Precision packet-based frequency transfer based on oversampling

Frequency synchronization of a distributed measurement system requires the transfer of an accurate frequency reference to all nodes. The use of a general-purpose packet-based network for this aim is analyzed in this paper, where oversampling is considered as a means to counter the effects of packet delay variation on time accuracy. A comprehensive analysis that includes the stability of the local clock is presented and shows that frequency transfer through a packet network of this kind is feasible, with an accuracy level that can be of interest to a number of distributed measurement applications.