System and method for configuring multiple PTP ports of a network device

Abstract

The present invention describes a system and method for configuring multiple PTP ports of a network device, the network device including an input component and a processor. A PTP port group associated with a subset of the PTP ports of the network device and a PTP zone is identified. A PTP parameter set corresponding to the PTP port group is received and applied to each port in the subset of the PTP ports associated with the PTP port group. Time exchange is performed on PTP-enabled devices within the PTP zone. The present invention also describes a PTP network device including a first transparent clock, a second transparent clock, and a boundary clock. The first transparent clock performs time exchange within the first PTP zone. The second transparent clock performs time exchange within the second PTP zone. The boundary clock performs time exchange between the first PTP zone and the second PTP zone.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the field of network devices supporting precision time protocol, and more particularly, to configuring multiple precision time protocol ports of a network device. Background Art

[0002] Precision Time Protocol ("PTP") network devices can consist of multiple physical ports. The mode of each port is determined and configured based on its intended use. A PTP network device may have several ports that require the same set of configuration parameters. Traditional device setup models require that each port be configured individually for a PTP network device with many ports, resulting in a lot of time and labor costs for configuring the device.

[0003] In addition, the ports of a PTP network device can have different time exchange requirements depending on the area to which each port is connected. The IEEE 1588 standard defines a protocol for providing clock synchronization in a packet network. Several clock types are defined in the standard, including an ordinary clock, a boundary clock, and a transparent clock. A boundary clock is a mode in which a device is expected to receive time as a PTP slave clock on one port and publish the time as a PTP master clock to its remaining PTP ports. In contrast, a transparent clock is expected to forward time information between its PTP ports. The IEEE C37.238-2011 standard and the IEC 61850-9-3 standard define power profiles and utility profiles, respectively, which allow boundary clocks to introduce time inaccuracies of up to 200ns, while they allow transparent clocks to introduce time inaccuracies of up to 50ns.

[0004] In a multi-port network device, several ports can be associated with the same PTP zone, while other ports can be associated with other different PTP zones. A PTP zone is a network zone in which all devices supporting PTP comply with the same PTP parameter set, also referred to as a PTP profile. A multi-port network device with a transparent clock function can perform time exchange within a PTP zone rather than between PTP zones. A multi-port device with a boundary clock function can perform time exchange within and between PTP zones, but the boundary clock function will be used for all PTP ports, regardless of whether some ports belong to the same zone or to different zones, even if the device can have a transparent clock function. Although a transparent clock is not intended for inter-zone time exchange, a boundary clock is inefficient and may introduce higher time inaccuracies. Summary of the invention

[0005] According to one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a configuration method for a multi-port PTP network device is provided. The method provides the flexibility to add, delete or otherwise configure multiple ports of a network device with the same PTP parameters or configuration files. In addition, a single PTP network device is able to provide a boundary clock function and a transparent clock function that meet the standards of these functions, even if the IEEE1588 standard does not provide a combined boundary clock and transparent clock device ("BC-TC device"). The hybrid configuration of the PTP network device utilizes a boundary clock function for time exchange between PTP areas and a transparent clock function for time exchange between ports in the same PTP area. Therefore, the method allows efficient operation of a multi-port PTP network device, thereby minimizing any potential time inaccuracies.

[0006] The configuration method associates the physical PTP port of the network device with a PTP configuration parameter set through the PTP port group configuration. Several PTP ports can be effectively configured at the same time, and the PTP ports can be grouped in a flexible manner according to user needs. The configuration of the PTP port becomes user-friendly and can minimize errors that may occur due to configuration copies. Ports that are not part of the PTP network do not need to be included as part of any PTP configuration. The configuration method also provides significant accuracy within the region through the transparent clock function, and avoids unnecessary contributions to time inaccuracy through the boundary clock function.

