There is provided a method in a communication network system of e.g. IP type for live distribution of media content capable of node-to-node time-transfer for synchronizing a respective local clock of an originating server and at least one client device or other server by means of two-way time transfer. The media content is sent as a data stream using unicast or multicast via respective communication links over a network. The method comprises employing a mode in which two-way time transfer is selectively provided, selectively meaning that two-way time transfer is employed such that the amount of per client specific time information being exchanged by the server and client devices is controlled, e.g. by time limiting the two-way time transfer, or during that mode reducing the occurrence of full two-way time transfer based synchronization of the client devices.

A method and a first device (110A) for synchronizing a first clock in the first device (110A) with a second clock in a second device (110B). The first device (110A) estimates 5 (A430) a relative clock phase offset, based on a sequence of round trip times, RTTs, of precision time protocol, PTP, messages which are exchanged between the first and second devices (110A, 110B). The estimated relative clock phase offset is a time difference between a time of arrival of a first arrived PTP message among the PTP messages and a direct subsequent clock cycle. The first device (110A) further determines 10 (A450) a clock value of the first clock, based on the estimated relative clock phase offset, to synchronize the first clock with the second clock.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for syntonizing machines in a network. A coordinator accesses probe records for probes transmitted at different times between pairs of machines in the mesh network. For different pairs of machines, the coordinator estimates the drift between the pair of machines based on the transit times of probes transmitted between the pair of machines as indicated by the probe records. For different loops of at least three machines in the mesh network, the coordinator calculates a loop drift error based on a sum of the estimated drifts between pairs of machines around the loop and adjusts the estimated absolute drifts of the machines based on the loop drift errors. Here, the absolute drift is defined relative to a drift of a reference machine.

A time server of a coordinated timing network (CTN) receives a command, including a primary-reference-time (PRT) source identifier identifying a time source in use for the server time protocol (STP) facility as a precision-time-protocol (PTP) time server. The time server obtains the primary-reference-time source identifier from the command, and distributes the primary-reference-time source identifier obtained from the command to one or more other servers of the coordinated timing network to facilitate processing within the coordinated timing network.

A device determines a first latency value of a first data flow from a first physical port of the device to a second physical port of the device and a second latency value of a second data flow from the second physical port to the first physical port, where the first latency value is less than the second latency value. The device determines a first target latency value based on the first latency value and the second latency value. The device adjusts a latency value of the first data flow to the first target latency value.

Aspects of the disclosure provide a method and a terminal device for providing an application interface. Processing circuitry executes an application program that provides a graphical interface on a display device. The processing circuitry obtains a present location of a graphical symbol in the graphical interface. The graphical symbol is indicative of a placement of a resource for use at a specific area in the graphical interface. Then, the processing circuitry determines whether the present location of the graphical symbol satisfies a preset condition, and determines a target location when the present location satisfies the preset condition. Then, the network interface circuitry sends a request message to a server device. When the terminal device receives an approval message, the terminal device updates the graphical interface with a graphical icon of the resource being positioned at the target location.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for syntonizing machines in a network. A coordinator accesses probe records for probes transmitted at different times between pairs of machines in the mesh network. For different pairs of machines, the coordinator estimates the drift between the pair of machines based on the transit times of probes transmitted between the pair of machines as indicated by the probe records. For different loops of at least three machines in the mesh network, the coordinator calculates a loop drift error based on a sum of the estimated drifts between pairs of machines around the loop and adjusts the estimated absolute drifts of the machines based on the loop drift errors. Here, the absolute drift is defined relative to a drift of a reference machine.

A media converter for transmitting data of a wired data network, transmitter, receiver for a media converter of this type, and method for transmitting data of a wired data network, in which a data signal is received via a first medium in accordance with a first network protocol and is converted into a sequence of bits that represents transmitted data on the physical layer of a second protocol, which is based on a different energy form that is present after conversion. A wireless transmission signal in a predetermined frequency band that is subsequently modulated using the sequence of bits, can subsequently be emitted and received on the receiving side as a wireless transmission signal in the predetermined frequency band, which is thereupon demodulated into a sequence of bits that represents data on the physical layer of the second protocol. After conversion of the sequence of bits into a data signal in accordance with the first network protocol, the signal is outputted via the wired data network.

A time server of a coordinated timing network (CTN) receives a command, including a primary-reference-time (PRT) source identifier identifying a time source in use for the server time protocol (STP) facility as a precision-time-protocol (PTP) time server. The time server obtains the primary-reference-time source identifier from the command, and distributes the primary-reference-time source identifier obtained from the command to one or more other servers of the coordinated timing network to facilitate processing within the coordinated timing network.

In various implementations, provided are techniques for distributing network time across a network using multiple grand masters (e.g., master time keepers). These techniques include having multiple grand masters simultaneously providing time to the network. Simultaneous means that all the grand masters are active at the same time, and none are designated as backups. In various implementations, the nodes in the network can simultaneously synchronize to network times provided by more than grand masters so that the nodes can obtain more than one network time. Using these multiple network times, nodes configured as clients can determine one network time. The client devices can then use the single network time in applications that require a time.