Proceedings of The Second International Conference on Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, and Mechatronics, Philippines 2016

Time Synchronization Algorithm for Asymmetric Optical Fiber

Communication Link
Peng Liangfu
College of Electrical Information Engineering, Southwest University for Nationalities
No.16, South 4th Section, 1st Ring Road, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, Post Code 610041
pengliangfu@126.com
ABSTRACT
To solve the problem of delay asymmetry for IEEE
1588v2 implementation in a two-fiber bidirectional
network, many methods have been proposed, such
as the optical time-domain reflectometry method,
the optical fiber switching method, and the singlefiber bidirectional transmission method, etc.
However, none of the existing methods are suitable
for an asymmetric optical fiber link with an optical
amplifier or optical regenerator. We present a new
time synchronization algorithm for IEEE 1588v2 to
calculate the time offset in an asymmetric optical
fiber link with an optical amplifier or optical
regenerator. The new algorithm is based on the
timestamp mechanism of IEEE 1588v2, and uses
wavelength conversion to produce stamped
messages, which are exchanged between the master
and slave to enable the slave to calculate the time
offset. The formula of the time offset between the
master and slave is deduced, and the detailed steps
and process are given. The new algorithm is not
only suitable for a two-fiber bidirectional optical
communication system, but also for the Wavelength
Division Multiplexer system.

KEYWORDS
IEEE 1588v2, asymmetric delay, optical amplifier,
optical
regenerator,
Wavelength
Division
Multiplexer system.

1 INTRODUCTION
The distribution of timing information is a key
problem in the synchronization of the optical
telecommunication network. At present, IEEE
1588v2 time synchronization technology, also
called Precision Time Protocol (PTP), can

ISBN: 978-1-941968-30-7 2016 SDIWC

distribute time information with submicrosecond

accuracy
and
low-cost
implementation in Packet Transport Networks
(PTN). Its applications and enhancements have
been widely studied [1], [2]. However, many
transmission networks currently used are in
reality two-fiber bidirectional networks. The
asymmetry caused by the unequal length of the
two fibers in the transmitting and receiving
directions, will directly affect the precision of
IEEE 1588v2 time synchronization. The
asymmetric length of two optical fibers in an
up/down link is a difficult problem to overcome
for IEEE 1588v2 [3], [4]. Therefore, achieving
automatic compensation of asymmetric delay is
very important and worth studying for the IEEE
1588v2 standard. This paper attempts to
address these issues. A solution is proposed,
involving a new algorithm to accurately
estimate the offset of the time between the
master clock and the slave clock. The new
algorithm can not only be applied in a network
environment where the lengths of the optical
fibers are not symmetrical, but also can be
applied to an asymmetric optical link with an
optical amplifier or optical regenerator.
2 TIME SYNCHRONIZATION PROBLEM
OF ASYMMETRIC OPTICAL FIBER
LINK
The time transfer accuracy is affected not only
by the packet transmission delay variation, but
also by the asymmetry in transit delay in the
master-to-slave and slave-to-master directions.
Asymmetry of the communication link is

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Proceedings of The Second International Conference on Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, and Mechatronics, Philippines 2016

