US 12,174,657 B2
Clock distribution method and apparatus in network
Guoliang Gao, Beijing (CN); Yao Peng, Beijing (CN); and Jun Wang, Beijing (CN)
Assigned to TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL), Stockholm (SE)
Appl. No. 17/620,960
Filed by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ), Stockholm (SE)
PCT Filed Jun. 21, 2019, PCT No. PCT/CN2019/092421
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 20, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/252797, PCT Pub. Date Dec. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0326728 A1, Oct. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. G06F 1/08 (2006.01); G06F 1/10 (2006.01); H04J 3/06 (2006.01)
CPC G06F 1/08 (2013.01) [G06F 1/10 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method performed at a first clock distribution apparatus, the method comprising:
receiving from an upstream clock distribution apparatus a first announce message comprising: i) a first clock quality value indicating a clock quality of the upstream clock distribution apparatus and ii) a clock identity value for identifying the upstream clock distribution apparatus;
determining that the first clock distribution apparatus is not synchronized with the upstream clock distribution apparatus;
after determining that the first clock distribution apparatus is not synchronized with the upstream clock distribution apparatus, generating a second announce message comprising: i) a second clock quality value that indicates a lower clock quality than the clock quality of the upstream clock distribution apparatus and ii) the clock identity value for identifying the upstream clock distribution apparatus;
transmitting, to a second clock distribution apparatus, the second announce message;
after transmitting the second announce message to the second clock distribution apparatus, determining that the first clock distribution apparatus is synchronized with the upstream clock distribution apparatus;
after determining that the first clock distribution apparatus is synchronized with the upstream clock distribution apparatus, generating a third announce message comprising: i) the first clock quality value received from the upstream clock distribution apparatus and ii) the clock identity value for identifying the upstream clock distribution apparatus; and
transmitting the third announce message to the second clock distribution apparatus.