Communication Port Synchronization Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current clock synchronization methods in communication networks face challenges in recovering synchronization quickly after transient link failures, leading to prolonged synchronization times due to link auto-negotiation processes and clock instability.
Innovation Solution
The method involves detecting desynchronization between ports, prioritizing synchronization of the desynchronized port with the other synchronized port before resuming the synchronization process with the external server, thereby reducing convergence time by minimizing perturbations and leveraging existing synchronization states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the master port re-synchronizes with the external synchronization server after link recovery, then the master port can restore its synchronization with the server, but the auto-negotiation process causes clock register perturbations that extend the synchronization stabilization time
Solution Approach 1:
The slave port performs preliminary synchronization actions by continuing to synchronize with the master port's clock during the link failure period. When the link recovers, the slave port is already prepared and close to being synchronized, eliminating the need for a complete re-synchronization process and reducing the stabilization time.
Solution Approach 2:
The slave port acts as an intermediary between the master port and the external synchronization server. During link failures, the slave port maintains the synchronization chain by continuing to synchronize with the master port's clock, thereby preserving the synchronization state even when the master port cannot directly communicate with the server.
2Reliability
If the slave port continues free-running during master port link failure, then the slave port maintains its synchronization state closer to the server, but the master port clock perturbation upon recovery increases the overall resynchronization time
Solution Approach 1:
The slave port performs preliminary synchronization actions by continuing to synchronize with the master port's clock during the link failure period. When the link recovers, the slave port is already prepared and close to being synchronized, eliminating the need for a complete re-synchronization process and reducing the stabilization time.
3Reliability
If complete re-synchronization is performed after link recovery, then all ports can restore synchronization with the external server, but the process takes tens of seconds due to auto-negotiation and stabilization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The slave port performs preliminary synchronization actions by continuing to synchronize with the master port's clock during the link failure period. When the link recovers, the slave port is already prepared and close to being synchronized, eliminating the need for a complete re-synchronization process and reducing the stabilization time.
Solution Approach 2:
The synchronization system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on the operational state. During link failures, the slave port maintains free-running mode to preserve its synchronization state. Upon link recovery, the system dynamically transitions to a faster resynchronization mode by having the slave port synchronize with the master port's clock, which has already been re-synchronized with the external server.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of synchronization of a communication device comprising a first and second communication ports, each of the first and second communication port being associated with a respective first and second time system, the method comprising a regular master synchronization process synchronizing regularly the first time system with an external synchronization server according to a time synchronization protocol; a regular slave synchronization process synchronizing regularly the second time system with the first-time system; detecting a loss of synchronization between the first and second time system; determining which of the first and second time system is desynchronized; and synchronizing the desynchronized time system with the other one.