Method for estimating a maximum time interval error in a data transmission network, the method comprising: - receiving a plurality of data samples over a sampling period; - comparing a duration of the sampling period to a time threshold for the sampling period; - if the duration of the sampling period is less than or equal to the time threshold for the sampling period, processing the received plurality of data samples so as to calculate in real time a maximum time interval error (33,40); - if the duration of the sampling period exceeds the time threshold for the sampling period, dividing the sampling period into a finite number of sub-intervals, processing the data samples received in a first sub-interval so as to produce a first intermediate result and successively repeating the processing for successive sub-intervals so as to generate a series of intermediate results, storing each element of the series of intermediate results directly after the element is produced so as to generate a series of actual stored intermediate results and processing the series of actual stored intermediate results so as to estimate the maximum time interval error, the method characterized in that: the step of processing the plurality of data samples so as to calculate in real time a maximum time interval error if the duration of the sampling period is less than or equal to the time threshold for the sampling period further comprises: - comparing a quantity of the plurality of data samples received over the sampling period to a threshold value for the quantity of data samples, wherein the threshold value for the quantity of data samples preferably corresponds to an available storage capacity; - if the quantity of the plurality of data samples received over the sampling period is less than or equal to the threshold value for the quantity of data samples, directly storing the plurality of data samples received over the sampling period and calculating the maximum time interval error from the stored plurality of data samples; - if the quantity of the plurality of data samples received over the sampling period exceeds the threshold value for the quantity of data samples, creating a tree data structure on the basis of the plurality of data samples received over the sampling period, storing the tree data structure and calculating the maximum time interval error from the stored tree data structure. - receiving a plurality of data samples over a sampling period; - comparing a duration of the sampling period to a time threshold for the sampling period; - if the duration of the sampling period is less than or equal to the time threshold for the sampling period, processing the received plurality of data samples so as to calculate in real time a maximum time interval error (33,40); - if the duration of the sampling period exceeds the time threshold for the sampling period, dividing the sampling period into a finite number of sub-intervals, processing the data samples received in a first sub-interval so as to produce a first intermediate result and successively repeating the processing for successive sub-intervals so as to generate a series of intermediate results, storing each element of the series of intermediate results directly after the element is produced so as to generate a series of actual stored intermediate results and processing the series of actual stored intermediate results so as to estimate the maximum time interval error, the step of processing the plurality of data samples so as to calculate in real time a maximum time interval error if the duration of the sampling period is less than or equal to the time threshold for the sampling period further comprises: - comparing a quantity of the plurality of data samples received over the sampling period to a threshold value for the quantity of data samples, wherein the threshold value for the quantity of data samples preferably corresponds to an available storage capacity; - if the quantity of the plurality of data samples received over the sampling period is less than or equal to the threshold value for the quantity of data samples, directly storing the plurality of data samples received over the sampling period and calculating the maximum time interval error from the stored plurality of data samples; - if the quantity of the plurality of data samples received over the sampling period exceeds the threshold value for the quantity of data samples, creating a tree data structure on the basis of the plurality of data samples received over the sampling period, storing the tree data structure and calculating the maximum time interval error from the stored tree data structure. - comparing a quantity of the plurality of data samples received over the sampling period to a threshold value for the quantity of data samples, wherein the threshold value for the quantity of data samples preferably corresponds to an available storage capacity; - if the quantity of the plurality of data samples received over the sampling period is less than or equal to the threshold value for the quantity of data samples, directly storing the plurality of data samples received over the sampling period and calculating the maximum time interval error from the stored plurality of data samples; - if the quantity of the plurality of data samples received over the sampling period exceeds the threshold value for the quantity of data samples, creating a tree data structure on the basis of the plurality of data samples received over the sampling period, storing the tree data structure and calculating the maximum time interval error from the stored tree data structure.