Clock management method and transmission apparatus for synchronous network system

Abstract

In a clock management apparatus for a synchronous network system, when the quality of a clock signal is deteriorated, the clock signal is switched to another clock signal automatically to continue synchronous communication. Clock signals are received and extracted by transmission/receiving units of the synchronous network system. A plurality of clock signals including the extracted clock signals and a clock signal from an external clock are selectively switched by a clock switching unit, and a master clock signal is selected and output based on quality information transferred with each clock signal. The master clock signal is applied to a clock generator generate a clock signal. A quality control table is used to convert quality information into associated quality levels. A quality determination processing unit issues an alarm when the quality level of the master clock signal is deteriorated beyond a threshold provided by a synchronization management table.