Non-deterministic software delay estimation method and system for packet based data network systems

摘要

A method of characterizing a propagation delay of a data element propagating from a software source to a physical medium destination includes associating, in software, a first time code with the data element when the software source dispatches the data element to the physical medium destination. The method further includes associating, via a time-stamping circuit, a second time code with the data element when the data element reaches the physical medium destination. The method also includes subtracting the first time code from the second time code so as to calculate the propagation delay. In a similar manner, the method may also be used to characterize the propagation delay of the data element in the reverse direction, i.e., from the physical medium to the software source.