IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,065,736
Granted Patent B2
US 9,065,736 · App. 13/647,597 · Granted Jun 23, 2015

Method and system for compensated time stamping for time-sensitive network communications

Inventors: Wael William Diab (San Francisco, CA); Howard Frazier (Pleasanton, CA)
Assignee: BROADCOM CORPORATION
H04L43/0858H04L43/087H04L43/106
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,065,736
App. No.
13/647,597
Granted
Jun 23, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Aspects of a method and system for compensated time stamping for time-sensitive network communications are provided. In this regard, one or more timestamps generated in an OSI layer above the physical layer may be adjusted based on parameters associated with an amount of time in which data traverses a PHY of the network device. Communications of the network device may be managed based on the adjusted one or more timestamps. The parameters may comprise one or more of: average ingress PHY traversal time, average egress PHY traversal time, variance of ingress PHY traversal time, and variance of egress PHY traversal time. One or more network links coupled to the network device may be characterized based on the one or more adjusted timestamps. The parameters may be stored in one or more registers within a PHY of the network device.

Claims (26)

1. A method for networking, the method comprising:

performing by one or more circuits in a network device, one or more functions comprising:

storing, in one or more registers within a physical layer device of said network device, determined parameters associated with a traversal time of data in a single direction between a first end of said physical layer device associated with a first interface of said physical layer device with a higher layer and a second end of said physical layer device associated with a second interface of said physical layer device physical media; and

adjusting one or more timestamps generated in a layer above said physical layer device based on said stored determined parameters that are retrieved from said one or more registers within said physical layer device of said network device, said adjusting accounting for said traversal time of data in said single direction through said physical layer device due to operation of said physical layer device in an energy saving mode.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining said parameters using one or more counters in said physical layer device.

3. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining said parameters using one or more counters in a testing system that is coupled to said physical layer device.

4. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining said parameters using a network device that exchanges test data with said physical layer device and receives count values from one or more counters in said physical layer device.

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising determining said parameters based on a size of a block of data that traverses said physical layer device.

6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising accessing said one or more registers via a management data input/output (MDIO) bus.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said timestamps are used as part of an IEEE 1588 protocol.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said timestamps are used as part of an audio/video bridging protocol.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said parameters include an average ingress physical layer device traversal time or an average egress physical layer device traversal time.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said parameters include variance in ingress physical layer device traversal time or variance in egress physical layer device traversal time.

11. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a packet having an adjusted timestamp.

12. A system for networking, the system comprising:

one or more circuits for use in a network device, said one or more circuits operable to:

store, in one or more registers within a physical layer device of said network device, determined parameters associated with a traversal time of data in a single direction between a first end of said physical layer device associated with a first interface of said physical layer device with a higher layer and a second end of said physical layer device associated with a second interface of said physical layer device with physical media; and

adjust one or more timestamps generated in a layer above said physical layer device based on said stored determined parameters that are retrieved from said one or more registers within said physical layer device of said network device, said adjusting accounting for said traversal time of data in said single direction through said physical layer device due to operation of said physical layer device in an energy saving mode.

13. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said one or more circuits are further operable to determine said parameters using one or more counters in said physical layer device.

14. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said one or more circuits are further operable to determine said parameters based on a size of a block of data that traverses said physical layer device.

15. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said one or more circuits are further operable to access said one or more registers via a management data input/output (MDIO) bus.

16. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said timestamps are used as part of an IEEE 1588 protocol.

17. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said timestamps are used as part of an audio/video bridging protocol.

18. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said parameters include an average ingress physical layer device traversal time or an average egress physical layer device traversal time.

19. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said parameters include variance in ingress physical layer device traversal time or variance in egress physical layer device traversal time.

20. The system according to claim 12 , wherein said one or more circuits are further operable to transmit a packet having an adjusted timestamp.

Assignments (7)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT NUMBER 9,385,856 TO 9,385,756 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 47349 FRAME: 001. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Mar 22, 2019
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 051144/0648 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE EFFECTIVE DATE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 047229 FRAME 0408. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE THE EFFECTIVE DATE IS 09/05/2018. Recorded Oct 29, 2018
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047349/0001 →
MERGER Recorded Oct 4, 2018
From: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE. LIMITED
Reel/Frame 047229/0408 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS Recorded Feb 3, 2017
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 041712/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 1, 2017
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES GENERAL IP (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 041706/0001 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 11, 2016
From: BROADCOM CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 037806/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2012
From: DIAB, WAEL WILLIAM; FRAZIER, HOWARD
To: BROADCOM CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 029096/0630 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 12480648 · Jun 8, 2009
Related Publication 20140098684A1 · Apr 10, 2014