Partially synchronizing periodic flows with offsets improves worst-case end-to-end delay analysis of switched ethernet

Abstract

A switched Ethernet network needs a worst-case delay analysis to prove that real-time applications can be correctly implemented on it. Existing approaches for upper bounding end-to-end delay assume that there is either no-synchronization or a global synchronization of flows which needs a global clock. Conversely, flows emitted by the same end-system can be easily synchronized using the existing local clock. This paper explains how the partial synchronization of periodic flows can be integrated in the worst-case delay analysis provided by Network Calculus approach. End-to-end delays computed on switched Ethernet configurations show that the proposed method clearly reduces the upper bounds of end-to-end delay. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.