Synchronizing Computer Clocks Using Kalman Filters

Published

July 31, 2011

Author(s)

Judah Levine

Abstract

I have used the Kalman Filter algorithm to improve the link between the Internet Time Servers operated by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the primary atomic clock ensemble in Boulder, which realizes UTC(NIST) and which is used as the reference for the time srevers. The Kalman algorithm is better able to separate the contribution of multiple noise sources such as the fluctuations in the asymmetry of the channel delay and the statistical fluctuations in the clock used as the internal reference for the time server. This improved separation has made it possible to compensate to some extent for the lower-quality telephone circuits that are often used as the links for synchronizing the time servers to the atomic clock ensemble.

Proceedings Title

Proceedings of 2011 Frequency Control Symposium

Conference Dates

May 1-4, 2011

Conference Location

San Francisco, CA

Conference Title

2011 Joint Conference of the IEEE International Frequency Control Symposium and European Frequency and Time Forum

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

automated computer time service, internet time service, Kalman Filter

Citation

Levine, J. (2011), Synchronizing Computer Clocks Using Kalman Filters, Proceedings of 2011 Frequency Control Symposium, San Francisco, CA (Accessed November 21, 2025)