[0007] One aspect is a system for configuring multiple PTP ports of a network device, the network device comprising an input component and a processor. The input component is configured to identify a PTP port group associated with a subset of PTP ports of the network device. The PTP port group is further associated with a PTP zone. The processor is configured to receive a PTP parameter set corresponding to the PTP port group, apply the PTP parameter set to each port in the subset of PTP ports associated with the PTP port group, and perform time exchange on PTP-enabled devices within the PTP zone.

[0008] Another aspect is a method for configuring multiple PTP ports of a network device. A PTP port group associated with a subset of PTP ports of the network device is identified, wherein the PTP port group is further associated with a PTP zone. A PTP parameter set corresponding to the PTP port group is received. The PTP parameter set is applied to each port in the subset of PTP ports associated with the PTP port group. Time exchange is performed on devices supporting PTP in the PTP zone.

[0009] Another aspect is a multi-port precision time protocol ("PTP") network device, which includes a first transparent clock, a second transparent clock, and a boundary clock. The first transparent clock of the network device is coupled to a first device of a first PTP zone. The first transparent clock performs time exchange within the first PTP zone. The second transparent clock of the network device is coupled to a second device of a second PTP zone. The second transparent clock performs time exchange within the second PTP zone. The boundary clock of the network device communicates with the first transparent clock and the second transparent clock. The boundary clock performs time exchange between the first PTP zone and the second PTP zone.

[0010] By referring to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, the above features and advantages and other features and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art. Although it is desirable to provide one or more of these or other advantageous features, the teachings disclosed herein extend to those embodiments that fall within the scope of the invention, regardless of whether they achieve one or more of the above advantages. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like objects.

[0012] Figure 1 A diagram is shown of a system in an example embodiment that is operable to employ the techniques described herein.

[0013] Figure 2 A PTP configuration table showing an exemplary PTP parameter set representing multiple PTP port groups that can be Figure 1 used by the system.

[0014] Figure 3 A schematic diagram showing a hybrid BC-TC network device of a PTP-enabled device coupled to multiple PTP zones.

[0015] Figure 4 Shown Figure 3 Block diagram of the layers of a hybrid BC-TC network device.

[0016] Figure 5 Shows Figure 1 The connection terminal or Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 A block diagram of exemplary device components of a network device.

[0017] Figure 6 A flow diagram depicting example operations operable to employ the techniques described herein is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Various techniques will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are related to systems and methods for facilitating configuration of multi-port precision time protocol ("PTP") network devices, wherein the same reference numerals represent the same elements throughout. The accompanying drawings discussed below and the various embodiments for describing the principles of the disclosure in this patent document are intended to be illustrative only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the principles of the present invention can be implemented in any appropriately arranged device. It should be understood that the functions described as being performed by certain system elements can be performed by multiple elements. Similarly, for example, an element can be configured to perform the functions described as being performed by multiple elements. Many innovative teachings of the present application will be described with reference to exemplary non-limiting embodiments.

[0019] A network device and method configure multiple ports for the same PTP parameters or profiles and maintain the flexibility to add, remove, or independently configure ports based on intended usage. The device and method allow a user to reduce the number of redundant configuration steps encountered when configuring each PTP port separately. For example, the configuration model can facilitate field deployment of products and can make it easier for end users of the device and its associated PTP network to adopt PTP.

[0020] Reference Figure 1 , shows a system 100 in an exemplary embodiment that operates to employ the techniques described herein. System 100 includes a network device 102 and, for some embodiments, can also include a connection terminal 104. Examples of connection terminal 104 include any type of portable computing device capable of communicating with network device 102 via a wired or wireless data link, such as, but not limited to, a laptop computer, a mobile device, a tablet computer, a remote terminal, a server, etc. An input component, such as user interface 106, configures network device 102, as described below. For some embodiments, input component 106 can be supported by connection terminal 104, and for other embodiments, input component 106 can be supported by network device 102.

[0021] The network device 102 supports PTP and uses the configuration set of the PTP port groups 110-116 to configure the multiple PTP ports 118-132 of the network device. The network device 102 or the connection terminal 104 configures and maintains the parameters of the multiple physical PTP ports 118-136 of the network device.

