Methods and apparatuses for using mobile GPS receivers to synchronize basestations in cellular networks
First Claim
1. A method for establishing time at a first basestation in a cellular communication system, said method performed in a mobile cellular, communication station, said method comprising:
- determining a position information of said mobile cellular communication station, wherein a location of said mobile cellular communication station is determined from said position information;
determining a time indicator which represents a time-of-day at said mobile cellular communication station, wherein said time indicator is determined relative to a signal which is available at said first basestation;
transmitting at least one of said position information and said location, and transmitting said time indicator from said mobile cellular communication station, said time indicator and at least one of said position information and said location being used to establish a time at said first basestation such that said first basestation is synchronized to other basestations in said cellular communication system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for synchronizing basestations in a cellular network. One exemplary method performs time synchronization between at least two basestations, a first basestation and a second basestation, of a cellular communication system. In this exemplary method, a first time-of-day and a first geographical location of a first mobile cellular receiver station (MS) are determined from a first satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver which is co-located with the first MS, and the first time-of-day and first location are transmitted by the first MS to a first basestation which determines a time-of-day of the first basestation from the first time-of-day and first location and from a known location of the first basestation. Also in this exemplary method, a second time-of-day and a second geographical location of a second MS are determined from a second SPS receiver which is co-located with the second MS, and the second time-of-day and the second location are transmitted to a second basestation which determines a time-of-day of the second basestation from the second time-of-day and the second location and a known location of the second basestation. Other methods and apparatuses are also described for synchronizing basestations in a cellular network.
30 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for establishing time at a first basestation in a cellular communication system, said method performed in a mobile cellular, communication station, said method comprising:
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determining a position information of said mobile cellular communication station, wherein a location of said mobile cellular communication station is determined from said position information;
determining a time indicator which represents a time-of-day at said mobile cellular communication station, wherein said time indicator is determined relative to a signal which is available at said first basestation;
transmitting at least one of said position information and said location, and transmitting said time indicator from said mobile cellular communication station, said time indicator and at least one of said position information and said location being used to establish a time at said first basestation such that said first basestation is synchronized to other basestations in said cellular communication system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for establishing time at a first basestation in a cellular communication system, said method being performed remotely relative to a mobile cellular communication station, said method comprising:
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receiving a time indicator, which represents a time-of-day at said mobile cellular communication station, from said mobile cellular communication station, wherein said time indicator is determined relative to a signal which is available to said first basestation;
determining a time at said first basestation from said time indicator such that said first basestation is synchronized to other basestations. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A basestation apparatus for use in a cellular communication system, said basestation apparatus comprising:
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a wireless cellular transceiver;
a network interface coupled to said wireless cellular transceiver; and
a clock coupled to said wireless cellular transceiver, said wireless cellular transceiver receiving a time indicator from a remote mobile cellular communication station which represents a time-of-day at said mobile cellular communication station, wherein said time indicator is determined relative to a signal which is available to said basestation apparatus and wherein a time for said clock is determined from said time indicator such that said basestation apparatus is synchronized to other basestations. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A mobile cellular communication station comprising:
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a wireless cellular transceiver;
a satellite positioning system (SPS) receiver coupled to said wireless cellular transceiver, said SPS receiver determining a time indicator which represents a time-of-day at said mobile cellular communication station and which is determined relative to a signal which is available to a basestation, and wherein said wireless cellular transceiver transmits said time indicator to said basestation and wherein said time indicator is used to establish a time at said basestation such that said basestation is synchronized to other basestations which are capable of wireless communication with said mobile cellular communication station. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification