Patent ID: 6317475
Filing Date: 2001-11-13
Classification: H04B,H04J

Abstract:
A method for creating a synchronization network for a telecommunications network, the method comprising:interconnecting a plurality of nodes with links,sending, when a network is operational, a synchronization status messages indicating a quality level of a corresponding signal relative to the synchronization of the network, wherein the quality levels indicate signals not allowed to be used for synchronization,using at least one master clock as a synchronization source for network nodes,establishing a synchronization network by selecting, in accordance with a topology defined by the links, synchronization chains formed by successive nodes and by defining for different nodes in the chain a node-specific priority list including node interfaces at different priority levels,determining the synchronization source to be selected by a node when signals of equal quality levels are received on the node interfaces,defining a desired number of clock sources having the highest possible quality level as the master clocks of the network,selecting at least one node chain between two different master clocks as a first part of the synchronization network in accordance with predetermined criteria,if there are remaining master clocks not included in the synchronization network after the selection, selecting node chains not included in the first part and including each remaining master clock into the synchronization network in a predetermined order of superiority until all master clocks have been selected into the chains,selecting chains leading from nodes not included in the already selected chains that include the master clocks, are added into the synchronization network in a predetermined order of superiority, anddefining, in each chain selected into the synchronization network, the priorities for the node interfaces, wherein the node interface closest to the master clock will receive first priority.