[0022] The input component identifies a PTP port group 110-116 associated with a subset of the PTP ports 118-132 of the network device 102, and each PTP port group is associated with a PTP zone. The input component also identifies a PTP parameter set 138-144 of parameters to be assigned to each PTP port 118-132. For example, the first PTP port group 110 includes a first PTP parameter set 138 associated with each of the first PTP ports 118, 120, 122. Various embodiments can include one or more additional groups. For example, in addition to the first PTP port group 110, the network device 102 can include a second PTP port group 112, which includes a second PTP parameter set 140 associated with each of the second PTP ports 124, 126. For other embodiments, the network device 102 may further include: a third PTP port group 114, which includes a third PTP parameter set 142 associated with the third PTP port 128; a fourth PTP port group 116, which includes a fourth PTP parameter set 144 associated with each of the fourth PTP ports 130, 132, and so on. For some embodiments, the network device 102 can include one or more ports 134, 136 that are not part of any PTP port group. For some embodiments, the network device 102 can include one or more ports 134, 136 that are not configured for PTP functionality.

[0023] The network device 102 and its PTP port groups 110-116 facilitate the configuration of the PTP ports 118-132 by associating the PTP ports 118-132 with the PTP parameter sets 138-144 at similar times. For some embodiments, the PTP ports 118-132 may be associated with the corresponding PTP parameter sets 138-144 at the same time. For some embodiments, the PTP ports 118-132 may be continuously associated with the corresponding PTP parameter sets 138-144 within a specific time period. Through this association, the PTP port group allocates a group of ports to share the same PTP parameter set. Examples of PTP port groups include, but are not limited to, PTP ports belonging to the same network segment or VLAN, PTP ports that comply with the same PTP profile (such as a PTP power profile or a PTP utility profile), PTP ports with restricted operating modes (such as slave mode only or master mode only), and PTP ports that require special processing (such as VLAN tag formatting, including or excluding specific TLV information in the PDU, etc.).

[0024] Reference Figure 2 , shows a PTP configuration table 200 representing an exemplary PTP parameter set for a plurality of PTP port groups, which may be used by the system 100. Figure 2In the example shown, PTP parameters 202-224 are represented by rows and PTP port groups 226-230 are represented by columns. The PTP configuration table 200 can include PTP parameters 202-224 for one or more PTP port groups 226-230. For the exemplary table 200, each of the plurality of PTP port groups 226-230 includes a port identification 202, a group name 204, a domain number 206, a transport protocol 208, a path delay mechanism 210, a VID 212, a PTP profile 214, a PTP port type 216, a sync interval 218, an announce interval 220, an announce receipt timeout 222, and a grand master identification 224. The port identification 202 represents the PTP port associated with the corresponding PTP port group 226-230, and the group name 204 is the group identification of the corresponding PTP port group. For example, a first PTP parameter set 204-224 is assigned to each of ports 1, 3, and 4 of the PTP port group "PG1", and other PTP parameter sets of other PTP port groups 228, 230 are assigned to the corresponding ports identified by the port identification 202. Each PTP parameter set corresponding to the corresponding PTP port group 226-230 includes at least one of the following main parameters for each PTP port: domain number 206, transmission protocol 208, path delay mechanism 210, PTP profile 214, PTP port type 216, synchronization time interval 218, announcement message time interval 220, or announcement message reception timeout number 224. For example, all the main parameters are mandatory for the PTP port to operate, so the PTP parameter set can include all of these main parameters. Other secondary parameters 204, 212, 224 can be optional, or can be required according to the data of one or more main parameters.

[0025] For some embodiments, the PTP configuration table 200 may also represent an exemplary configuration interface for a PTP port group, wherein each cell of the table is configurable. The configuration interface can include a single port group 226 and PTP parameters 202-224 (e.g., Figure 2 as shown) and the PTP parameters for each port group.