caused by asymmetric operation modes (e.g.,

asymmetric digital subscriber line, ADSL), and
asymmetric physical links (e.g., optical fiber or
twisted pair). Asymmetric optical links can be
divided into two cases: one is when the data
rate in the upstream and downstream directions
is not symmetrical, and the other is when the
physical length of the uplink and downlink is
not symmetrical. For the case of asymmetric
data rate, the transmission rate downstream is
usually greater than the transmission rate
upstream. Many studies have deeply examined
this case, and proposed various ways to
compensate for the offset error due to the
dynamically changing data rate of the link, and
to
enhance
the
accuracy
of
time
synchronization [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]. The
primary reason for asymmetric physical length
is that the uplink and downlink length are never
equal, even in the same fiber-optic cable. The
case of asymmetric physical length has received
much more thought and involved several
research achievements in recent years. Key
methods created by experts to address
asymmetric delay due to physical length
include the following:
(1) The optical time domain reflection (OTDR)
method, in which the transmission time delay is
measured using the back scattering effect of the
propagation of a light pulse in a fiber [9], [10];
(2) The method of switching two optical fibers
to reverse the direction of time transfer, in
which the communication mode of optical
signal transfer in a single fiber is half duplex
through using an optical switch[11], [12];
(3) The method of two-way optical time
transfer in a single fiber, which uses
Wavelength Division Multiplexer (WDM)
technology in a single fiber, to support bidirectional transmission for the measurement of
transmission time delay [13], [14].
Although each of the above methods for an
asymmetric optical link has its own unique
features, all of them have obvious shortfalls,
because all the existing methods measuring
asymmetric delay include a theoretical

ISBN: 978-1-941968-30-7 2016 SDIWC

presumption, that the optical signal allows twoway transport in a single fiber. Obviously, this
assumption is only theoretically true and not in
accord with actual conditions. None of the
existing methods could be applied to an
asymmetric optical link involving an optical
amplifier or optical regenerator. This article
discusses a time synchronization method
targeting the above aspects, to calculate the
time offset and enhance the accuracy of time
synchronization.
3 SOLUTION FOR ASYMMETRIC
DELAY OF FIBER LINK WITH OPTICAL
AMPLIFIER OR REGENERATOR
To extend the signal transmission distance,
optical amplifiers and optical regenerators are
most often used in optical fiber communication
systems for signal amplification and shaping.
An optical amplifier can be used not only in
long distance backbone networks, but also in
Wavelength Division Multiplexer (WDM)
systems. Because the optical signal can be
transmitted in only one direction when an
optical amplifier or optical regenerator is
applied (see Figure 1), none of the existing
methods for asymmetric delay are applicable,
and thus we need a new method to address this
case.

TX

EDFA
L1

EDFA

RX

Master
RX

Slave
REG

L2

REG

TX

Figure 1. Optical communication system with optical

amplifier and regenerator.

We know that IEEE 1588v2 is the precision

time protocol (PTP) between the master and
slave clocks for clock synchronization in
networked measurement and control systems. It
is a master-slave synchronization protocol.

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Proceedings of The Second International Conference on Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, and Mechatronics, Philippines 2016

After a master-slave hierarchy has been

established, timestamp messages are exchanged
between the masters and slaves, to enable the
slave to measure the time on the master clock.
In this paper, we examine the timestamp
mechanism
and
master-slave
clock
synchronization mechanism from IEEE
1588v2, and propose a new synchronization
algorithm based on an additional algorithm, to
accurately estimate the offset of the time
between the master clock and slave clock,
requiring no assumption of the symmetrical link
delay. The new algorithm can be applied to an
asymmetric optical link with optical amplifier
or regenerator. We call it the method of
wavelength conversion. Its principles and steps
are as follows:
Step 1: The master clock and slave clock
exchange time messages on the communication
path linking the master and the slave. First, the
master sends a time message over fiber link L1
to the slave using wavelength 1, and then, the
slave sends a time message over fiber link L2 to
the master using wavelength 1, as shown in
Figure 2. Thus, we can obtain the following
equations:
(1)
T 1 t2 t1 DL11_ MS offset
T 2 t4 t3 DL21_ SM offset

(2)

where t1,t3 are the respective timestamps

when the master and the slave send their time
messages; t4,t2 are the respective timestamps
when the master and the slave receive the time
messages; DL11_ MS is the link transmission delay
from the master to the slave, when transmitting
signal light of wavelength 1 over fiber link L1;
DL21_ SM is the link transmission delay from the

Master

Slave Timeline

t1
L1

t 2 t 1 =T1

DL1_ MS

DL21 _ SM

t2
t3
t 4 t 3 =T2

L2
t4

Figure 2. Schematic of step one describing the method

of wavelength conversion.

