Synchronized transport across non-synchronous networks

Abstract

A method of providing for synchronizing one or more synchronous terminals with one or more synchronous endpoints, each synchronous terminal and each synchronous endpoint having an asynchronous communications network coupled between at least one synchronous terminal and at least one synchronous endpoint. A synchronization protocol is established between a synchronous terminal and a synchronous end point by providing a gateway between the asynchronous communications network and the synchronous end point, the gateway communicating with the synchronous terminal over the asynchronous communications network in accordance with the synchronization protocol. The synchronization protocol includes sending a message from the gateway to the synchronous terminal, the message containing a timestamp identifying a clock associated with the synchronous end point. The synchronous terminal establishes a clock associated with the synchronous terminal by creating a clock estimate based upon the timestamp message and access jitter expected from the asynchronous communications network such that the clock associated with the synchronous terminal enables packet sampling and transmission onto the asynchronous communications network to and from the synchronous terminal to be synchronized with the clock associated with the synchronous end point.