SYNCHRONIZATION IN PACKET SWITCHED NETWORKS

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION
Due to the surge in data traffic requirements, service providers are migrating their backhaul to packet switched networks. Packet switching offers statistical multiplexing, which is well suited to the bursty nature of data traffic. However for many applications either frequency or time synchronization is important, and these were lacking in packet networks. In recent times, two standards have evolved that offer frequency synchronization, time synchronization or both over a packet network. Synchronous Ethernet or SyncE is a technique that uses the same links that carry data to carry frequency information also. 1588v2 is a technique/protocol to synchronize timing across various nodes to sub 1us accuracy.

NEED FOR ETHERNET SYNCHRONIZATION

The conventional transport networks have been built on TDM technologies. With the increase in the demand for the data traffic, these networks have been adapted to carry data traffic. Enhancements such as Virtual Concatenation, GFP and LCAs enabled these TDM networks to carry data traffic in the form of Ethernet. However this is not efficient for carrying large amounts of data As the proportion of the data traffic continuously increased, carriers effort to migra te to a pure Ethernet network was hindered by the lack of synchronization of the network elements. Synchronization is especially important in cellular networks during cell handoffs. Improperly synchronized networks would suffer from several problems. These include call drops while switching from one cell to the next, interference between different frequencies and in MIMO architectures. This synchronization is currently made available by the SDH Network where each signal carries frequency information and the receiver has the ability to extract this information and lock-on to that frequency. While migrating from SDH to an Ethernet network, a similar capability was required. In traditional Ethernet, transmission happens on a line only when theres data to be sent. In addition, Ethernet is a store and forward technology. Each packet is buffered for various operations like destination lookup, before it is sent out on an Egress port. The amount of time for which it is buffered is dynamic and depends on the congestion in the network. Thus, in an end-to-end session, it can introduce a lot of jitter. Some applications like mobile back haul and circuit emulation (transport of E1 traffic) require accurate frequency information to be sent across the network. Without synchronization there will be bit loss in circuit emulation and call drops in mobile backhaul.

Ethernet synchronization

VARIOUS METHODS OF SYNCHRONIZATION

The two widely deployed methods of synchronization are

1588v2:
1588v2 Precession Timing Protocol (PTP) enables sub microsecond synchronization of clocks by having a master clock send multicast synchronization message frames containing timestamps. All 1588 technology aware receivers correct their local time based on the received timestamp and estimate the one-way delay from transmitter to receiver.1588v2 provides both time and frequency synchronization. There will be a master clock generator in the 1588v2 network which serves as the primary clock reference for rest of the PTP elements. There may be intermediary clock amplifiers which serves as the master in the downlink with the control information received in the uplink. The control packets received are processed at layer 2 and layer 3 level thereby layer 1 is unaware of the technology. Since the clock information is recovered from these control packets these packets should not be lost in the network due to congestion, network degradation etc. Careful network planning is required for the positioning of the master clock generator and the clock amplifiers for ensuring efficient synchronization in the network.

Ethernet synchronization

ADVANTAGES OF 1588v2
1588v2 can distribute synchronization without the need for expensive GPS equipment or precision oscillators on the equipment. Another big benefit is that 1588v2 does not operate at the Phy layer and hence some of the legacy networks can be upgraded to provide synchronization. It also supports wallclock synchronization. Wall clock synchronization is needed for applications that require the time of the day such as billing, trouble-shooting etc.

SYNC-E
Sync-E involves feeding of one network element in an Ethernet network with a Primary Reference Clock and employing Ethernet PHY circuitry with well-engineered timing recovery circuitry to set up a fully frequency Synchronized network. It provides access to a highly accurate and stable frequency reference to the applications that requires it. The PHY of the master node element is fed with the clock information through the BITS interface. Mostly the BITS interface is connected to a GPS. The frequency of the clock of the PHY of other nodes is derived from the incoming traffic signal from the master node in a way similar to SDH. ESMC are the control packets transmitted by the node elements to convey the clock information to adjacent nodes. The SSM (Synchronous Status Message) is encapsulated in the ESMC. Upon reception of the ESMC protocol packets in the upstream the clock of the PHY gets tuned to the best clock available, inferred from the ESMC packets and transmits the information of the newly clocked info in the ESMC packets downstream. When an Ethernet switch is informed of an upstream synchronization failure condition, the switch can take appropriate action, such as selecting an alternate synchronization source. SYNC-E enables all the

Ethernet synchronization

nodes in the entire network to be in frequency synchronized in a cascaded manner. This technique of locking the slave clock with the Master is analogous to the synchronization techniques implemented in the TDM network.