Step 2: First, the master sends a time message

over fiber link L1 to the slave using wavelength
2, and then, the slave sends a time message
over fiber link L2 to the master using
wavelength 2, as shown in Figure 3. Thus, we
can obtain the following equations:
(3)
T 3 t6 t5 DL12_ MS offset
T 4 t8 t7 DL22_ SM offset

(4)

where t5,t7 are the respective timestamps

when the master and the slave send their time
messages; t8,t6 are the respective timestamps
when the master and the slave receive the time
messages; DL12_ MS is the link transmission delay
from the master to the slave, when transmitting
signal light of wavelength 2 over fiber link L1;
and DL22_ SM is the link transmission delay from
the slave to the master, when transmitting
signal light of wavelength 2 over fiber link L2.
Master

Slave Timeline

t5
L1

t 6 t 5 =T3

DL1_ MS

slave to the master, when transmitting signal

light of wavelength 1 over fiber link L2; and
offset is the time synchronization deviation of
the slave clock with respect to the master clock.

DL22_ SM
L2

t6
t7
t 8 t 7 =T4

t8

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Proceedings of The Second International Conference on Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, and Mechatronics, Philippines 2016

Figure 3. Schematic of step two describing the method

of wavelength conversion.

Step 3: First, the master sends a time message

over fiber link L1 to the slave using wavelength
1, and then, the slave sends a time message
over fiber link L2 to the master using
wavelength 2, as shown in Figure 4. Thus, we
can obtain the following equations:
(5)
T 5 t10 t9 DL11_ MS offset
T 6 t12 t11 DL22_ SM offset

(6)

where t9,t11 are the respective timestamps

when the master and the slave send their time
messages; t12,t10 are the respective timestamps
when the master and the slave receive the time
messages; DL11_ MS is the link transmission delay

where t13,t15 are the respective timestamps

when the master and the slave send their time
messages; t16,t14 are the respective timestamps
when the master and the slave receive the time
messages; DL12_ MS is the link transmission delay
from the master to the slave, when transmitting
signal light of wavelength 2 over fiber link L1;
and DL21_ SM is the link transmission delay from
the slave to the master, when transmitting
signal light of wavelength 1 over fiber link L2.
Master
t 13
L1

Master

Slave Timeline

DL1_ MS

1
DL1_
MS

DL22_ SM
L2

t 10 t 9 =T5
t 10

L2

t 15
t 16 t 15 =T8

t 16

Figure 5. Schematic of step four describing the method

of wavelength conversion.

Eq.(10) can be obtained by adding Eq.(3) and

Eq.(4):
(10)
T 3 T 4 DL12_ MS DL22_ SM

t 11
t 12 t 11 =T6

t 12

Figure 4. Schematic of step four describing the method

of wavelength conversion.

Step 4: First, the master sends a time message

over fiber link L1 to the slave using wavelength
2, and then, the slave sends a time message
over fiber link L2 to the master using
wavelength 1, as shown in Figure 5. Thus, we
can obtain the following equations:
(7)
T 7 t14 t13 DL12_ MS offset
T 8 t16 t15 DL21_ SM offset

DL21 _ SM

t 14

Eq.(9) can be obtained by adding Eq.(1) and

Eq.(2):
(9)
T 1 T 2 DL11_ MS DL21_ SM

t9
L1

t 14 t 13 =T7

from the master to the slave, when transmitting

signal light of wavelength 1 over fiber link L1;
and DL22_ SM is the link transmission delay from
the slave to the master, when transmitting
signal light of wavelength 2 over fiber link L2.

