Method and apparatus for analyzing and qualifying packet networks
AssigneeSymmetricom, Inc.
InventorsKishan Shenoi, George P. Zampetti, Lee Cosart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Packet network performance is assessed using transit delay metrics and compliance masks generated at various evaluation nodes of the network. The evaluation nodes may employ network probes that make precise measurements of transit delays and thereby of transit delay variations. Based on the assessments, a master may be added to the network or relocated within the network, rate of timing packets generated by the master may be adjusted up or down, or oscillators used at the slaves may be upgraded.
Claims19
A method of validating a network having one or more master clocks for packet-based timing transfer, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting timing packets throughout the network;
- receiving the timing packets at an evaluation node of the network;
- computing a transit delay characteristic of the network based on timing information contained in the received timing packets;
- generating a compliance mask for validating the network;
- and
- comparing the transit delay characteristic against the compliance mask and validating the network based on the comparison.
A method of deploying a network having one or more masters and a plurality of slaves that are synchronized to the masters, comprising the steps of:
- at each of the slaves, computing a transit delay metric and a compliance mask based on timing packets transmitted by the masters, and a pivot point based on a property of an oscillator used at the slave;
- and
- upgrading the network upon determining that, at one of the slaves, the transit delay metric exceeds the compliance mask at the pivot point of said one of the slaves.
A packet network comprising:
- one or more master clocks;
- one or more slave clocks;
- a plurality of network elements between the master clocks and the slave clocks;
- and
- a network management system coupled to each of the master clocks, the slave clocks, and the network elements, the network management system being configured to generate transit delay metrics and compliance masks at the slave clocks for active monitoring of the packet network performance.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.