Abstract: A method for creating time-stamped frames sent between computers includes receiving and generating a universal coordinated time reference signal using a global positioning system. Clocks independent of operating systems of the sending and receiving computer are synchronized with the reference signal. A test frame is created including a tag having reserved fields for transmit and receive time stamps. The transmit time stamp is inserted into the reserved transmit time stamp field, without intervention of the sending computers central processing unit, that corresponds to the time on the synchronized clock at the instant the test frame is sent. The test frame having the transmit time stamp is received by the receiving computer, and a receive time stamp is inserted into the reserved receive time stamp field corresponding to the time on the synchronized clock of the receiving computer when the test frame was received.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of using computer equipment to send a time-stamped frame. The method implements: generating at a given instant TS a frame whose time stamp TO is equal to TS+&dgr;, where &dgr; is a time interval required by the computer equipment between generating a time-stamped frame and sending the last bit thereof; sending said time-stamped frame as generated at the instant TS when an absolute time clock of the computer equipment reaches a value equal to TS+&dgr;−&sgr; where &sgr; is the duration required for sending the bits of said frame, such that the last bit of the frame is sent at instant TS+&dgr;.