Method and system for synchronization between network elements

Abstract

A system for synchronizing a first network device and a second network device. The first network device comprises an interface configured to release over a communication link a first signal carrying a first data stream clocked by a first clock signal. The second network device comprises an interface configured to receive the first signal over the communication link. The second network device also comprises a clock extraction module configured to generate an extracted clock signal from the received first signal; and a data coding module configured to clock a second data stream with an output clock signal selected based on a speed of a locally generated clock signal relative to the first clock signal or the extracted clock signal, thereby to produce a second signal for transmission from the second network element to the first network element. By clocking the second data stream with the fastest available clock signal, greater link utilization can be achieved. Furthermore, synchronism between the first and second network elements reduces the incidence of sync slips, which permits a reduction in the size of inter-frame gaps and also affords the use of a clock frequencies exceeding the nominal rate, leading to even greater link utilization.