Method for the clock synchronization of a plurality of modules
AssigneeUnify GmbH & Co. KG
InventorThomas Lindner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method or an arrangement for the clock synchronization of a plurality of distributed modules of an information or communication system where said modules are coupled via a packet-switched network is adapted so that at least two of said modules are controlled by a local clock generator of the modules using an adjustable frequency, and a clock signal is transmitted via the network in the form of clock signal packets. One of said at least two modules takes over the function of a master module, and all remaining modules synchronize the local clock of the modules with the clock of the master module.
Claims20
1-12. (canceled)
A method for clock synchronization of a plurality of distributed modules in an information system or a communications system, said modules being coupled via a network, the modules comprising a master module and at least one slave module, the method comprising:
- the slave module determining a measurement for a deviation of a local clock generator of the slave module relative to a clock generator of the master module, the measurement being determined from a comparison of a first clock signal received from the master module to a second clock signal of the local clock generator of the slave module;
- and
- the slave module using the determined measurement to control the local clock generator of the slave module to synchronize the local clock generator of the slave module to the clock generator of the master module.
An apparatus comprising:
- a slave module having a local clock generator, the slave module configured to determine a measurement for a deviation of the local clock generator of the slave module relative to a clock generator of a master module, the measurement being determined from a comparison of a first clock signal received from the master module to a second clock signal of the local clock generator of the slave module, and
- the slave module configured to use the determined measurement to control the local clock generator of the slave module to synchronize the local clock generator of the slave module to the clock generator of the master module.
An apparatus for a communication system comprising:
- a control computer connectable to a network;
- the control computer configured to receive at least one first clock signal from a first module via the network, at least one second clock signal from a second module via the network during a first time window;
- and at least one third clock signal from a third module via the network during a second time window, the second time window being different from the first time window such that the at least one third clock signal of the third module is not transmitted during the first time window;
- and
- the control computer also configured to determine:
- a first measurement for a deviation of a local clock generator of the second module relative to a local clock generator of the first module by comparing the at least one first clock signal transmitted by the first module to the at least one second clock signal transmitted by the second module and using the first measurement to control the local clock generator of the second module, and
- a second measurement for a deviation of a local clock generator of the third module relative to the local clock generator of the first module by comparing the at least one first clock signal transmitted by the first module to the at least one third clock signal transmitted by the third module and using the second measurement to control the local clock generator of the third module.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.