[0026] refer to Figure 3, shows a schematic diagram of a hybrid boundary clock-transparent clock ("BC-TC") network device 300 that is coupled to or in communication with PTP-enabled devices of multiple PTP zones. The hybrid BC-TC network device 300 includes multiple transparent clock ("TC") functions or components 302-308 and a boundary clock function or component 310 coupled to the TC components. Although Figure 3 Four TC components 302-308 are shown in FIG, but it should be understood that the network device 300 includes two or more TC components with actual numbers based on different embodiments. Each TC component 302-308 is associated with a corresponding PTP area 312-318. In particular, each TC component 302-308 is coupled to a corresponding PTP-supporting device 320-340 of the corresponding PTP area 312-318 or communicates with it in other ways. For example, the network device 300 includes a first TC component 302 that communicates with a first PTP-supporting device 320-324 of the first PTP area 312, a second TC component 304 that communicates with a second PTP-supporting device 326-332 of the second PTP area 314, and a BC component 310 that communicates with the first TC component and the second TC component. For other embodiments, the network device 300 can include one or more additional TC components 306, 308 that communicate with the PTP-supporting devices 334-340 of other PTP areas 316, 318.

[0027] In order to combine the boundary clock role and the transparent clock role, the network device 300 includes a boundary clock function, a transparent clock function and a configuration model for a PTP port group (as described above). The network device 300 also includes the ability to act as a transparent clock component between ports of a PTP port group within a PTP area. The multi-port PTP network device 300 includes a first TC component ("TC1") 302 of the network device, a second TC component ("TC2") 304 of the network device and a boundary clock ("BC") 310 of the network device. The first TC component 302 is coupled to a first device 320-324 in a first PTP area 312, and performs a time exchange with the first device in the first PTP area. Similarly, the second TC component 304 is coupled to a second device 326-332 in a second PTP area 314, and performs a time exchange with a second device in the second PTP area. The boundary clock 310 communicates with the first TC component 302 and the second TC component 304, and performs a time exchange with the first device and the second device 320-332 between the first PTP area 312 and the second PTP area 314. The boundary clock 310 does not perform time exchange within the first or second PTP zones 312, 314. In addition, neither the first TC component 302 nor the second TC component 304 performs time exchange with the first and second devices 320-332 between the first PTP zone 312 and the second PTP zone 314. Instead, the boundary clock 310 communicates directly with the first TC component 302 and the second TC component 304, and communicates indirectly with the first devices 320-324 and the second devices 326-332 via the first TC component and the second TC component, respectively.

[0028] The first devices 320-324 are associated with a first PTP port group, and the second devices 326-332 are associated with a second PTP port group. Figure 2The group 226-230 of TC components 302 is represented. The first TC component 302 performs a time exchange with the first device 320-324 of the first PTP port group in the first PTP area 312, and the second TC component performs a time exchange with the second device 326-332 of the second PTP port group in the second PTP area 314. Each TC component 302-308 forwards each message received from its associated PTP-supporting device without modification or substantially without modification to other associated PTP-supporting devices coupled to its associated port. The boundary clock 310 modifies these identification parameters by replacing one or more of some identification parameters of each message received from the original master source of one of the TC components 302-308 with its own identification. Therefore, the boundary clock 310 pretends to be the master source and behaves according to the master clock configuration file. Each port in the PTP port group acts as a transparent clock port between other members of the PTP port group. For the "central" boundary clock 310, each PTP port group behaves as a boundary clock port.

[0029] The PTP network device 300 is coupled to a plurality of PTP-supporting devices 320-340, wherein one of the PTP-supporting devices is the best grandmaster device, and the other PTP-supporting devices synchronize their clocks to the grandmaster device. In the case where only one grandmaster device 332 of the plurality of PTP-supporting devices 320-332 is coupled to the PTP network device 300, the one grandmaster device is selected as the best grandmaster device. In the case where a plurality of grandmaster devices 332, 334 of the plurality of PTP-supporting devices 320-340 are coupled to the PTP network device 300, the best grandmaster device is selected according to the Best Master Clock Algorithm for PTP Distribution ("IEEE1588BMCA").

