Virtualized Clocks for Network Element Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Clocks in network elements experience 'clock drift' and fail to synchronize effectively with reference clocks due to advances in network virtualization, necessitating a decoupling of clocks from network elements.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for virtualizing clocks using a network controller with a processor and computer-readable instructions that create virtual network elements capable of retrieving time values and adjusting clock values based on frequency adjustments, allowing for lightweight and computationally inexpensive clock synchronization across multiple virtual network elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional clock synchronization protocols are used in virtualized networks, then clock synchronization can be achieved, but computational resources are excessively consumed and clock drift persists
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the clock function from physical network elements and creates independent virtual clocks that can be instantiated multiple times across virtual network elements. This extraction allows lightweight virtual clock instances to handle synchronization without requiring heavy computational resources at each network element, resolving the contradiction between synchronization accuracy and resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of clocks (virtual clocks) that can be instantiated across multiple virtual network elements. These virtual clock copies maintain synchronization through coordinated updates from a master virtual clock, enabling accurate timekeeping without requiring each network element to run independent heavy-weight clock synchronization protocols.
2Use of energy by moving object
If clocks are decoupled from network elements through virtualization, then computational resources are reduced, but clock drift management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple virtual clock instances under a single master virtual clock that coordinates synchronization across all virtual network elements. This consolidation reduces overall system complexity by centralizing clock management while maintaining lightweight operations at distributed virtual network elements through simple virtual clock instances.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a master virtual clock as an intermediary that manages synchronization between the reference clock and multiple slave virtual clocks across virtual network elements. This intermediary layer simplifies clock drift management by providing a centralized coordination point that handles complex synchronization logic, allowing individual virtual clocks to remain lightweight.
3Productivity
If multiple virtual network elements each run independent clock synchronization, then individual synchronization is achieved, but overall synchronization accuracy deteriorates due to clock drift
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal master virtual clock that serves multiple slave virtual clocks across different virtual network elements simultaneously. This universal time source provides consistent time references to all virtual network elements, ensuring uniform synchronization accuracy across the entire virtualized network while maintaining fast synchronization updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where slave virtual clocks report their time values back to the master virtual clock, which then adjusts frequency offset values to compensate for clock drift. This closed-loop feedback system maintains high time measurement accuracy across all virtual network elements while preserving fast synchronization through efficient feedback processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of virtualizing a clock is executed by a network controller comprising a processor and computer-readable instructions for creating one or more virtual network elements comprising one or more virtual clocks. The method comprises retrieving, at a first virtual network element of the one or more virtual network elements, a first time of day value and a second time of day value. The method further comprises adjusting the amount of time elapsed based, in part, on a frequency adjustment value and incrementing a clock value based on the amount of time elapsed.