Method, apparatus and system for GPS time synchronization using cellular signal bursts

• US 20060234724A1
• Filed: 06/14/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation), Works Bell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Valio, Harri, Alanen, Kimmo, Syrjarinne, Jari
• Granted Patent: US 9,341,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/03 Cooperating elements; Interaction or communication between different cooperating elements or between cooperating elements and receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/23 Testing, monitoring, correcting or calibrating of receiver elements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/235 Calibration of receiver components
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/256 relating to timing, e.g. time of week, code phase, timing offset
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 5/002 brought into action by radio
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 7/02 by radio
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/02 the radio signal being sent by a satellite, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/06 Decoding time data; Circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 20/18 Decoding time data; Circuits therefor

Abstract

A system, apparatus and corresponding method by which to synchronize to a time reference a main module of a device—a main module such as global positioning system (GPS) receiver—using a cellular communication signal received by a cellular module also included in the device. To synchronize the main module to the reference time, the invention provides a method including the steps of: having the cellular module respond to the cellular communication signal by providing to a clock module of the main module a trigger pulse derived from the data component of the cellular communication signal, and also by providing to the main module information relating the trigger pulse to a universal time. The main module is then able to resolve a value for time based on the information relating the trigger pulse to a universal time and the trigger pulse.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

responding to a cellular communication signal by providing a trigger pulse derived from the cellular communication signal;

providing the trigger pulse to a hardware path;

accessing a signal indicating local time;

responding to the trigger pulse provided via the hardware path and responding to the signal indicating local time, by providing a local time value for receipt of the trigger pulse.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the hardware path is configured to communicate the trigger signal without substantial random delay.

3. An apparatus, comprising:

means, responsive to a cellular communication signal, for providing a trigger pulse derived from the cellular communication signal;

means for communicating the trigger pulse to a trigger register; and

means, responsive to the trigger pulse and to a signal indicating local time, for providing a local time indicative of when the trigger pulse is received.

4. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the means for communicating the trigger pulse is configured to do so without substantial random delay.

5. An apparatus, comprising:

a cellular module, responsive to a cellular communication signal, for providing a trigger pulse derived from the cellular communication signal;

a hardware path, for communicating the trigger pulse to a trigger register; and

the trigger register, responsive to the trigger pulse and to a signal indicating local time, for providing a local time indicative of when the trigger pulse is received.

6. An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the hardware path is configured to communicate the trigger signal without substantial random delay.

7. A system comprising:

an apparatus as in claim 5;

and

a cellular base station, for providing the cellular communication signal.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the apparatus further comprises a non-cellular module, and wherein the trigger register is a component of the non-cellular module, and further wherein the non-cellular module is a global positioning system module providing functionality for operation as a positioning receiver, and the non-cellular module is further responsive to a positioning satellite navigation signal.