[0030] The master-slave clock signal transmission for network equipment 300 occurs based on the best selected special equipment. Boundary clock 310 is used for exchanging time information between PTP port group or PTP zone 312-318, and TC assembly allows exchanging time information in PTP port group or PTP zone. Therefore, network equipment 300 allows to introduce lower time inaccuracy in each PTP port group or PTP zone. The slave machine attached to the second TC assembly 304 will receive time from local special equipment 332 via the second TC assembly 302, and those slave machines attached to the first TC assembly 304 will synchronize their time with the same special equipment 332 via boundary clock 310. When the second equipment 326-332 includes the best special equipment 332, the second TC assembly 304 will transmit the slave signal to the boundary clock 310, and the boundary clock 310 will transmit the host signal corresponding to the slave signal to the first TC assembly 302. As described above, the message from the best super clock 332 is unmodified or substantially unmodified by the TC component 304, and the boundary clock 310 modifies some of the identification parameters of the message by replacing one or more of the identification parameters with its own identification.

[0031] Figure 4 It means the above reference Figure 3 A block diagram of a specific embodiment of a hybrid BC-TC network device 400 is described. Figure 4 As shown, the network device 400 includes a transparent clock layer 402 and a boundary clock layer 404. The transparent clock layer 402 has a plurality of autonomous transparent clock ("TC") components 406, 408, 410. The boundary clock layer 404 has a boundary clock ("BC") component 412, which is interconnected or otherwise communicates with the aforementioned transparent clock layer 402 and its TC components 406-410 in the context of PTP. Each TC component 406-410 is associated with a corresponding PTP port group and includes at least one port 414-430 coupled to a device supporting PTP.

[0032] The boundary clock layer 404 communicates with the transparent clock layer 402 and performs time exchange with PTP-supported devices via ports 414-430 of TC components 406-410. Each TC component 406-410 of the transparent clock layer 402 performs time exchange with PTP-supported devices within its associated PTP region, and the boundary clock component 412 of the boundary clock layer 404 performs time exchange with PTP-supported devices between PTP regions associated with different TC components 406-410 and PTP port groups. PTP messages received from PTP-supported devices by the transparent clock layer 402 and its TC components 406-410 are forwarded unmodified or substantially unmodified to other associated PTP-supported devices and the boundary clock layer 404 and its BC component 412. The PTP messages received from the transparent clock layer 402 by the boundary clock layer 404 are modified by the BC component 412 of the boundary clock layer 404 and sent to the TC components and PTP port groups of other PTP regions. The BC component 412 is capable of changing one or more identifying parameters of each PTP message and behaves as a master clock source.

[0033] Figure 5 An exemplary device component 500 is shown for a network device 102, 300, 400 and / or a connection terminal 104. The device component 500 includes a communication bus 502 for directly or indirectly interconnecting other device components. Other device components include one or more communication components 504, one or more processors 506, and one or more memory components 508.

[0034] The communication component 504 may be supported by the network device 102 to communicate with the connection terminal 104, and vice versa. For some embodiments, the communication component 504 can communicate using wireless technology, such as radio frequency (RF), infrared, microwave, light wave and acoustic communication. RF communication includes but is not limited to Bluetooth (including BLE), ultra-wideband (UWB), Wi-Fi (including Wi-Fi Direct), Zigbee, cellular, satellite, mesh network, PAN, WPAN, WAN, near field communication and other types of radio communication and variants thereof. For some embodiments, the communication component 504 may communicate using wired technology, such as transmitting data through a physical pipeline (e.g., electrical or optical fiber medium).

