved bits in the Alignment Markers for timestamp references, and wherein PTP messages for the timestamping function are provided over one of an Ethernet data path or the reserved bits.
An optical module for use in an optical system, wherein the optical module implements Precision Time Protocol (PTP) clock functionality therein, the optical module comprising:
- an electrical interface with the optical system;
- Soft Decision Forward Error Correction (SD-FEC) circuitry;
- mapping and framing circuitry;
- a coherent modem connected to the SD-FEC circuitry and the mapping and framing circuitry;
- and
- timing circuitry connected to the electrical interface, the SD-FEC circuitry, and the mapping and framing circuitry, wherein the timing circuitry is configured to implement the PTP clock functionality, which is a timestamping function for use in a Boundary Clock implementation,
- wherein the plurality of functions include management and operation of a data path, and the plurality of functions introduce delay asymmetry in the optical module between a forward direction and a reverse direction in the optical module and the timing circuitry is used to mitigate the effect of the delay asymmetry, and
- wherein the optical module utilizes an Ethernet extension scheme where Alignment Markers are used on a coherent line, wherein the timing circuitry utilizes reserved bits in the Alignment Markers for timestamp references, and wherein PTP messages for the timestamping function are provided over one of an Ethernet data path or the reserved bits.
A method implemented by an optical module in an optical system, the method comprising:
- processing signals in a forward direction from the optical system to a medium;
- processing signals in a reverse direction from the medium to the optical system, wherein a plurality of functions in the optical module include management and operation of a data path, and the plurality of functions introduce delay asymmetry in the optical module between a forward direction and a reverse direction in the optical module and the timing circuitry is used to mitigate the effect of the delay asymmetry;
- monitoring and determining the delay asymmetry between the forward direction and the reverse direction;
- and
- performing Precision Time Protocol (PTP) functionality based on the delay asymmetry, wherein the PTP functionality is a timestamping function for use in a Boundary Clock implementation,
- wherein the optical module utilizes an Ethernet extension scheme where Alignment Markers are used on a coherent line, wherein the timestamping function utilizes reserved bits in the Alignment Markers for timestamp references, and wherein PTP messages for the timestamping function are provided over one of an Ethernet data path or the reserved bits.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.