Precision Time Protocol

Abstract: This paper discusses the major features and design objectives of the IEEE-1588 standard. Recent performance results of prototype implementations of this standard in an Ethernet environment are presented. Potential areas of application of this standard are outlined.

Abstract: Reliable, fast and deterministic transmission of control information in a network is a need for many distributed systems. One example is timing systems, where a reference frequency is used to accurately schedule time-critical messages. The White Rabbit (WR) project is a multi-laboratory and multi-company effort to bring together the best of the data transfer and timing worlds in a completely open design. It takes advantage of the latest developments for improving timing over Ethernet, such as IEEE 1588 (Precision Time Protocol) and Synchronous Ethernet. The presented approach aims for a general purpose, fieldbus-like transmission system, which provides deterministic data and timing (sub-ns accuracy and ps jitter) to around 1000 stations. It automatically compensates for fiber lengths in the order of 10 km. This paper describes the WR design goals and the specification used for the project. It goes on to describe the central component of the WR system structure the WR switch - with theoretical considerations about the requirements. Finally, it presents real timing measurements for the first prototypes of WR hardware.

Abstract: Apparatus includes at least two devices that communicate with each other, wherein a first one of the at least two devices having an IEEE 1588 precision time protocol interface, the interface including one or more components configured for communications in both a wired manner and a wireless manner with a second one of the at least two devices. The second one of the at least two devices having an IEEE 1588 precision time protocol interface, the interface including one or more components configured for communications in both a wired manner and a wireless manner with the first one of the at least two devices. Wherein one of the at least two devices includes a master clock and the other one of the at least two devices includes a slave clock, wherein the master clock communicates a time to the slave clock and the slave clock is responsive to the communicated time from the master clock to adjust a time of the slave clock if necessary to substantially correspond to the time of the master clock, thereby time synchronizing the at least two devices together.

Abstract: Performances in network-based synchronization depend on several related factors, including the instability of local clocks, the rate at which timing information is exchanged, and the accuracy of the resulting correction estimates. This paper analyzes these effects and their relationships, showing how these may affect the design of an IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol synchronization scheme. This paper introduces a state-variable clock model for which realistic parameters can be obtained for different kinds of clocks from experimental measurements of Allan variance plots. A Kalman-filter-based clock servo employing this model is developed, and a simulation analysis of the behavior of clock regulation and the effect of parameter variations on its performances is presented.

Abstract: IEEE 1588 is a standard to synchronize independent clocks running on separate nodes of a distributed measurement and control system. In IP based cellular network, it is considered as a key technology to synchronize base stations. Especially, interests for the low-cost and very-small home cellular base station called the Femtocell is increasing, and it is connected to the cellular core network using an asymmetric communication link such as xDSL. However, the conventional IEEE 1588 synchronization algorithm assumes symmetrical links, and makes errors for asymmetric links for the calculation of the time difference between the master clock (a clock source) and the slave clock (a clock consumer). We propose an enhanced synchronization algorithm to calculate the asymmetric ratio of the communication link, and the proposed algorithm enhances an accuracy of the time synchronization.