[0035] The one or more processors 506 can execute code and process data received from other components of the device component 500, such as information received at the communication component 504 or stored at the memory component 508. Code associated with the network device 102 and / or the connection terminal 104 and stored by the memory component 508 can include, but is not limited to, an operating system, applications, modules, drivers, etc. The operating system includes executable code that controls basic functions, such as interaction between the various components of the device component 500, communication with external devices via the communication component 504, and storage and retrieval of code and data to and from the memory component 508.

[0036] Each application includes an executable code that provides a specific function for the processor 506 and / or the remaining components. The instance of the application that can be executed by the processor 506 may include but is not limited to a port grouping module 510 and / or a BC-TC layer module 512. The port grouping module 510 can configure the network device 102, including applying the PTP parameter set to each port in the subset of the PTP port associated with the PTP port group. The BC-TC layer module 512 can operate the network device 102 based on the configuration set by the port grouping module 510, including performing time exchange on the device supporting PTP in and / or between the PTP areas. For those embodiments using a connection terminal, the connection terminal 104 can include a port grouping module 510. The network device 102 includes a BC-TC layer module 512, and for some embodiments, can also include a port grouping module 510.

[0037] The data stored at the memory component 508 is such information that can be referenced and / or manipulated by an operating system or application that performs functions of the network device 102 and / or the connection terminal 104. Examples of data stored by the memory component 508 may include, but are not limited to, port group data 514, parameter set data 516, and BC-TC data 518. The port group data 514 can include one or more PTP port groups associated with a subset of the PTP ports of the network device 102, and information that associates each PTP port group with a corresponding PTP region. The processor 506 directly or indirectly receives a PTP parameter set 516 corresponding to the port group data 514. For an embodiment utilizing the connection terminal 104, the communication component 504 is configured to receive a PTP parameter set 516 corresponding to the port group data 514 and provide the PTP parameter set to the processor 506. The parameter set data 516 can include one or more parameters, such as a domain number, a transport protocol, a path delay mechanism, a PTP profile, a PTP port type, a synchronization time interval, an announcement message time interval, or an announcement message reception timeout number. BC-TC data 518 can include data for operating network device 102, including master-slave communications, such as the time of sending an initial synchronization message, the time of receiving an initial synchronization message, the time of sending a delay request, and the time of receiving a delay request. For those embodiments using a connection terminal, connection terminal 104 can include port group data 514 and parameter set data 516. Network device 102 includes BC-TC data 518, and for some embodiments, can also include port group data 514 and parameter set data 516.

[0038] The device component 500 of the network device 102 and / or the connection terminal 104 includes one or more input components 520 and one or more output components 522. The input component 520 is particularly configured to identify a PTP port group associated with a subset of the PTP ports of the network device 102 and a PTP zone. The input component 520 and the output component 522 also include such a port, which is connected to a PTP-supported device of one or more PTP zones or otherwise communicates with it. The input component 520 and the output component 522 of the device component 500 can include one or more visual, audio, mechanical and / or other components. The input component 520 and the output component 522 can include a user interface 524 for interacting with a user of the device. The user interface 522 can include a combination of hardware and software to provide a desired user experience to the user, such as a display, a touch screen and / or a physical key. For example, depending on whether the connection terminal 104 is used, the communication component 504 and / or the processor 506 receive parameter set data 516 from the input component 520 of the connection terminal or the network device 102.

[0039] It should be understood that Figure 5The example of device components 500 of the network device 102 and / or the connection terminal 104 is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to be a complete diagram of the various components that the system can utilize. Figure 5 Various other components not shown in the drawings can include a combination of two or more components, or divide a specific component into two or more separate components, and still be within the scope of the present invention.

[0040] Reference Figure 6 , a flowchart depicting an exemplary operation 600 for adopting the technology described herein is shown. Operation 600 provides a method for configuring multiple PTP ports of a network device. Initially, a PTP port group (602) associated with a subset of the PTP port of the network device is identified. The PTP port group is further associated with a PTP zone. An input component 520 of a network device 102 (604) or a connection terminal 104 (606) communicating with the network device can be used to identify the PTP port group and configure the PTP port in other ways. For some embodiments, multiple PTP port groups (602) associated with a subset of the PTP port of the network device and other PTP zones can be identified. For example, in addition to the first group, the first subset and the first zone, a second PTP port group associated with a second subset of the PTP port and a second PTP zone can be identified by the input component 520.

