METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINATION AND EXCHANGE OF NETWORK TIMING INFORMATION

• US 20090185501A1
• Filed: 01/17/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Weida, Kim, Yongbum
• Granted Patent: US 8,325,616 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/026 using flow identification
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 Delays

Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for determination and exchange of network timing information are provided. In this regard, for each network hop traversed by a packet, a propagation delay of said network hop may be determined. Moreover, the propagation delay, and/or a hop length calculated utilizing the propagation delay, may be appended to the packet. The packet may, for example, be a MMRP registration packet or a SRP reservation packet. The packet may be dropped in instances that the propagation delay and/or length of a one or more traversed network hops is outside a determined range. The hop length may be determined by multiplying the propagation delay by a speed of propagation on the hop. The speed of propagation may be determined based on the physical layer technology associated with the network hop. Digital rights management may be implemented for media communicated on the network hop based at least in part on the hop length or the propagation delay. In this regard, use of media content may be restricted to a specified location.

Claims

1. A method for networking, the method comprising:

for each network hop traversed by a packet;

determining a propagation delay of said network hop; and

appending, to said packet, one or both of;

said determined propagation delay; and

a hop length calculated utilizing said determined propagation delay.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said packet is a MMRP registration packet.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said packet is a SRP reservation packet.

4. The method according to claim 3, comprising dropping said packet when said determined propagation delay or said determined hop length is outside a determined range.

5. The method according to claim 3, comprising dropping said packet when a total propagation delay of all traversed network hops or total hop length of all traversed network hops is outside a determined range.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising determining said hop length by multiplying said propagation delay by a speed of propagation along said network hop.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein said speed of propagation is determined based on a physical layer technology associated with said network hop.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising establishing digital rights management for media content communicated via said hop based, at least in part, on said hop length or said propagation delay.

9. The method according to claim 8, comprising limiting, via said digital rights management, use of media content to a specified location based on said hop length or said propagation delay.

10. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for networking, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising:

for each network hop traversed by a packet;

determining a propagation delay of said network hop; and

appending, to said packet, one or both of;

said determined propagation delay; and

a hop length calculated utilizing said determined propagation delay.

11. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said packet is a MMRP registration packet.

12. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said packet is a SRP reservation packet.

13. The machine-readable storage according to claim 12, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for dropping said packet when said determined propagation delay or said determined hop length is outside a determined range.

14. The machine-readable storage according to claim 12, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for dropping said packet when a total propagation delay of all traversed network hops or total hop length of all traversed network hops is outside a determined range.

15. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for determining said hop length by multiplying said propagation delay by a speed of propagation along said network hop.

16. The machine-readable storage according to claim 15, wherein said speed of propagation is determined based on a physical layer technology associated with said network hop.

17. The machine-readable storage according to claim 10, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for establishing digital rights management for media content communicated via said hop based, at least in part, on said hop length or said propagation delay.

18. The machine-readable storage according to claim 17, wherein said at least one code section comprises code for limiting, via said digital rights management, use of media content to a specified location based on said hop length or said propagation delay.

19. A system for networking, the system comprising:

one or more circuits in a network node that;

determine a propagation delay of an ingress packet; and

append, to an egress packet, one or both of;

said determined propagation delay; and

a hop length calculated utilizing said determined propagation delay.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said packet is a MMRP registration packet.

21. The system according to claim 19, wherein said packet is a SRP reservation packet.

22. The system according to claim 21, wherein said one or more circuits drop said ingress packet when said determined propagation delay or said determined hop length is outside a determined range.

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein said one or more circuits drop said ingress packet when a total propagation delay of all traversed network hops or total hop length of all traversed network hops is outside a determined range.

24. The system according to claim 19, wherein said one or more circuits determine said hop length by multiplying said propagation delay by a speed of propagation along said network hop.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein said speed of propagation is determined based on a physical layer technology associated with said network hop.

26. The system according to claim 19, wherein said one or more circuits establish digital rights management for media content communicated via said hop based, at least in part, on said hop length or said propagation delay.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said one or more circuits limit, via said digital rights management, use of media content to a specified location based on said hop length or said propagation delay.