Abstract: An integrated circuit, for example, a system-on-a-chip is disclosed. The integrated circuit includes a timing synchronisation unit including a hardware timer, for example, a gPTP timer. The integrated circuit also includes a non-Ethernet network interface, for example, a PCIe interface, for communicating with another integrated circuit having another hardware timer. The timing synchronisation unit is configured, in response to receiving a timing trigger from the other integrated circuit, to capture a local time t2. The timing synchronisation unit is further configured to provide the local time t2 to a processor for the processor to compute a timing offset between a remote time t1 of the other hardware timer which generated the timing trigger and the local time for time synchronisation.

Abstract: A message handler (61, 62) is described. The message handler is configured, in response to receiving a data package (131, 132) which is formatted according to a given communications protocol, such as CAN or Ethernet, and which comprises package-directing data (22; FIG. 4) and payload data (23; FIG. 4), to generate package (14) having a predetermined data format, for example a layer-2 or layer-3 package, which comprises a header (24; FIG. 4) and payload data (25; FIG. 4). The header comprises an address generated in dependence upon the package-directing data and wherein the payload comprises the data package. The package (14) having a predetermined data format may be an IEEE 1722 frame.

Abstract: A CAN communication controller and a method of operating a CAN communication controller are disclosed. The CAN communication controller is for transmitting first and second types of frames wherein the first type of frame is used to transmit event-triggered communication data and the second type of frame is used to transmit best effort traffic data, the CAN communication controller configured, in response to transmitting a frame of the second type having a given identifier, to delay arbitration of a following frame of the second type having the given identifier, and not to delay arbitration of a frame of the first type.

Abstract: A message handler is described. The message handler is configured, in response to receiving a data package which is formatted according to a given communications protocol, such as CAN or Ethernet, and which comprises package-directing data and payload data, to generate package having a predetermined data format, for example a layer-2 or layer-3 package, which comprises a header and payload data. The header comprises an address generated in dependence upon the package-directing data and wherein the payload comprises the data package. The package having a predetermined data format may be an IEEE 1722 frame.

Abstract: A message handler is described. The message handler is configured, in response to receiving a data package which is formatted according to a given communications protocol, such as CAN or Ethernet, and which comprises package-directing data and payload data, to generate package having a predetermined data format, for example a layer-2 or layer-3 package, which comprises a header and payload data. The header comprises an address generated in dependence upon the package-directing data and wherein the payload comprises the data package. The package having a predetermined data format may be an IEEE 1722 frame.

Abstract: A network device comprising a set of queues and a time-aware shaper which comprises a set of transmission gates and gate control instructions. The gate control list comprises a set of individual gate control lists, each individual gate control list configured to control a respective gate and which comprises a sequence of entries, each entry comprising a duration of time.

Abstract: A communications controller is disclosed. The communications controller includes a data transfer unit and a protocol engine. The communications controller further includes a circuit configured to control transfer of data from the data transfer unit to the protocol engine in dependence upon a process identifier which identifies a process entity requiring the protocol engine to transmit data for the process entity.

Abstract: A circuit for use in frame filtering is disclosed. The circuit includes a plurality of comparator units. Each comparator unit configured, in response to receiving at least a part of a data frame, to perform a determination whether data in a portion of the at least part of the data frame matches respective reference data and to provide a result to a comparator unit output based on the determination. The circuit includes a crossbar switch having crossbar inputs coupled to respective comparator unit outputs and configured to provide sets of crossbar switch outputs via configurable interconnects; and a set of result-combining logic units, each result-combining logic unit coupled to a respective set of crossbar switch outputs, and configured to provide a respective logic unit output.

Abstract: A communications network controller module for storing media data in memory is disclosed. The module comprises a media access controller and a message handler. The message handler is configured, in response to receiving a frame comprising frame data from the media access controller, to identify a frame type for the frame, to identify a target queue in dependence upon the frame type, the target queue comprising a series of data areas in memory reserved for storing frames of the frame type, to obtain a current descriptor address of a current descriptor for the target queue, the current descriptor comprising a descriptor type field, a descriptor pointer field and a descriptor data size field, and to obtain an address in the series of data areas, to store a part of the frame data at the data area address.

Abstract: An integrated circuit, for example, a system-on-a-chip is disclosed. The integrated circuit includes a timing synchronisation unit including a hardware timer, for example, a gPTP timer. The integrated circuit also includes a non-Ethernet network interface, for example, a PCIe interface, for communicating with another integrated circuit having another hardware timer. The timing synchronisation unit is configured, in response to receiving a timing trigger from the other integrated circuit, to capture a local time t2. The timing synchronisation unit is further configured to provide the local time t2 to a processor for the processor to compute a timing offset between a remote time t1 of the other hardware timer which generated the timing trigger and the local time for time synchronisation.

Abstract: A message handler (61, 62) is described. The message handler is configured, in response to receiving a data package (131, 132) which is formatted according to a given communications protocol, such as CAN or Ethernet, and which comprises package - directing data (22; FIG. 4) and payload data (23; FIG. 4), to generate package (14) having a predetermined data format, for example a layer-2 or layer-3 package, which comprises a header (24; FIG. 4) and payload data (25; FIG. 4). The header comprises an address generated in dependence upon the package-directing data and wherein the payload comprises the data package. The package (14) having a predetermined data format may be an IEEE 1722 frame.

Abstract: A message handler is described. The message handler is configured, in response to receiving a data package which is formatted according to a given communications protocol, such as CAN or Ethernet, and which comprises package-directing data and payload data, to generate package having a predetermined data format, for example a layer-2 or layer-3 package, which comprises a header and payload data. The header comprises an address generated in dependence upon the package-directing data and wherein the payload comprises the data package. The package having a predetermined data format may be an IEEE 1722 frame.

Abstract: A network device (1) comprising a set of queues (2) and a time-aware shaper (3) which comprises a set of transmission gates (4) and gate control instructions (5; FIG. 5). The gate control list comprises a set of individual gate control lists (7), each individual gate control list configured to control a respective gate and which comprises a sequence of entries (10), each entry comprising a duration of time (11; FIG. 11).

Abstract: A communications network controller module for storing media data in memory is disclosed. The module comprises a media access controller and a message handler. The message handler is configured, in response to receiving a frame comprising frame data from the media access controller, to identify a frame type for the frame, to identify a target queue in dependence upon the frame type, the target queue comprising a series of data areas in memory reserved for storing frames of the frame type, to obtain a current descriptor address of a current descriptor for the target queue, the current descriptor comprising a descriptor type field, a descriptor pointer field and a descriptor data size field, and to obtain an address in the series of data areas, to store a part of the frame data at the data area address.

Abstract: A message handler is described. The message handler is configured, in response to receiving a data package which is formatted according to a given communications protocol, such as CAN or Ethernet, and which comprises package-directing data and payload data, to generate package having a predetermined data format, for example a layer-2 or layer-3 package, which comprises a header and payload data. The header comprises an address generated in dependence upon the package-directing data and wherein the payload comprises the data package. The package having a predetermined data format may be an IEEE 1722 frame.

Abstract: A communication controller is described. The communication controller can exchange data on first and second communications channels (A, B). In a first mode, data transmitted on the first communication channel cannot be decoded on the second communication channel. In a second mode, data transmitted on the first communication channel is decodable on the second communication channel so as to provide loop back functionality.

Abstract: A communication controller is described. The communication controller can exchange data on first and second communications channels (A, B). In a first mode, data transmitted on the first communication channel cannot be decoded on the second communication channel. In a second mode, data transmitted on the first communication channel is decodable on the second communication channel so as to provide loop back functionality.