Time-transfer performance in burst-mode communication systems

Abstract

This paper studies the performance of the clock transfer scheme for burst-mode communication systems for which data are received during short, equally spaced intervals. Its main focus is on satellite-based time-division multiple-access (TDMA) communication systems with data regeneration and switching onboard the satellite, although the results apply to other TDMA systems as well. The system reference clock is generated onboard from an incoming, very stable ground source, based on a burst-mode demodulator that extracts the clock from a discontinuous modulated carrier due to the bursty nature of TDMA signals. If good enough, this onboard regenerated clock avoids the use of bulky and expensive clocks in the satellite payload and can act as the master clock of the TDMA system.