Ultra-short term clock offset prediction for two-way satellite time synchronization

Based on the principle of two way satellite time transfer, a time synchronization system with master-slave sturcture is established. In the system, slave sites compare their clock time with the master clock in turn. After one comparison, the slave clock offset is estimated and predicted until the next comparison period. In the paper, three clock offset prediction algorithms are discussed in detail. Their performance is evaluated and validated using measured clock offset data. The results show the linear fitting algorithm has an obvious good performance in ultra-short term prediction than quadratic polynomial method. And it´s quite simple than grey system model prediction algorithm. The time synchronization system use the linear fitting algorithm for clock offset prediction in practice and has a good practical effect.