[0041] In response to identifying (602) the PTP port group, the processor 506 of the network device 102 receives (608) a PTP parameter set corresponding to the PTP port group (604). The processor 506 can receive the PTP parameter set for an input signal from the connection terminal 104 from the input component 520 (610) of the network device 102 or the communication component 504 (612) of the network device. For some embodiments, multiple PTP parameter sets corresponding to the PTP port group can be received. For example, a second PTP parameter set corresponding to a second PTP port group can be received from the input component 520 or the communication component 504.

[0042] In response to receiving the PTP parameter set (608), the processor 506 can apply (614) the PTP parameter set to each port in the subset of PTP ports associated with the PTP port group. For embodiments where multiple PTP parameter sets have been received (608), the multiple PTP parameter sets can be applied (614) to ports of another subset of PTP ports associated with the PTP port group. For some embodiments, the PTP parameters apply (616) the PTP parameter set to all PTP ports in the subset of PTP ports at similar times. For example, the PTP ports can be associated with the corresponding PTP parameter sets simultaneously, or the PTP ports can be continuously associated with the corresponding PTP parameter sets for a specific time period.

[0043] At some point before applying the PTP parameter set (614), a PTP-enabled device is coupled (618) to a PTP port of the network device 102. For example, the device can be coupled (618) to a port before or after identifying (602) a port group or before or after receiving (608) a PTP parameter set.

[0044] In response to applying the PTP parameter set (614), the processor 506 performs (620) a time exchange (622) of PTP-enabled devices within the PTP zone by utilizing each TC component 406-410 of the transparent clock layer 402. The processor can also perform a time exchange (624) of PTP-enabled devices between PTP zones by utilizing the BC component 412 of the boundary clock layer 404. For some embodiments, the processor 506 performs the time exchange by transmitting (626) an initial synchronization message from the master to the slave, transmitting (626) a subsequent synchronization message from the master to the slave, transmitting (626) a delay request message from the slave to the master, and transmitting (626) a final delay response message from the master to the slave. The multi-port PTP network device 102 is efficiently configured to minimize any potential time inaccuracies.

[0045] Those skilled in the art will recognize that, for simplicity and clarity, the complete structure and operation of all data processing systems applicable to the present invention are not depicted or described herein. In addition, except as described herein, the various features or methods described herein should not be considered as necessary for any or all embodiments. Various features can be omitted or duplicated in various embodiments. The various processes described can be omitted, repeated, sequentially, concurrently or performed in different orders. The various features and processes described herein can be combined in other embodiments as may be described in the present invention.

[0046] It is important to note that while the present invention includes a description in the context of a fully functional system, those skilled in the art will appreciate that at least a portion of the mechanisms of the present invention can be distributed in any of a variety of forms in the form of instructions contained in a machine-usable, computer-usable, or computer-readable medium. And the present invention applies equally regardless of the specific type of instruction or signal-bearing medium or storage medium used to actually perform the distribution. Examples of machine-usable / readable or computer-usable / readable media include: non-volatile hard-coded media such as read-only memory (ROM) or erasable electrically programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), and user-recordable media such as floppy disks, hard drives, and compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM) or digital versatile disks (DVD).

