Synchronization method and synchronization arrangement

• US 20020118669A1
• Filed: 03/12/2002
• Published: 08/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Groz-Beckert KG, Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kauhanen, Jouni
• Granted Patent: US 7,212,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/350
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2693 Centralised synchronisation, i.e. using external universal time reference, e.g. by using a global positioning system [GPS] or by distributing time reference over the wireline network
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0602 Systems characterised by the synchronising information used
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and arrangement for synchronizing a base station in a radio system. In the solution, a synchronization signal is transmitted in a cable for transferring electric power, from which cable the base station filters the synchronization signal and synchronizes its operation according to the synchronization signal.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing a base station in a radio system, the base station being connected to a cable for transferring electric power, the method comprising

supplying a synchronization signal to the cable for transmitting electric power, from which cable the base station filters the synchronization signal and synchronizes its operation according to the synchronization signal.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cabling for transmitting electric power is a public electrical network, to which the synchronization signal is supplied.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, supplying the synchronization signal from a public telephone network to the cable for transferring electric power.

4. A method as claimed in claim 2, receiving by the base station both the electric power necessary for itself and the electric power of the synchronization signal from the cable for transferring electric power.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, receiving a GPS signal by a GPS receiver and generating the synchronization signal by means of the GPS signal, and supplying the synchronization signal to the cable for transferring electric power.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the synchronization signal also comprises information on the timing of the frames of the data transmission.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, indicating the boundary of a frame by a change in the frequency of the synchronization signal.

8. Arrangement for synchronizing a base station in a radio system, the base station being connected to a cable for transferring electric power, wherein the arrangement is arranged to supply a synchronization signal to the cable for transmitting electric power, the base station being arranged to receive the synchronization signal from the cable and to synchronize its operation according to the synchronization signal.

9. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the cable for transferring electric power is a public electrical network and the arrangement is arranged to supply the synchronization signal to the public electrical network.

10. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the arrangement is arranged to supply the synchronization signal from a public telephone network to the cable for transferring electric power.

11. An arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the base station receives both the electric power necessary for itself and the electric power of the synchronization signal from the cable for transferring electric power.

12. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the arrangement comprises a GPS receiver for receiving a GPS signal, and the arrangement is arranged to generate the synchronization signal by means of the GPS signal, the arrangement being arranged to supply the synchronization signal to the cable for transferring electric power.

13. An arrangement as claimed in claim 8, wherein the arrangement is arranged to generate a synchronization signal which also comprises information on the timing of the frames of the data transmission.

14. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein in order to time the frames, the arrangement is arranged to indicate a boundary of a frame by a change in the frequency of the synchronization signal.