Physical Layer Sync Blocks for Low-Latency Clock Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems face challenges in achieving precise synchronization between devices, particularly at the nanosecond level, due to clock drift and inefficiencies in protocols like PTP, which introduce latency, overhead, and are limited to specific networks, making accurate synchronization difficult.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes physical layer line encoding mechanisms to transmit control blocks for synchronization, enabling time and clock synchronization directly between devices without software layer intervention, reducing latency and overhead, and allowing synchronization operations to be performed at any time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If protocols like PTP are used to transmit synchronization messages between application layer or transport layer, then synchronization can be achieved between devices, but latency and overhead increase, and synchronization accuracy deteriorates due to software layer intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves synchronization operations from the application/transport layer down to the physical layer, representing a dimensional shift in the network protocol stack. This allows synchronization control blocks to be transmitted alongside data packets at the physical layer, bypassing software processing and achieving nanosecond-level accuracy without the latency associated with higher-layer protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the synchronization function from the application/transport layer protocols and implements it independently at the physical layer. By separating synchronization operations from data transmission protocols, the system eliminates software layer intervention and reduces overhead while maintaining reliable synchronization.
2Reliability
If PTP protocol is used for synchronization, then devices can be synchronized, but the protocol introduces overhead and is limited to specific networks, reducing adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal synchronization mechanism at the physical layer that can operate across different network types and protocols. By implementing synchronization control blocks that can be transmitted alongside any data packet format, the system achieves network-agnostic synchronization capability that works with Ethernet, InfiniBand, and other network types without requiring protocol-specific implementations.
3Reliability
If synchronization messages are transmitted through software layer, then synchronization can be performed, but processing overhead increases and timestamping accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent shifts timestamping and synchronization operations from the software application layer to the hardware physical layer. This dimensional change enables direct hardware-based timestamping of synchronization control blocks with nanosecond precision, eliminating software processing delays and achieving measurement precision that cannot be obtained through software-based protocols.
4Reliability
If PTP protocol is used for synchronization, then devices can be synchronized, but additional components and complexity are required, increasing device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges synchronization operations with existing data transmission infrastructure at the physical layer. By combining synchronization control blocks with regular data packets in the same transmission medium and using the same hardware interfaces, the system eliminates the need for separate synchronization hardware and protocol stacks, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining reliable synchronization.
Data Source
AI summary
A system including a device, coupled to a link and including a transmitter, generates a control block for synchronization via a physical layer of the link, the control block including a header portion of bits corresponding to a header indicating the message is a control block and a data portion of bits including synchronization information for synchronizing via the physical layer. The device interleaves the control block between two of a plurality of data blocks of a data packet, and transmits, via the link, the data packet and the control block.