Network interface card structure and clock synchronization method to precisely acquire heterogeneous PTP synchronization information for PTP synchronization network extension

1. A precision time protocol (PTP) synchronization method using a PTP synchronization network system including a virtual node including a first switch at an ingress point and a second switch at an egress point, wherein the first switch and the second switch are time-synchronized with a second PTP master node; a first synchronous switch connected to the first switch, the first synchronous switch being a device synchronized with a first PTP master node; and a second synchronous switch connected to the second switch, the second synchronous switch being a device to be synchronized with the first PTP master node at a remote location,

wherein

the first switch is lime synchronized with the first PTP master node and the second PIP master node,

the second switch is time synchronized with the second PIP master node,

the first switch and the second switch between the first synchronous switch and the second synchronous switch operated as the virtual node,

the first switch comprises a virtual-node-supported precision PTP network interface card (NIC) comprising a first port, a second port, a first PTP hardware clock (phc), and a second phc, and

the first phc is synchronized with the second phc such that Ingress_Time of the PTP message of the first PTP master node received through the first port is acquired using the clock synchronized with the second PTP master node,

the second port performs only PTP message transmission and reception and physical clock functions, except for general user Ethernet frame processing, in order to acquire precise Ingress_Time by minimizing additional hardware,

the PTP synchronization method comprising operations of:

allowing the first synchronous switch synchronized with the first PTP master node to transmit a PTP message to the first switch;

allowing the first switch to acquire ingress time of the PTP message using a clock synchronized with the second PTP master node and deliver the PTP message to the second switch in the virtual node;

allowing the second switch to acquire egress time of the PTP message using the clock synchronized with the second PTP master node;

allowing the second switch to calculate residence time using the ingress time and the egress time and then transmit the PTP message to the second synchronous switch; and

allowing the second synchronous switch to acquire a time when the synchronization is made with the first PTP master node using the received PTP message.

2. The PTP synchronization method of claim 1 , wherein the operation of allowing the first switch to acquire ingress time of the PTP message using a clock synchronized with the second PTP master node and deliver the PTP message to the second switch in the virtual node comprises operations of:

allowing the first switch to receive a sync message from the first synchronous switch;

allowing the first switch to acquire an arrival time (Ingress_Time) of the sync message using the clock synchronized with the second PTP master node; and

allowing the first switch to deliver the sync message toward the second synchronous switch.

3. The PTP synchronization method of claim 2 , wherein the operation of allowing the first switch to acquire ingress time of the PTP message using a clock synchronized with the second PTP master node and deliver the PTP message to the second switch in the virtual node further comprises operations of:

allowing the first switch to receive follow_up message from the first synchronous switch;

allowing the first switch to update propagation_delay in a correction field of the follow_up message received from the first synchronous switch; and

allowing the first switch to add an arrival time of the sync message to a suffix field of the follow_up message and then successively deliver the follow_up message toward the second synchronous switch.

4. The PTP synchronization method of claim 1 , wherein the operation of allowing the second switch to acquire egress time of the PTP message using the clock synchronized with the second PTP master node comprises operations of:

allowing the second switch to deliver se-a sync message to the second synchronous switch upon receiving the sync message; and

allowing the second switch to acquire a departure time (egress_time) of the sync message.

5. The PTP synchronization method of claim 1 , wherein the operation of allowing the second switch to calculate residence time using the ingress time and the egress time and then transmit the PTP message to the second synchronous switch comprises operations of:

checking the arrival time (Ingress_Time) of a previous sync message in a Suffix field of the successively received follow_up message;

acquiring Residence_Time (Egress_Time−Ingress_Time) in the virtual node network using a clock synchronized with the second PTP master node; and

reflecting Residence_Time (Egress_Time−Ingress_Time) in a correction field of the follow_up message and then transmitting the follow_up message to the second synchronous switch.

6. A precision time protocol (PTP) synchronization network system comprising:

a virtual node including a first switch at an ingress point and a second switch at an egress point, wherein the first switch and the second switch are time-synchronized with a second PTP master node;

a first synchronous switch connected to the first switch, the first synchronous switch being a device synchronized with a first PTP master node; and

a second synchronization switch connected to the second switch, the second synchronization switch being a device to be synchronized with the first PTP master node at a remote location,

wherein

the first switch is time-synchronized with the first PTP master node and the second PTR master node,

the second switch is time synchronized with the second PTP master node,

the first switch and the second switch between the first synchronous switch and the second synchronous switch operated as the virtual node,

the first switch comprises a virtual-node-supported precision PTP network interface card (NIC) comprising a first port, a second port, a first PTP hardware clock (phc), and a second phc, and

the first phc is synchronized with the second phc such that Ingress_Time of the PTP message of the first PTP master node received through the first port is acquired using the clock synchronized with the second PTP master node,

the second port performs only PTP message transmission and reception and physical clock functions, except for general user Ethernet frame processing, in order to acquire precise Ingress_Time by minimizing additional hardware,

the first synchronous switch synchronized with the first PTP master node transmits a PTP message to the first switch,

the first switch acquires ingress time of the PTP message using a clock synchronized with the second PTP master node and delivers the PTP message to the second switch in the virtual node,

the second switch acquires egress time of the PTP message using the clock synchronized with the second PTP master node,

the second switch calculates residence time using the ingress time and the egress time and then transmits the PTP message to the second synchronous switch, and

the second synchronous switch acquires a time when the synchronization is made with the first PTP master node using the received PTP message.