A coordinated timing network is dynamically split into a plurality of coordinated timing networks. This split occurs without taking down any of the servers. Each coordinated timing network has its own coordinated timing network identifier (CTN ID), and its own primary time server. Optionally, each coordinated timing network includes a backup time server and an arbiter.

Embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method for transmitting a clock packet. The method includes: a first network element generates a first clock packet, where the first clock packet includes a first source identity and first clock information, and the first source identity is used to indicate a device that provides the first clock information. The first network element sends the first clock packet to a second network element forming a ring network with the first network element. The first network element receives a second clock packet sent by the second network element, where the second clock packet includes a second source identity and second clock information, and the second source identity is used to indicate a device that provides the second clock information. The first network element skips tracking the second clock information after determining that the second source identity is the same as the first source identity.

A system on a chip (SOC) is configured to support multiple time domains within a time-sensitive networking (TSN) environment. TSN extends Ethernet networks to support a deterministic and high-availability communication on Layer 2 (data link layer of open system interconnect OSI model) for time coordinated capabilities such as industrial automation and control applications. Processors in a system may have an application time domain separate from the communication time domain. In addition, each type time domain may also have multiple potential time masters to drive synchronization for fault tolerance. The SoC supports multiple time domains driven by different time masters and graceful time master switching. Timing masters may be switched at run-time in case of a failure in the system. Software drives the SoC to establish communication paths through a sync router to facilitate communication between time providers and time consumers. Multiple time sources are supported.

Coordinated timing networks are dynamically merged into a single coordinated timing network. This merge occurs without taking down any of the servers. Each server of the merged coordinated timing network has the same coordinated timing network identifier (CTN ID), and the merged coordinated timing network has one selected primary time server. Optionally, the merged coordinated timing network may include a backup time server and an arbiter.

The present invention discloses a service transmission method, a network device, and a network system. The method includes: obtaining, by a first network device, a client service of FlexE, and obtaining clock information corresponding to the client service; mapping, by the first network device, the client service and the clock information to a timeslot of a FlexE frame, where the client service and the clock information occupy a same timeslot and/or different timeslots; and sending, by the first network device, the FlexE frame to a second network device. Therefore, service clock information can be transparently transmitted in flexible Ethernet by using the method of the present invention.

The time synchronization of a network is protected against unauthorized changes to the grandmaster clock of a base time domain by monitoring the physical communication interfaces of a network device for arrival of messages relating to time synchronization. If the messages relating to time synchronization apply to the initially set-up and synchronized base time domain, a check is performed to determine whether the messages relating to time synchronization announce a new grandmaster clock having better clock parameters than those of the present grandmaster clock. If so, a virtual base time domain is started by the network device. If the verification reveals that the proposed new grandmaster clock is trustworthy or valid, the network device discontinues the virtual time domain, updates its stored information concerning the grandmaster clock and, from this time onward, sends messages relating to time synchronization that are based on the new clock parameters to the network.

A performance instrument for a vehicle wherein an electronic device receives one or more operational quantities from internal sensors and/or external sensors and represents the one or more operational quantities as an analog clock face so that each clock hand is a function of one of the one or more operational quantities. The analog clock face representation provides at-a-glance apparency of the operational quantities for a user of the vehicle.

A method, node, and system for detecting a clock synchronization path, where the method includes generating, by a first node, a synchronization detection request message, sending the synchronization detection request message to a second node, where the synchronization detection request message includes an identifier (ID) of the first node, generating, by the second node, a synchronization detection response message according to the synchronization detection request message, sending the synchronization detection response message to the first node, where the synchronization detection response message includes clock topology information of the second node and the ID of the first node, and obtaining, by the first node, a first detection result according to the synchronization detection response message, where the first detection result indicates a status of a clock synchronization path between the first node and the second node.

Coordinated timing networks are dynamically merged into a single coordinated timing network. This merge occurs without taking down any of the servers. Each server of the merged coordinated timing network has the same coordinated timing network identifier (CTN ID), and the merged coordinated timing network has one selected primary time server. Optionally, the merged coordinated timing network may include a backup time server and an arbiter.

There are provided a clock node, a controller, a method of operating the clock node and a method of operating the controller in a time distribution network (TDN) comprising the controller being in data communication with the clock nodes via a control path. The method of operating the clock node comprises: sending, from the clock node via the control path to the controller, a first timestamp-related data; receiving, by the clock node via the control path from the controller, clock-recovery control data generated by the controller using the first timestamp-related data received from the clock node; processing the received clock-recovery control data to extract data usable for phase and frequency recovery; and using the extracted data to steer frequency and phase characterizing the clock node.