Network synchronization architecture for a Broadband Loop Carrier (BLC) system

A redundant network synchronization system, comprising:

• a primary combined wide area network (WAN) port/synchronization unit that receives and synchronizes data from a network;
• a secondary combined WAN port/synchronization unit that receives and synchronizes said data from said network, said secondary unit being coupled with said primary unit to communicate timing information, received from said network, therebetween;
• and
• a primary system switch element that receives said data and said timing information from one of said primary and said secondary combined WAN port/synchronization units and that switches said data to a predefined destination.

In a combined wide area network (WAN) port/synchronization unit, a method of receiving an input including data and timing information, and of synchronizing said data for transmission, comprising the steps of:

• receiving said input and recovering said data and primary timing information from said input;
• processing said data;
• receiving a plurality of timing information, said plurality of timing information including said primary timing information from said network interface and secondary timing information from a secondary combined WAN port/synchronization unit;
• selecting a most reliable timing information from said plurality of timing information;
• and
• multiplexing said most reliable timing information with said data processed in said step of processing across a link.