Clock Distribution in a Distributed System with Multiple Clock Domains Over a Switched Fabric
First Claim
1. A system, comprising:
- a master clock;
a first counter, coupled to and associated with the master clock;
one or more devices coupled to the master clock and each other via a switched fabric, wherein each of the one or more devices includes a respective clock;
one or more second counters, wherein each second counter is coupled to and associated with a respective one of the one or more devices, and wherein each of the first counter and second counters is accessible by each of the one or more devices;
wherein each of the one or more devices is configured to;
read the first counter and the device'"'"'s associated second counter;
determine a difference between the first counter and the device'"'"'s associated second counter, wherein the difference indicates a timing difference between the device and the master clock;
determine and store a time reference for the device relative to the master clock based on the determined difference, wherein the time reference is useable to timestamp events or synchronize future events.
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Abstract
System and method for synchronizing devices. A device reads a first counter coupled to and associated with a master clock and a second counter coupled to and associated with the device, where the device is one of one or more devices coupled to the master clock and each other via a switched fabric, where each device includes a respective clock, and is coupled to and associated with a respective second counter. Each of the first counter and the second counters is accessible by each of the one or more devices. The device determines a difference between the device'"'"'s associated second counter and the first counter, and determines and stores a time reference for the device relative to the master clock based on the determined difference, where the time reference is useable to timestamp events or synchronize future events.
58 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system, comprising:
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a master clock; a first counter, coupled to and associated with the master clock; one or more devices coupled to the master clock and each other via a switched fabric, wherein each of the one or more devices includes a respective clock; one or more second counters, wherein each second counter is coupled to and associated with a respective one of the one or more devices, and wherein each of the first counter and second counters is accessible by each of the one or more devices; wherein each of the one or more devices is configured to; read the first counter and the device'"'"'s associated second counter; determine a difference between the first counter and the device'"'"'s associated second counter, wherein the difference indicates a timing difference between the device and the master clock; determine and store a time reference for the device relative to the master clock based on the determined difference, wherein the time reference is useable to timestamp events or synchronize future events. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for synchronizing devices, the method comprising:
a device performing; reading a first counter coupled to and associated with a master clock and a second counter coupled to and associated with the device, wherein the device is one of one or more devices coupled to the master clock and each other via a switched fabric, wherein each device includes a respective clock, and is coupled to and associated with a respective second counter, wherein each of the first counter and the second counters is accessible by each of the one or more devices; determining a difference between the device'"'"'s associated second counter and the first counter; determining and storing a time reference for the device relative to the master clock based on the determined difference, wherein the time reference is useable to timestamp events or synchronize future events. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
Specification