SYSTEMS AND METHODS UTILIZING LARGE PACKET SIZES TO REDUCE UNPREDICTABLE NETWORK DELAY VARIATIONS FOR TIMING PACKETS
First Claim
1. A network system, comprising:
- a device coupled to a network, the device comprising;
a packet interface configured to transmit network packets through a network, the network utilizing a network protocol allowing for variable packet sizes; and
a timing packet generator configured to provide a plurality of timing packets to the packet interface for transmission through the network to one or more receiving devices, the timing packet generator being configured to form the plurality of timing packets by combining timing data with additional fill data; and
one or more network nodes configured to receive and process network packets including the plurality of timing packets, the one or more network nodes being configured to store network packets before forwarding them and to complete transmission of network packets once transmission has started.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for utilizing large packet sizes to reduce unpredictable network delay variations in delivering timing packets across networks for use with respect to network timing protocols. By increasing the size of the timing packets, the disclosed embodiments reduce or eliminate the blocking effect caused by size differences between timing packets and relatively large packets carried through a packet network. By reducing or eliminating this blocking effect, the disclosed embodiments provide significant advantages in reducing the complexity of implementing robust timing protocols for handling unpredictable delays in the communication of timing packets. The size of timing packets can be increased, for example, by adding fill data to timing data to form large timing packets. A variety of large packet sizes can be used for the timing packets, and timing packets can preferably be made to be equal to the maximum transmission unit (MTU) for the network.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A network system, comprising:
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a device coupled to a network, the device comprising; a packet interface configured to transmit network packets through a network, the network utilizing a network protocol allowing for variable packet sizes; and a timing packet generator configured to provide a plurality of timing packets to the packet interface for transmission through the network to one or more receiving devices, the timing packet generator being configured to form the plurality of timing packets by combining timing data with additional fill data; and one or more network nodes configured to receive and process network packets including the plurality of timing packets, the one or more network nodes being configured to store network packets before forwarding them and to complete transmission of network packets once transmission has started. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A network device, comprising:
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a packet interface configured to transmit network packets through a network, the network utilizing a protocol allowing for variable packet sizes, and the network utilizing network nodes configured to store network packets before forwarding them to receiving devices and to complete transmission of network packets once transmission has started; and a timing packet generator configured to provide timing packets to the packet interface for transmission through the network to one or more receiving devices, the timing packet generator being configured to form timing packets by combining timing data with additional fill data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for network communications, comprising:
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forming a plurality of timing packets by combining timing data with additional fill data; and transmitting the plurality of timing packets through a network using one or more network nodes, the network utilizing a network protocol allowing for variable packet sizes, and the one or more network nodes being configured to store network packets before forwarding them and to complete transmission of network packets once transmission has started. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification