Patent ID: 7567509

Claim:
A method for transmitting data, the method comprising: monitoring a packet-based traffic flow to obtain traffic flow information; calculating, based on the traffic flow information and a clock signal obtained from a clock, a transmission interval for transmitting a packet-based communication into the packet-based traffic flow; selectively modifying the transmission interval in response to the traffic flow information; determining a phase adjustment sufficient to alter a transmission timing of the packet-based communication to coincide with transmission into the transmission interval; transmitting the packet-based communication into the packet-based traffic flow during the transmission interval, based on the clock signal, by adjusting a phase of the packet-based communication by the phase adjustment; communicating with one of a plurality of data sources to establish a virtual clock, the virtual clock thereafter being maintained by each of the plurality of data sources and being operable to govern a timing of transmission of the packet-based communication; and adjusting a phase of packets in the packet-based communication in accordance with the virtual clock.