[0047] Although the exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail, those skilled in the art will understand that they can make various changes, substitutions, alterations, and modifications thereof without departing from the subject and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

Claims

1. A system for configuring a plurality of Precision Time Protocol (PTP) ports of a network device, the system comprising: an input component configured to identify a PTP port group associated with a subset of the PTP ports of the network device, the PTP port group further associated with a PTP zone; and a processor configured to receive a PTP parameter set corresponding to the PTP port group, and the processor applies the PTP parameter set to each port of a subset of PTP ports associated with the PTP port group, and the processor performs time exchange for PTP-enabled devices within the PTP region, Wherein, the network device includes multiple transparent clock components and boundary clock components coupled to the transparent clock components, and each transparent clock component is associated with the corresponding PTP area, wherein the processor of the system is also configured to enable the network device to execute a port grouping module and a boundary clock-transparent clock layer module, and the boundary clock-transparent clock layer module is capable of operating the network device based on the configuration set by the port grouping module, including performing time exchange for devices supporting PTP within the PTP area and / or between the PTP areas.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein: The input component is supported by the connection terminal or the network device; and The processor receives the PTP parameter set from the connection terminal or the input component of the network device.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The PTP parameter set corresponding to the PTP port group includes at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a domain number, a transmission protocol, a path delay mechanism, a PTP profile, a PTP port type, a synchronization time interval, a notification message time interval, or a notification message reception timeout number.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein: A PTP-capable device is coupled to each port of the subset of PTP ports.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The processor applies the PTP parameter set to all PTP ports of the subset of PTP ports at a similar time.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein: The input component identifies a second PTP port group associated with a second subset of PTP ports of the network device, the second PTP port group further associated with a second PTP zone; and The processor receives a second PTP parameter set corresponding to the second PTP port group, applies the second PTP parameter set to each port of the second subset of PTP ports associated with the PTP port group, and performs time exchange for PTP-enabled devices between the first PTP zone and the second PTP zone.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein: The processor determines a transmission time of an initial synchronization message sent by a master, a reception time of the initial synchronization message received by a slave, a transmission time of a delay request sent by the slave, and a reception time of the delay request received by the master.

8. A method for configuring a plurality of Precision Time Protocol (PTP) ports of a network device, the method comprising: identifying a PTP port group associated with a subset of PTP ports of the network device, the PTP port group further associated with a PTP zone; Receiving a PTP parameter set corresponding to the PTP port group; applying the PTP parameter set to each port of a subset of PTP ports associated with the PTP port group; Performing time exchange for PTP-supported devices within the PTP region, Wherein, the network device includes multiple transparent clock components and boundary clock components coupled to the transparent clock components, and each transparent clock component is associated with the corresponding PTP area, wherein a port grouping module and a boundary clock-transparent clock layer module are executed, and the boundary clock-transparent clock layer module is capable of operating the network device based on the configuration set by the port grouping module, including performing time exchange for devices supporting PTP within the PTP area and / or between the PTP areas.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein: Identifying the PTP port group includes identifying the PTP port group at an input component of a connection terminal or an input component of the network device; and Receiving the PTP parameter set includes receiving the PTP parameter set from the input component of the connection terminal or the input component of the network device.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein: The PTP parameter set corresponding to the PTP port group includes at least one parameter selected from the group consisting of a domain number, a transmission protocol, a path delay mechanism, a PTP profile, a PTP port type, a synchronization time interval, a notification message time interval, or a notification message reception timeout number.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising coupling a PTP-enabled device to each port of the subset of PTP ports.

12. The method according to claim 8, wherein: Applying the PTP parameter set includes applying the PTP parameter set to all PTP ports of the subset of PTP ports at a similar time.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising: identifying a second PTP port group associated with a second subset of PTP ports of the network device, the second PTP port group being further associated with a second PTP zone; receiving a second PTP parameter set corresponding to the second PTP port group; applying the second set of PTP parameters to each port of the second subset of PTP ports associated with the PTP port group; Time exchange is performed between the first PTP area and the second PTP area for devices supporting PTP.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein: Execution time exchanges include: Sending an initial synchronization message from the master to the slave; transmitting a subsequent synchronization message from the master to the slave; transmitting a delay request message from the slave to the master; and A final delayed response message is transmitted from the master to the slave.

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