Apparatus and method for time aware transfer of frames in a medium access control module

A method of operating a medium access control module, wherein the medium access control module comprises a plurality of queues, a plurality of gate modules and a plurality of shaping modules, the method comprising:

• receiving a plurality of frames and a plurality of timestamps from a memory at the plurality of queues or the plurality of gate modules;
• prior to or subsequent to the plurality of frames being received at the plurality of gate modules, storing the plurality of frames received from the memory in the plurality of queues;
• masking ownership of the plurality of frames based on the plurality of timestamps to delay reception of the plurality of frames by the plurality of queues;
• comparing the plurality of timestamps to a local time via the plurality of gate modules;
• permitting transfer of the plurality of frames based on the comparisons including, at each of the plurality of gate modules, permitting transfer of one of the plurality of frames in response to the local time matching or being later than a corresponding one of the timestamps, and (ii) not permitting transfer of the one of the plurality of frames in response to the local time being earlier than the corresponding one of the timestamps;
• receiving at the plurality of shaping modules the plurality of frames from the plurality of queues or the plurality of gate modules;
• spreading data in the plurality of frames over time to generate output signals;
• selecting one of the output signals;
• and
• forwarding the selected one of the output signals to a physical layer device.