Hardware Time Stamping and Synchronized Data Transmission
First Claim
1. A method performed by a plurality of network cards in one or more network testing systems, each network card including a network communications unit, the method comprising:
- each of the network communications units of the plurality of network cards obtaining a reference time stamp;
each of the network communications units of the plurality of network cards obtaining a local time stamp;
each of the network communications units of the plurality of network cards preparing a synchronization offset based on the local time stamp and the reference time stamp;
each of the plurality of network cards receiving instructions to send a plurality of data units at a specified time;
each of the plurality of network cards sending the plurality of data units at the specified time based on the network communications units of the plurality of network cards referring to a local time obtained from a local clock and the synchronization offset to simultaneously send a packet storm comprising the plurality of data units.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Hardware time stamping and synchronized data transmission disclosed. In a method, a reference time stamp and a local time stamp are obtained. A synchronization offset is prepared based on the local time stamp and the reference time stamp. Instructions are received to send a plurality of data units at a specified time. The plurality of data units are sent at the specified time based on referring to a local time obtained from a local clock and the synchronization offset to simultaneously send a packet storm comprising the plurality of data units. The method may be achieved by a network communications unit on a plurality of network cards included in a network testing system.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method performed by a plurality of network cards in one or more network testing systems, each network card including a network communications unit, the method comprising:
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each of the network communications units of the plurality of network cards obtaining a reference time stamp; each of the network communications units of the plurality of network cards obtaining a local time stamp; each of the network communications units of the plurality of network cards preparing a synchronization offset based on the local time stamp and the reference time stamp; each of the plurality of network cards receiving instructions to send a plurality of data units at a specified time; each of the plurality of network cards sending the plurality of data units at the specified time based on the network communications units of the plurality of network cards referring to a local time obtained from a local clock and the synchronization offset to simultaneously send a packet storm comprising the plurality of data units. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A network testing system comprising:
a plurality of network cards, each network card comprising; a processor, a memory coupled with the processor, a network communications unit coupled with the processor, a PHY unit coupled with the network communications unit and to a network, the network communications unit having instructions stored thereon which when executed cause the network communications unit to perform actions comprising; obtaining a reference time stamp; obtaining a local time stamp; preparing a synchronization offset based on the local time stamp and the reference time stamp; receiving instructions to send a plurality of data units at a specified time; sending the plurality of data units at the specified time based on referring to a local time obtained from a local clock and the synchronization offset to simultaneously send a packet storm comprising the plurality of data units. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
Specification