Patent attributes
A transmit datapath and a method for timestamping packets. The datapath comprises a timestamp unit located along a packet bus. The timestamp unit is configured to timestamp a packet with its predicted departure time onto a link, the predicted departure time based on an actual departure time of a preceding packet and the lengths of all intervening packets, when the packet bus has been continuously full of the intervening packets. The method comprises determining the predicted departure time of a packet based on an actual departure time of a preceding packet and the lengths of all intervening packets, minimizing the inter-frame gaps between the intervening packets, and timestamping the packet with the predicted departure time. The timestamp method may be a 1-step timestamp method. A packet may be timestamped with its predicted departure time upstream from where the packet is protected. The protection may be MACSec protection.