Slave Timeline

(8)

ISBN: 978-1-941968-30-7 2016 SDIWC

Eq.(11) can be obtained by adding Eq.(5) and

Eq.(6):
(11)
T 5 T 6 DL11_ MS DL22_ SM
Eq.(12) can be obtained by adding Eq.(7) and
Eq.(8):
(12)
T 7 T 8 DL12_ MS DL21_ SM
It should be noted that the optical signals
propagation delay time is different when it is
transmitted in a fiber at different wavelengths.
Let us denote the ratio of propagation delay
time when the optical signals are transmitted in
fiber link L1 at wavelength 1 and at
wavelength 2 by R1, and let R2 be the ratio of

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Proceedings of The Second International Conference on Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, and Mechatronics, Philippines 2016

propagation delay time when the optical signals

are transmitted in fiber link L2 at wavelength
1 and at wavelength 2. Thus, we can obtain
the following equations:
(13)
R1 DL11_ MS / DL12_ MS
R 2 DL21_ SM / DL22_ SM

(14)

In practice, R1 and R2 can be considered equal

because L1 and L2 are usually two optical
fibers in the same fiber-optic cable. Let
R=R1=R2. Then R is given by
(15)
R DL11_ MS / DL12_ MS DL21_ SM / DL22_ SM
Subtracting Eq.(11) from Eq.(9) and using
Eq.(15), we have
(16)
(T 1 T 2) (T 5 T 6) ( R 1) DL22_ SM
Subtracting Eq.(12) from Eq.(9) and using
Eq.(15), we have
(17)
(T 1 T 2) (T 7 T 8) ( R 1) DL12_ MS
Dividing Eq.(16) by Eq.(17) yields
2
(T 1 T 2) (T 5 T 6) DL 2 _ SM

(T 1 T 2) (T 7 T 8) DL12_ MS

(18)

By substituting Eq.(18) into Eq.(10), the time

deviation of the slave clock with respect to the
master clock, can be obtained as follows:
offset
(T 3 T 4)(T 1 T 2) T 3(T 5 T 6) T 4(T 7 T 8)
2(T 1 T 2) (T 5 T 6) (T 7 T 8)

(19)

Now that we have derived the formula to

calculate the time offset of the slave clock with
respect to the master clock, based on Eq.(19),
we can calculate the correct value of the offset
in the slave clock for an asymmetric fiber link,
with an optical amplifier or optical regenerator.
The slave clock adjusts its time to minimize the
offset value, thereby synchronizing with the
master clock.
It is easy to determine from the derivation of
the formula, that the sequence of the four steps
(from step 1 to step 4) is not fixed. In general,
the four steps can be performed in any order
without changing or affecting the final deduced
result of Eq.(19).

ISBN: 978-1-941968-30-7 2016 SDIWC

4 CONCLUSION
The conventional IEEE 1588 synchronization
algorithm assumes symmetric communication
links, and makes errors in calculating the time
difference between the master clock and the
slave clock for asymmetric links. Most
approaches proposed to accurately estimate the
time offset between the master clock and slave
clock involve clock synchronization based on
measurement of the asymmetric link delay, but
these approaches are not suitable for an
asymmetric link involving an optical amplifier
or optical regenerator. In this paper, we have
proposed a new method to calculate the time
offset by changing the operating wavelengths of
the optical signal between the uplink and
downlink, and we have presented a time
synchronization algorithm based on the
timestamp mechanism and the master-slave
clock synchronization mechanism of IEEE
1588v2. Although the wavelength of the optical
signal is changed, the transmission direction of
the optical signal does not change. Therefore,
the new algorithm is fully applicable to the
asymmetric link with optical amplifier or
optical regenerator. It can be used not only in
an optical communication system where the
length of optical fiber is not symmetrical, but
also in a WDM system. The proposed method
and model can easily be integrated into IEEE
1588v2 or other similar protocols, as it only
influences the processing of the collected data,
not the basic mechanism of message exchange.
Our future work is to try the new method we
proposed in this paper to do an experiment.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author appreciates the financial support
from Science & Technology Department of
Sichuan Province (No. 2014GZ0015).
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Proceedings of The Second International Conference on Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, and Mechatronics, Philippines 2016

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