A fully integrated versatile PTP node

Abstract

Today's market offers a wide variety of IEEE1588 devices implementing the Precision Time Protocol (PTP) in many different ways. This work presents a new approach of a fully integrated PTP node by focusing on three major attributes: (i) high precision in the range of a few nanoseconds, (ii) being as versatile as possible by implementing a vast part of the standard and (iii) keeping the costs of such a device as low as possible. To satisfy these goals, different ways of implementing such a device as a ready to use System-on-Chip solution are discussed. Advantages and draw-backs of several system architectures are outlined by describing all hard- and software components and finally presenting measurement results of a prototype implementation.