Methods and devices for synchronizing to a remotely generated time base
AssigneeIcron Technologies Corporation
InventorKeith Kejser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices and methods for generating timing signals at a rate that matches a rate of remotely generated timing signals are provided. In some embodiments, a host generates timing signals in accordance with a USB specification, such as keep-alives, start-of-frame packets, or ITPs. An upstream facing port transmits the timing signals over a network to a downstream facing port. The downstream facing port generates and transmits timing signals to a USB device at a predetermined rate, and alters the predetermined rate based on an analysis of the rate at which timing signals are received from the upstream facing port.
Claims18
A computing device configurable to provide a downstream facing port (DFP) for allowing a USB device to communicate with a host via an upstream facing port (UFP), wherein the DFP is configured to:
- receive a first remote timing signal from the UFP;
- transmit local timing signals to the USB device at a predetermined rate;
- and
- adjust the rate of transmission of local timing signals to the USB device based on further timing signals received from the UFP without determining a round-trip latency between the UFP and the DFP;
- wherein adjusting the rate of transmission of local timing signals includes:
- determining an average duration between reception of remote timing signals from the UFP;
- and
- adjusting the rate of transmission based on the determined average duration.
A method of generating local timing signals, the method comprising:
- receiving, by a first computing device configurable to provide a downstream facing port, a first remote timing signal from a second computing device configurable to provide an upstream facing port;
- generating local timing signals at a predetermined rate;
- and
- adjusting the rate of transmission of local timing signals based on further received remote timing signals without determining a round-trip latency between the first computing device and the second computing device, wherein adjusting the rate of transmission of local timing signals includes:
- determining an average duration between reception of remote timing signals;
- and
- adjusting the rate of transmission based on the determined average duration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.