Clock Device PTP Packet Domain Number Verification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current solutions lack the ability to determine and process Precision Time Protocol (PTP) packets that are not intended for a specific device, leading to potential discarding of packets that are necessary for end-to-end synchronization in IP transformation of radio access networks, affecting network evolution and performance.

Innovation Solution

A method and clock device that receive PTP packets, determine whether the domain number matches the configured domain number, and forward or process the packets accordingly, ensuring that non-device PTP packets are not discarded, thereby enabling end-to-end synchronization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the clock device processes only PTP packets intended for itself based on prior art, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of end-to-end synchronization is compromised because non-device PTP packets are incorrectly discarded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveend-to-end synchronization reliabilityVSAvoidpacket processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a domain number as an intermediary identifier in PTP packets to distinguish between device-specific packets and transit packets. The clock device compares the domain number in received packets with its configured domain number to determine whether to process or forward the packet, enabling reliable end-to-end synchronization without incorrect discarding of transit packets

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the clock device forwards all received PTP packets without domain number verification, then the productivity of packet processing is improved, but the measurement precision of packet routing is worsened because the device cannot distinguish between packets intended for itself and packets for other devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket processing throughputVSAvoidpacket destination identification precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the domain number in the clock device before operation. When a PTP packet is received, the device immediately compares the packet's domain number with the pre-configured domain number to quickly determine the appropriate action (process or forward), enabling high-speed packet processing with accurate destination identification without complex real-time analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2472916B1Method and clock device for processing precision time protocol message
Publication Date: 2016.02.17 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2472916B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2472916B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2472916B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention discloses a method for processing a Precision Time Protocol packet and a clock device. The method includes: receiving, by a clock device, a Precision Time Protocol packet, where the Precision Time Protocol packet carries end-to-end parameter information; determining, by the clock device according to the end-to-end parameter information, whether the received Precision Time Protocol packet is not a Precision Time Protocol packet of the device; and forwarding, by the clock device, the Precision Time Protocol packet that is not a Precision Time Protocol packet of the device when the received Precision Time Protocol packet is not a Precision Time Protocol packet of the device. In the embodiments of the present invention, determining and processing of the Precision Time Protocol packet that is not a Precision Time Protocol packet of the device may be implemented and implementation of end-to-end synchronization is ensured.