Synchronization robustness using Kalman-based clock servos

With the increasing deployment of large-scale distributed packet networks in the industry, highly reliable and precise clock synchronization gains even more importance to ensure timeliness of the exchanged datagrams. Design for reliability, robustness and availability should optimally be taken into account for the architecture of the synchronization subsystem as high-level redundancy schemes are limited in this respect. This work focuses on robustness of the clock servo subsystem and its sensitivity to disturbances, such as sudden changes of the packet delay, packet delay variation, environment of the oscillator, or packet loss. In particular, Kalman filter- and proportional-integral controller-steered clocks are investigated for their suitability for robust high-precision synchronization systems.