US 10,476,618 B2Granted

Accurate synchronization as a service

AssigneeCenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC

InventorsJeff Farra, Paul Johnson, Thomas Schwengler

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Abstract

Novel tools and techniques are provided for implementing network timing functionality. In some embodiments, a grand master clock(s) might receive a first timing signal from a global positioning system (“GPS”) source via a GPS antenna(s), and might send a second timing signal (which might be based at least in part on the first timing signal) to a slave clock(s), in some cases, via one or more network elements or the like. A computing system might calculate various transmission times for the second timing signal to be transmitted between the grand master clock(s) and the slave clock(s), and might calculate any time delay differences in the transmission times, might generate a third timing signal based at least in part on the calculated time delay differences (if any), and might send the third timing signal to one or more network elements, thereby providing Accurate Synchronization as a Service (“ASaaS”) functionality.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for implementing accurate synchronization as a service (“ASaaS”) functionality, comprising:

receiving, with a first grand master clock, a first timing signal from a first global positioning system (“GPS”) source;
sending, with the first grand master clock, a second timing signal to a first slave clock via a first network path in a first network, the second timing signal being based at least in part on the first timing signal;
sending, with the first grand master clock, the second timing signal to the first slave clock via a second network path in the first network, the second network path being different from the first network path;
calculating, with a computing system, a first transmission time for the second timing signal to be transmitted between the first grand master clock and the first slave clock via the first network path;
calculating, with the computing system, a second transmission time for the second timing signal to be transmitted between the first grand master clock and the first slave clock via the second network path;
based on a determination that the first transmission time and the second transmission time are different, calculating, with the computing system, a time delay difference between the first network path and the second network path in terms of sending the second timing signal to the first slave clock;
generating, with the computing system, a third timing signal, based at least in part on the second timing signal and the calculated time delay difference between the first network path and the second network path;
and
sending, with the computing system, the generated third timing signal to a network node disposed within a second network.

6 more elements

A system for implementing accurate synchronization as a service (“ASaaS”) functionality, comprising:

a first grand master clock, comprising:
at least one first processor;
and
a first non-transitory computer readable medium communicatively coupled to the at least one first processor, the first non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer software comprising a first set of instructions that, when executed by the at least one first processor, causes the first grand master clock to:
receive a first timing signal from a first global positioning system (“GPS”) source;
send a second timing signal to a first slave clock via a first network path in a first network, the second timing signal being based at least in part on the first timing signal;
and
send the second timing signal to the first slave clock via a second network path in the first network, the second network path being different from the first network path;
a computing system, comprising:
at least one second processor;
and
a second non-transitory computer readable medium communicatively coupled to the at least one second processor, the second non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon computer software comprising a second set of instructions that, when executed by the at least one second processor, causes the computing system to:
calculate a first transmission time for the second timing signal to be transmitted between the first grand master clock and the first slave clock via the first network path;
calculate a second transmission time for the second timing signal to be transmitted between the first grand master clock and the first slave clock via the second network path;
based on a determination that the first transmission time and the second transmission time are different, calculate a time delay difference between the first network path and the second network path in terms of sending the second timing signal to the first slave clock;
generate a third timing signal, based at least in part on the second timing signal and the calculated time delay difference between the first network path and the second network path;
and
send the generated third timing signal to a network node disposed within a second network.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/397,829Filed 29 Apr 2019 · continuation
Priority: 19 Apr 2016
Published: US 2019/0253170 A115 Aug 2019
Granted: 12 Nov 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H04J 3/0673
Clock or time synchronisation among packet nodes: using intermediate nodes, e.g. modification of a received timestamp before further transmission…
H04B 10/0793
Using measurements of the data signal: network aspects, e.g. central monitoring of transmission parameters
H04J 3/0641
Clock or time synchronisation among nodes; Internode synchronisation: change of the master or reference, e.g. take-over or failure of the master
H04J 3/0644
Clock or time synchronisation among nodes; Internode synchronisation: external master-clock

Family

Application62/324,655Us provisional application · filed 19 Apr 2016
Application15/393,556Parent of this continuation · filed 29 Dec 2016
Application16/030,326Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Jul 2018
US 10,020,905 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 10 Jul 2018
US 2019/0253170 A1Pre-grant publication · published 15 Aug 2019
US 10,277,347 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2017/0302392 A1Published application
US 2018/0331772 A1Published application
US 10,476,618 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.