Cyclemaster synchronization in a distributed bridge
First Claim
1. A computerized system, comprising:
- a plurality of buses interconnected by a plurality of bridges, said plurality of bridges comprising a first bridge and a second bridge, the second bridge comprising a first portal;
wherein the first bridge comprises a second portal, a third portal, and a bridge fabric, the first portal in communication with the third portal via the bridge fabric;
wherein the second portal is adapted to receive a cycle synchronization event and upon receiving said event, transmit a synchronization signal through the bridge fabric to the third portal;
wherein the third portal is adapted to receive the synchronization signal, sample a local timer to obtain a sample value, and transmit the sample value to the first portal;
wherein the first portal is adapted to receive the sample value, use the sample value to compensate for at least some delays in transmission over the bridge, and calculate a correction to be applied to a timer associated with the first portal.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method of synchronizing cyclemasters over a distributed bridge is disclosed. The method comprises: a local portal sending a synchronization signal to a peer portal through a bridge fabric upon occurrence of a cycle synchronization event on the local portal; the peer portal sampling its local cycle timer to obtain a sample value when the peer portal receives the synchronization signal; a bridge manager at an upstream portal communicating the sample value to a bridge manager at an alpha portal; the bridge manager at the alpha portal using the sampled time value to compensate for delays through a bridge fabric, calculate the correction to be applied to a cycle timer associated with the alpha portal, and correct the cycle timer.
167 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. A computerized system, comprising:
-
a plurality of buses interconnected by a plurality of bridges, said plurality of bridges comprising a first bridge and a second bridge, the second bridge comprising a first portal; wherein the first bridge comprises a second portal, a third portal, and a bridge fabric, the first portal in communication with the third portal via the bridge fabric; wherein the second portal is adapted to receive a cycle synchronization event and upon receiving said event, transmit a synchronization signal through the bridge fabric to the third portal; wherein the third portal is adapted to receive the synchronization signal, sample a local timer to obtain a sample value, and transmit the sample value to the first portal; wherein the first portal is adapted to receive the sample value, use the sample value to compensate for at least some delays in transmission over the bridge, and calculate a correction to be applied to a timer associated with the first portal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A bridge device for use with a first portal that is in data communication with a second portal via a bridge fabric, the device comprising:
-
a first module adapted to measure delays in propagation over the bridge fabric; a second module adapted to access a timer associated with the first portal, and provide a sample value based at least in part on said access; a third module adapted to calculate a correction to be applied to a timer associated with a downstream portal if the sample value is provided within a first time period, wherein said correction is based at least in part upon the sample value and upon delays in propagation over the bridge fabric. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A bridge device for use with a first portal in data communication with a second portal, comprising:
-
a first module adapted to generate an error condition if a downstream device does not receive a first sample value and a second sample value within a first time period; a second module adapted to sample a timer associated with the first portal to obtain the first sample value; a third module adapted to sample a timer associated with the second portal to obtain the second sample value; a fourth module adapted to calculate delays in propagation over said bridge device; and wherein the bridge device is adapted to communicate with software configured to transmit the first sample value and the second sample value to the downstream device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A computerized system, comprising:
-
a plurality of buses interconnected by a plurality of bridges, said plurality of bridges comprising a first bridge and a second bridge, the second bridge comprising a first portal; wherein the first bridge comprises a second portal, a third portal, and a bridge fabric, the first portal in communication with the third portal via the bridge fabric; wherein the first portal is adapted to perform said calculation of said correction only when the sample value is received by the first portal within a first time period, and indicate an error condition at least when the sample value is not received by the first portal within the first time period; wherein the second portal is adapted to receive a cycle synchronization event and upon receiving said event, transmit a synchronization signal through the bridge fabric to the third portal; wherein the third portal is adapted to receive the synchronization signal, sample a local timer to obtain a sample value, and transmit the sample value to the first portal; wherein the first portal is adapted to receive the sample value, use the sample value to compensate for at least some delays in transmission over the bridge, and calculate a correction to be applied to a timer associated with the first portal.
-
-
18. A bridge device for use with a first portal that is in data communication with a second portal via a bridge fabric, the device comprising:
-
a first module adapted to measure delays in propagation over the bridge fabric; a second module adapted to access a timer associated with the first portal, and provide a sample value based at least in part on said access; a third module adapted to calculate a correction to be applied to a timer associated with a downstream portal if the sample value is provided within a first time period, wherein said correction is based at least in part upon the sample value and upon delays in propagation over the bridge fabric; and a fourth module adapted to indicate an error if the sample value is not successfully provided within the first time period. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
-
20. A method for bridging a first portal that is in data communication with a second portal via a bridge fabric, comprising:
-
measuring delays in propagation over the bridge fabric; accessing a timer associated with the first portal, and providing a sample value based at least in part on said access; calculating a correction to be applied to a timer associated with a downstream portal if the sample value is provided within a first time period, wherein said correction is based at least in part upon the sample value and upon delays in propagation over the bridge fabric. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
-
Specification