Timestamping for multiple synchronization domains in a network device

A method for processing timing messages communicated in a communication network, the method comprising:

• receiving, at a packet processor of a network device and via an internal communication link within the network device, i) a timing message and ii) a first timestamp generated by a physical layer (PHY) processor of the network device, the first timestamp having been generated by the PHY processor using a local-domain clock used by the PHY processor, the first timestamp corresponding to a time, as measured by the local-domain clock, at which the PHY processor received the timing message via a network link coupled to the PHY processor, the network link being external to the network device;
• generating, at the packet processor, a second timestamp for the timing message using a domain-specific clock maintained by the network device, the second timestamp corresponding to a time at which the packet processor received the timing message;
• determining, at the packet processor, a delay value using the first timestamp, the delay value accounting for a time delay corresponding to the transfer of the timing message within the network device from the PHY processor to the packet processor;
• adjusting, at the packet processor, the second timestamp using the delay value to generate an adjusted domain-specific timestamp for the timing message, the adjusted domain-specific timestamp indicating a time, corresponding to the domain-specific clock, at which the PHY processor received the timing message via the network link;
• and
• performing, at the packet processor, at least one timing-related operation using the adjusted domain-specific timestamp.