Flexible Ethernet Clock Transport via Quantity Mark Insertion

The patent introduces a special data unit structure that acts as an intermediary carrier for clock frequency and time phase information. This special data unit includes a quantity mark field that preserves timing information while allowing idle unit insertion/deletion for bandwidth adaptation. The special data unit is inserted into the data stream to carry timing information transparently through the network, resolving the contradiction between bandwidth adaptability and information preservation.

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-inserting special data units with quantity marks into the data stream before transmission. These special data units are prepared in advance with the correct timing information embedded, allowing the receive end to recover clock frequency and time phase information without being affected by subsequent idle unit insertions or deletions. This ensures synchronization is maintained despite bandwidth flexibility requirements.

The patent applies local quality by modifying only specific portions of the data stream rather than the entire stream. Special data units are inserted at specific locations where they carry timing information, while the rest of the data stream remains unchanged. The quantity mark field in these special data units is processed locally at the transmit and receive ends, minimizing the overall processing complexity while achieving transparent transport of clock frequency information.