ADVANTAGES OF SYNC-E
The advantage of using Synchronous Ethernet, as compared to methods relying on sending timing information over an asynchronous packet network, like 1588v2, is that it is not influenced by congestion or other dynamic conditions in the network. 1588v2 handles lots of these packets in software and the buffering and delay can vary with varying network conditions. Hence 1588v2 cannot equal the performance levels of synchronous Ethernet. Applications that requires carrier class synchronization in the network that is relatively noisy has to employ Sync-E.

APPLICATION OF SYNC-E FOR MOBILE BACKHAUL

Lack of synchronization in PSN can trigger failures in many different areas of the network, including dropped calls, interference between channels, slow handover between cells, and speech clipping (loss of speech segments). Hence synchronization becomes an important requirement for delivering good quality of experience to the end customer. With the implementation of synchronization techniques such as SYNC-E the previously discussed hurdles can be overcome. Below is the network diagram which has implemented SYNC-E and established frequency stabilization and thus provides high quality service to the end users.

Ethernet synchronization

SYNC-E and 1588v2 COMPLEMENT EACH OTHER

1588v2 (PTP) and Synchronous Ethernet should not be regarded as being competing technologies. In reality they complement each other. There are applications that require wall-clock, and not (just) accurate frequency for which 1588v2 will be the right choice. 1588v2 is made difficult by the requirement that these protocols simultaneously lock on to frequency and time. When the network is synchronous, provided by SYNC-E, the wall-clock distribution protocol can assume accurate frequency, and its job becomes much easier. This hybrid approach significantly reduces time estimation error. Edge element which requires 1588v2 can interoperate with the backhaul network employing SYNC-E. Judicious design of the network employing both SYNC-E and 1588v2 can result in a network with greater reliability and cost effectiveness.

Ethernet synchronization

DELIVERING SYNCHRONIZATION SERVICES TO 2G/3G BTS and NodeBs

As was discussed previously, synchronization is a key requirement to support mobile applications and to meet critical system needs related to minimization of air interference, facilitation of handover between base stations, and fulfilling regulatory requirements. Various mobile technologies stipulate that the radio signal must be generated in strict compliance with frequency/time/phase accuracy requirements, as illustrated below.

Application
CDMA2000

Frequency
50 ppb

Phase

Time
10s(3s Preferred)

GSM
WCDMA TD-SCDMA

50 ppb
50 ppb 50 ppb 3s

LTE (FDD) LTE (TDD) WiMAX (TDD) FemtoCell

50 ppb 50 ppb 50 ppb 250 ppb

5s for MBMS 3s 1.5s

Thus in the case of 2G GSM, CDMA2000, WCDMA and Femtocell technologies, the BTS/NodeB clock needs to be only frequency synchronized to the radio controller within certain limits in order to ensure glitch free performance. Tejas Carrier Ethernet equipments will source synchronization information through a BITS IN interface that connects to the Grandmaster Clock located at the radio controller site. The information is then transported over the Tejas CE network to the node that hands-off this traffic in a suitable format to the Access network.

Ethernet synchronization

However, the real complexity in delivering synchronization to the cell site arises from the diversity of technology types that are commonly found in the access part of these networks, as shown in the figure below. In this section, we consider various application scenarios and demonstrate how the Tejas approach to packet synchronization effectively solves the synchronization hand-over problem in each case.

