Method and system for link synchronization in an LTE-TDD architecture

• US 10,455,535 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2017
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dali Systems Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Dali Systems Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Wan-Jong, Stapleton, Shawn Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Malek, Leila
• Application Number:
  US15/820,299
• Publication Number:
  US 20180227870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 375267
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/04 using two or more spaced independent antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/03 Shaping networks in transmitter or receiver, e.g. adaptive shaping networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2656 Frame synchronisation, e.g. packet synchronisation, time division duplex [TDD] switching point detection or subframe synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 27/2675 Pilot or known symbols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/14 Two-way operation using the same type of signal, i.e. duplex
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/1469 using time-sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0095 estimated based on signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/085 Access point devices with remote components

Abstract

A method of detecting a synchronization switching pulse using a power detector in a time division duplexing (TDD) system includes receiving an input signal, detecting a power level associated with the input signal using a digital power meter, and determining a configuration associated with the input signal. The method also includes determining that a pulse width associated with the input signal is greater than a threshold, determining an offset associated with a special subframe configuration, and generating an estimated sync pulse. The method further includes forming a regenerated sync pulse, determining an error between the estimated sync pulse and the regenerated sync pulse, determining that the error is less than a threshold, and providing a lock detect.

Claims

1. A method of generating a sync switching pulse in a time division duplexing (TDD) system, the method comprising:

receiving an input signal at an input port of a digital power meter;

receiving, at the digital power meter, a power threshold level;

determining, by the digital power meter, that a power level associated with the input signal exceeds the power threshold level;

generating the sync switching pulse in response to the power level associated with the input signal;

determining an error based on the input signal and the sync switching pulse;

generating a reset pulse based on the error; and

shifting the sync switching pulse in response to the reset pulse.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the sync switching pulse is associated with a logic high; and

transmitting a signal associated with the input signal on a downlink path.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the sync switching pulse is associated with a logic low; and

transmitting a signal associated with the input signal on an uplink path.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the input signal is from a base station.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the sync switching pulse in response to the power level associated with the input signal further comprises determining, for the input signal, one or more pulse widths.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of the one or more pulse widths is greater than a pulse width threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the sync switching pulse in response to the power level associated with the input signal further comprises:

determining a special subframe configuration associated with the input signal; and

forming a regenerated sync pulse based on the special subframe configuration associated with the input signal; and

providing the regenerated sync pulse as the sync switching pulse.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the error is less than a predefined threshold; and

provide a lock detect signal.

9. A system for generating synchronized signals, the system comprising:

an input port configured to receive an input signal,

a digital power meter configured to determine that a power level associated with the input signal exceeds a power threshold level and output an estimated sync pulse;

an edge detector configured to detect a number of rising edges and a number of falling edges associated with the estimated sync pulse;

a counter configured to determine location data associated with the number of rising edges and the number of falling edges;

a memory configured to store the number of rising edges, the number of falling edges, and the location data;

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the number of rising edges, the number of falling edges, and the location data are processed using a sync detection algorithm; and

a sync pulse regenerator coupled to the processor and configured to generate a sync pulse in response to the number of rising edges, the number of falling edges, and the location data.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising:

a second sync pulse regenerator coupled to the processor and configured to generate a remote sync pulse in response to the number of rising edges, the number of falling edges, and the location data.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising an error detector coupled to the sync pulse regenerator and the digital power meter, wherein the error detector is configured to determine an error based on the estimated sync pulse and the sync pulse.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the error detector is coupled to the processor and configured to determine the error is below an error threshold and output a lock enable signal to the processor.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the error detector is coupled to the processor and configured to determine the error exceeds an error threshold, and wherein the processor is configured to cause the sync pulse regenerator to shift the sync pulse in response to the error.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the sync pulse regenerator is operable to generate a Time Division Duplexing-Long Term Evolution (TDD-LTE) frame structure defined sync pulse with predefined time durations and a predetermined offset time.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the input signal is received at a base station input port.