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Re: [RE] Posting for discussion tomorrow



David,

I have begun reading your synch document and have some initial questions.
These are mainly
to help me understand the document; I'll have more comments when I have
finished.

1) You indicate in Section 2.1.5 that the local clocks are free-running and
that PLLs are not used.  However,
in Section 2.2 (e.g., figure 2.6 and the code in 2.2.3) you indicate that
the rate of the slave clock is adjusted based
on the difference between its rate and the master rate.  It seems that this
type of algorithm is essentially a PLL.  I realize
you may not be using the timing produced by this PLL to time the PHY, but it
seems it is still functionally a PLL, at least if the frequency adjustment 
of the slave
is based on the phase difference between the phase of the slave and the 
phase indicated
by the incoming timestamp from the master.

2) what is the difference between timer and timer1?  Are both being 
adjusted, or only one (and, in the
latter case, which)?  Why are both needed?

3) In the code in section 2.2.3, what is the structure clockstrobe, and
where do its member values come from?  I.e., if the code is running in a 
slave, do
the members of clockstrobe come from the upstream master?  What is the 
precise
definition of the member clockstrobe.diffrate, and what are its units (e.g., 
Hz?).
I ask this because you have an expression rate = rate1+ ( (rate1*diffrate) 
 >> NORM);
it appears you are mutiplying 2 rates.  In addition, what is the purpose of 
the right shift
by NORM; NORM is defined to be 43, so I assume the quantity being shifted is 
not a 32 bit
integer (K&R 2nd edition indicates that a shift is undefined when the amount 
of the shift is greater
than the width of the data field).

My main reason for trying to read the code in detail, and therefore for
asking the above questions, is that I want to understand the algorithm that
governs how the rate and offset are adjusted.  If it is easier to provide an
alternative explanation (e.g., using conventional mathematical equations
with all variables defined), then it is not necessary to explain the code in
detail (i.e., my main interest is in the algorithm).

Two additional, minor comments are:
4) In your #define LIMIT (pp. 10 and 12) it appears the final b should be an 
a
(i.e., I gather you want to set a equal to the upper or lower limit if a is 
outside the range, but
leave a the same if it is within the range).

5) In the statememtn if ((i+=1) < TICKS) {

should the < (less than) really be >= (greater than or equal to) ?

As I indicated above, my main question is on how the algorithm for adjusting 
the phase and frequency of the slave clock works.

Thanks.

Best regards,

Geoff
-------------------------------------------------
Geoffrey M. Garner
Samsung (Consultant)




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David V James" <dvj@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
To: <STDS-802-3-RE@listserv.ieee.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 21, 2005 5:46 PM
Subject: [RE] Posting for discussion tomorrow


> All,
>
> I have posted a document for disucssion tomorrow.
> This is available at:
>  http://dvjames.com/esync/timer2005Jun21.pdf
>
> As announced in last week's minutes, details for
> tomorrow's meeting should appear on the reflector
> soon (Michael, hint, hint!).
>
> From past tradition, we expect:
>  Teleconference of
>  Synchronization Adhoc of
>  IEEE 802.3 Residential Ethernet Study Group
>  2005June22 14:00-16:00 PST
>
>  Meeting ID:          8023**
>  Toll Free (US Only): + 1 877-827-6232
>  International:       + 1 949-926-5900
>
>  Note:
>   ** Represents digits whose value is TBD.
>
> DVJ
>
> David V. James
> 3180 South Ct
> Palo Alto, CA 94306
> Home: +1.650.494.0926
>      +1.650.856.9801
> Cell: +1.650.954.6906
> Fax:  +1.360.242.5508
> Base: dvj@alum.mit.edu
>
>
>