Clock Packet Transmission Method for Ring Network Loop Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
In ring networks, clock synchronization is hindered by clock loops, which lead to communication performance degradation due to the need for extensive resource consumption in parsing clock packets, especially when the number of devices is large.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for transmitting clock packets that include a source identity and clock information, where if the source identity remains consistent, further tracking of clock information is skipped, reducing the need for identities of clock sources across all network elements and minimizing packet length, thereby preventing clock loops and reducing resource consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If path tracking method is used to prevent clock loops by adding clock identity of boundary clock device to every clock packet, then clock loop prevention is achieved, but packet length increases and resource consumption for packet parsing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential source identity information from the clock packet while removing unnecessary redundant identity data. Instead of carrying identities of all boundary clock devices along the path, the packet carries only the original source identity, significantly reducing packet length and parsing complexity while maintaining clock loop prevention capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent inverts the traditional approach by having the source device embed its identity directly in the clock packet at generation, rather than having each boundary clock device add its identity sequentially. This reversal eliminates the cumulative packet growth problem while achieving the same clock loop detection objective.
2Reliability
If path tracking method is used to prevent clock loops by adding clock identity of boundary clock device to every clock packet, then clock loop prevention is achieved, but communication performance deteriorates due to large resource consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential source identity information from the clock packet while removing unnecessary redundant identity data. Instead of carrying identities of all boundary clock devices along the path, the packet carries only the original source identity, significantly reducing packet length and parsing complexity while maintaining clock loop prevention capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of identity information carried in the packet from multiple cumulative identities to a single source identity. This parameter change reduces the data volume in the packet, decreases parsing resource consumption, and improves communication performance while maintaining the ability to detect clock loops.
3Loss of information
If identities of all clock sources are tracked across all network elements, then comprehensive clock source information is obtained, but packet length increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential source identity information from the clock packet while removing unnecessary redundant identity data. Instead of carrying identities of all boundary clock devices along the path, the packet carries only the original source identity, significantly reducing packet length and parsing complexity while maintaining clock loop prevention capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and an apparatus for transmitting a clock packet, so as to reduce resources consumed by packet parsing and improves communication performance of a network. The method includes: generating, by a first network element, a first clock packet, where the first clock packet includes a first source identity and first clock information, and the first source identity is used to indicate a device that provides the first clock information; sending, by the first network element, the first clock packet to a second network element, where the second network element is a device that forms a ring network with the first network element; receiving, by the first network element, a second clock packet sent by the second network element, where the second clock packet includes a second source identity and second clock information, and the second source identity is used to indicate a device that provides the second clock information; and skipping tracking, by the first network element, the second clock information after determining that the second source identity is the same as the first source identity.