Synchronization of elements in a network
A network-synchronization device may include a match filter. The match filter may be configured to generate events for synchronizing operation of elements of a network at least partially responsive to timing frames generated at a network switch. The events for synchronizing operation of the elements may include a first event generated at least partially responsive to first information associated with a first element and a second event generated at least partially responsive to second information associated with a second element. Related systems and methods are also disclosed.
1. A network-synchronization device, comprising:
a match filter comprising a memory and a processor, the match filter to:
detect valid timing frames at least partially responsive to comparisons of timing-frame definitions with information included in timing frames generated at a network switch;
associate respective elements of a network with respective detected valid timing frames; and
generate events for synchronizing operation of the associated respective elements of the network.
2. The network-synchronization device of claim 1 , wherein the match filter is provided at a link layer of the network-synchronization device.
3. The network-synchronization device of claim 1 , wherein the associated respective elements of the network comprise edge elements communicatively coupled with the network-synchronization device.
4. The network-synchronization device of claim 1 , wherein the network-synchronization device includes the associated respective elements of the network.
5. The network-synchronization device of claim 1 , wherein the match filter to:
generate a first of the events at least partially responsive to information included in a first timing frame; and
generate a second of the events at least partially responsive to information included in a second timing frame, the second timing frame different than the first timing frame.
6. The network-synchronization device of claim 1 , wherein the timing-frame definitions include information relatable to the information included in timing frames generated at the network switch.
7. The network-synchronization device of claim 1 , wherein respective ones of the generated events comprise operational instructions for respective ones of the associated respective elements of the network.
8. The network-synchronization device of claim 1 , wherein the information included in timing frames respectively includes an indication of timing frame.
9. The network-synchronization device of claim 8 , wherein the match filter to determine whether a received frame is a timing frame at least partially responsive to a presence or absence of the identifying information in the received frame.
10. The network-synchronization device of claim 1 , comprising a framer to generate a data frame indicative of a property sensed by a sensor of an element of the respective associated elements of the network.
11. The network-synchronization device of claim 1 , comprising a framer to generate a control signal indicative of an operation to be performed by an actuator of an element of the respective associated elements of the network.
12. A system comprising:
a network switch to generate timing frames; and
a network-synchronization device, comprising:
a match filter comprising a memory and a processor, the match filter to:
detect valid timing frames at least partially responsive to comparisons of timing-frame definitions with information included in timing frames generated by the network switch;
associate respective elements of a network with respective detected valid timing frames; and
generate events for synchronizing operation of the associated respective elements of the network.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the network switch to generate timing frames at regular intervals.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the network switch to synchronize an internal clock at least partially responsive to a received timing signal.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the network switch to include an indication of timing frame in respective information included in timing frames.
16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the respective identifying information is included in a header of the respective timing frame.
17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the timing frames are Ethernet frames and the identifying information is included in one or more of: a source-media-access-control address, a virtual-local-area-network tag, or an EtherType tag.
18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the identifying information is included in a payload of the respective timing frame.
19. A system comprising:
a first element;
a second element; and
a network-synchronization device, comprising:
a match filter comprising a memory and a processor, the match filter to:
detect valid timing frames at least partially responsive to comparisons of timing-frame definitions with information included in timing frames generated by a network switch;
associate respective ones of detected valid timing frames with respective ones of the first element or the second element; and
generate events for synchronizing operation of the associated respective ones of the first element or the second element.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the first element is a sensor to sense a property at least partially responsive to a respective event of the generated events.
21. The system of claim 19 , wherein the first element is a sensor to provide a reading indicative of a sensed property at least partially responsive to a respective event of the generated events.
22. The system of claim 19 , wherein the first element is a sensor to sense a property and provide a reading indicative of the sensed property to the network-synchronization device, and the network-synchronization device to generate a data frame based on the reading at least partially responsive to receipt of a valid timing frame.
23. The system of claim 19 , wherein the first element is an actuator to operate at least partially responsive to a respective event of the generated events.
24. The system of claim 19 , wherein the first element is an actuator to operate according to a previously-received control signal at least partially responsive to a respective event of the generated events.
25. A method, comprising:
detecting valid timing frames at least partially responsive to comparing timing frame definitions with information included in timing frames generated at a network switch;
associating respective elements of a network with respective detected valid timing frames; and
generating events for synchronizing operation of the associated respective elements of the network.
26. A network-synchronization device, comprising:
a match filter configured to
generate events for synchronizing operation of elements of a network at least partially responsive to information included in timing frames generated at a network switch,
wherein the events for synchronizing operation of the elements comprise a first event generated at least partially responsive to first information associated with a first element and a second event generated at least partially responsive to second information associated with a second element.