Patent ID: 7623552

Claim:
A method for time synchronizing nodes in a switch fabric of a vehicle communication network, the nodes in the switch fabric joined by at least one communication link for transmission of data packets therebetween, the method comprising the steps of: transmitting a synchronization request message from a first node to a second node, the synchronization request message including a message identification; storing, at the first node, a first timestamp associated with the transmission of the synchronization request message; receiving the synchronization request message at the second node from the first node, storing, at the second node, a second timestamp associated with the reception of the synchronization request message; transmitting a synchronization response message from the second node to the first node, the synchronization response message including the message identification and the second timestamp; computing an onset in the first node based on the first timestamp and the second timestamp; and storing the offset in the first node for subsequent use in time synchronizing data packets transmitted by the first node to other nodes in the switch fabric.