Ethernet synchronization

Scenario A: Carrier Ethernet PSN in the Access and Aggregation This is the simplest network scenario for synchronization delivery. In this case, Tejas recommends that timing frequency from the PRC source at the controller site be delivered over the end-to-end Carrier Ethernet network using the SyncE algorithm. Besides providing an accurate and highly stable frequency reference, an important benefit of using SyncE, as compared to methods relying on sending timing information over an asynchronous packet network, like 1588v2, is that it is not influenced by congestion or other dynamic conditions in the network.

Ethernet synchronization

Scenario B: PDH/SDH Microwave in the Access and Carrier Ethernet PSN in the Aggregation Several large Carriers today have extensive deployments of PDH and SDH microwave equipments in the access to support their 2G and 3G networks. When these Carriers upgrade to WiMAX or LTE, they would like to continue using these networks for carrying voice and TDM services while offloading data traffic to the new PSN network.

Since regular Carrier Ethernet equipments do not provide TDM interfaces or a BITS clock interface, achieving an accurate frequency hand-off from the PSN-based Aggregation network proves to be complex. Tejas however solves this issue in two ways

Ethernet synchronization

i) ii)

iii)

BITS interface: Tejas Carrier Equipments support BITS OUT interfaces that can be connected to BITS inputs of the PDH/SDH microwave equipments. However, if the existing microwave equipment does not feature an external timing input, this feature cannot be used. Retimed E1 interface: Tejas Carrier Equipments can also deliver frequency synchronization using a re-timed E1 signal. In this case, the outgoing E1 traffic signal contains the traffic data coming from the traffic input and the timing coming from the synchronization input. Re-timing may also be used when the original E1/DS1 signal is affected by excessive levels of wander. STM-1 interface: Tejas Carrier Ethernet equipments can also deliver frequency synchronization through STM-1 interfaces. This is also useful if the last mile to the cell site uses an SDH fiber ring in a few locations, besides supporting synchronization delivery over hybrid microwave equipments.

Scenario C: IP Microwave in the Access and Carrier Ethernet PSN in the Aggregation To support the emerging need to transport increasing amount of Ethernet/IP traffic, a new type of microwave equipment has arrived in the Carrier market. Unlike current generations of Hybrid Microwave products that encapsulate Ethernet packets within TDM/SDH frames, IP Microwave equipments map IP/Ethernet traffic directly on the radio frames. IP Microwave equipments pose fresh challenges when it comes to delivering synchronization data to the cell sites. i) All-IP Packet Microwave: All-IP microwave equipments are capable of transporting both TDM and data traffic over microwave. TDM traffic is supported using E1/DS1 interfaces on the equipments and circuit emulated over the packet microwave network. These equipments typically support SyncE for packet synchronization and hence transport of synchronization can be handled seamlessly from the PSN Fiber-based Aggregation to the PSN Microwave-based Access, all the way to the 2G/3G cell site. Hence, the solution is similar to Scenario A except for the fact the use of microwave as the transmission medium in the Access instead of fiber.

Ethernet synchronization

ii)

IP-only Packet Microwave: IP-only microwave equipments are used in greenfield networks (e.g., several WiMAX networks) that have been designed to deliver only packet services to end users. In this case, since there is no support for TDM traffic, SyncE feature is not typically provided by the packet microwave equipment. Tejas can then transfer synchronization information using the IEEE 1588v2 protocol, whereby an IEEE 1588v2 Grandmaster (connected to a PRC source) at the controller site communicates with 1588v2 slaves at the remote destination site using the PTP protocol. However, a 1588v2 based implementation require careful predeployment planning to ascertain that network performance (especially PDV or jitter accumulation) remains within reasonable bounds under varying network loads and traffic patterns. Depending on the nature of the network, external clock regenerators may be used at challenging sites.

CONCLUSION
Ethernet synchronization techniques enable service providers to migrate to pure packet networks while leveraging higher bandwidth efficiencies of packet and without compromising on the quality of experience to the customer. Tejas Carrier Ethernet equipments support multiple packet synchronization techniques and interface types that together help in delivering end-to-end frequency/time/phase synchronization in both greenfield and brownfield networks.

Ethernet synchronization