Patent attributes
A reference time distribution system and method use a data transmission network having a plurality of nodes to distribute the House Sync signal. A network-wide time signal is generated using a reference time generator, and the network-wide time signal is then distributed over the network to the plurality of nodes. At each node, the network-wide time signal is converted to a local synchronization signal for use in performing synchronization of the timing of each node. Either network-inherent timing and/or additional time signaling is used to provide the nodes attached to this network with a network-wide notion of time. The time information is converted locally into synchronization signals or time information as required by a respective application. When data is transported over the network, delay compensation is performed to simultaneously output different data streams that have been synchronously input into the network, regardless of the data path.