Choice of Regulator for Mutual Network Synchronization

This paper compares time-discrete regulators used for mutual single-ended synchronization of digital networks. The regulators control the phase differences between clocks in the network nodes. These clocks are disturbed mainly by short-term phase and frequency fluctuations and long-term linear frequency drift. The characteristics of the regulators under study are stability, engineering, and implentation. The main results of the stability analysis are that the
P
regulator brings about a constant slip rate, the
Pl
regulator is not slip-free, the Pll
2
regulator is slip-free. With nonzero initial phase differences and jitter, the stability of the regulators containing integrators is secured by not regulating one of the nodes. In conclusion, the Pll
2
regulator is the best choice for single-ended mutual network synchronization.