Gateway timing redundancy architecture and methods in a ptp synchronized communication system

Abstract

A redundant architecture for a Precision Time Protocol (PTP) network includes a plurality of PTP grandmaster clocks that provide first timing messages to a plurality of PTP aware switches based on a timing reference. The PTP aware switches determine respective first timing offsets based on the timing messages received from a primary grandmaster clock and provide second timing messages to an end node of the network based on the first timing offsets. The end node determines a second timing offset for the end node based on the second timing messages received from a primary PTP aware switch and adjusts its clock based on the second timing offset. When a failure of the primary grandmaster clock and/or the primary PTP aware switch is detected, a different grandmaster clock and/or a different PTP aware switch is designated as the primary grandmaster clock and the primary PTP aware switch, respectively.