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.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses for establishing time at a first basestation, and synchronizing the first basestation with other basestations in a cellular network. The method may be performed using a mobile (cellular communication) station that includes a satellite position system receiver. One method comprises determining a location of the mobile station, determining a time indicator that represents a time-of-day at the mobile station, wherein the time indicator is determined relative to a signal available at the first basestation, transmitting at least one of the position information and location, and transmitting the time indicator from the mobile station. The time indicator and at least one of the position information and the location are used to establish a time at the first basestation such that the first basestation is synchronized to other basestations in the cellular communication system. Other methods and apparatuses are also described for synchronizing basestations in a cellular network.
22 Citations
18 Claims
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
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:
-
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)
-
-
11. A basestation apparatus for use in a cellular communication system, said basestation apparatus comprising:
-
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)
-
-
16. A mobile cellular communication station comprising:
-
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)
-
Specification