Method for initializing a self-synchronizing cnPRTC mesh
A method for initializing a self-synchronizing coherent network Primary Reference Time Clock (cnPRTC) mesh includes: a self-synchronizing cnPRTC mesh is initialized during a start-up period; and a Universal Time Coordinated (UTC(k)) node connected to a selected cnPRTC node of the self-synchronizing cnPRTC mesh sets the selected cnPRTC node to a UTC(k) time provided by the UTC(k) node during the start-up period when a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) system fails to provide the selected cnPRTC node with a GNSS time during the start-up period, wherein setting the selected cnPRTC node comprises directly inserting the UTC(k) time into a clock combiner module of the selected cnPRTC node, the inserted UTC(k) time replacing weighted times provided to the selected cnPRTC node by local time sources and remote time sources.
1 . A method for initializing a self-synchronizing coherent network Primary Reference Time Clock (cnPRTC) mesh, comprising:
initializing a self-synchronizing cnPRTC mesh during a start-up period; and
setting, by a Universal Time Coordinated (UTC(k)) node connected to a selected cnPRTC node of the self-synchronizing cnPRTC mesh, the selected cnPRTC node to a UTC(k) time provided by the UTC(k) node during the start-up period based on a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) system failing to provide the selected cnPRTC node with a GNSS time during the start-up period;
wherein setting the selected cnPRTC node comprises directly inserting the UTC(k) time into a clock combiner of the selected cnPRTC node such that the inserted UTC(k) time replaces weighted times provided to the selected cnPRTC node by local time sources and remote time sources.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein a UTC(k) insertion function of the clock combiner receives the inserted UTC(k) time.
3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the UTC(k) time is inserted via a dedicated glass fiber.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the UTC(k) time is inserted using a pair of dedicated wavelengths.
5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the UTC(k) time is inserted as at least one of:
a 1 pulse per second (pps) signal,
a 10 MHz signal,
a time of day (ToD) signal, or
a Precision Time Protocol (PTP) signal.
6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the self-synchronizing cnPRTC mesh is initialized during a plurality of weeks as the start-up period.
7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cnPRTC node is selected based on at least one of:
a spatial distance from the UTC(k) node, or
an availability of a glass fiber from the UTC(k) node to the selected cnPRTC node.
8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the UTC(k) node sets a plurality of selected cnPRTC nodes of the self-synchronizing cnPRTC mesh to the UTC(k) time.
9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the selected cnPRTC node synchronizes a neighboring cnPRTC node for which the UTC(k) time is not directly provided by the UTC(k) node.
10 . A coherent network Primary Reference Time Clock (cnPRTC) node of a self-synchronizing cnPRTC mesh, wherein the self-synchronizing cnPRTC mesh is configured to be initialized during a start-up period, wherein the cnPRTC node comprises:
an interface configured to receive a Universal Time Coordinated (UTC(k)) time from a UTC(k) node connected to the cnPRTC node during the start-up period based on a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) system failing to provide the cnPRTC node with a GNSS time during the start-up period; and
a clock combiner configured for direct insertion of the UTC(k) time to replace weighted times provided by local time sources and remote time sources;
wherein the direct insertion of the UTC(k) time sets the cnPRTC node to the UTC(k) time provided by the UTC(k) node.
11 . A self-synchronizing coherent network Primary Reference Time Clock (cnPRTC) mesh, comprising:
a plurality of cnPRTC nodes, wherein the plurality of cnPRTC nodes comprise the cnPRTC node according to claim 10 .
12 . A system for initializing a self-synchronizing coherent network Primary Reference Time Clock (cnPRTC) mesh, comprising:
a cnPRTC node; and
a Universal Time Coordinated (UTC(k)) node connected to the cnPRTC node;
wherein the system is configured to initialize the self-synchronizing cnPRTC mesh during a start-up period;
wherein the UTC(k) node is configured to set the cnPRTC node to a UTC(k) time provided by the UTC(k) node during the start-up period based on a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) system failing to provide the cnPRTC node with a GNSS time during the start-up period; and
wherein setting the cnPRTC node to the UTC(k) time comprises directly inserting the UTC(k) time into a clock combiner of the cnPRTC node such that the inserted UTC(k) time replaces weighted times provided to the cnPRTC node by local time sources and remote time sources.
13 . The system according to claim 12 , wherein the UTC(k) node is connected to a plurality of the cnPRTC nodes.