BASE STATION SYNCHRONIZATION

• US 20080227474A1
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Zeira, Eldad, Dick, Stephen G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,924,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/502
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7073 Synchronisation aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2201/70702 Intercell-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2668 Arrangements for Wireless Code-Division Multiple Access [CDMA] System Synchronisation, for code acquisition H04B1/7075, for code tracking H04B1/7085
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2687 Inter base stations synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/269 Master/slave synchronisation
• 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: H04B 7/2696 Over the air autonomous synchronisation, e.g. by monitoring network activity H04B7/2693 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0641 Change of the master or reference, e.g. take-over or failure of the master
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 Mutual synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0065 using measurement of signal travel time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0075 based on arrival time vs. expected arrival time

Abstract

A method, implemented in a user equipment (UE), of maintaining base station synchronization, comprises receiving a measurement message from a radio network controller (RNC) directing the UE to measure a time difference of arrival (TDOA) between signals transmitted from a first and second base station. The UE receives a transmission from the first and second base stations and measures the TDOA of the transmission from the first and second base station. The UE transmits the measurement of the TDOA of the transmission from the first base station to the first base station, and the measurement of the TDOA of the transmission from the second base station to the second base station.

Claims

1. A method, implemented in a user equipment (UE), of maintaining base station synchronization, comprising:

receiving a measurement message from a radio network controller (RNC) directing the UE to measure a time difference of arrival (TDOA) between signals transmitted from a first and second base station;

receiving a transmission from the first and second base stations;

measuring the TDOA of the transmission from the first and second base station; and

transmitting the measurement of the TDOA of the transmission from the first base station to the first base station, and the measurement of the TDOA of the transmission from the second base station to the second base station.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first base station is the base station of the UE.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the measurement message includes an indication of which base station the UE is to measure as the second base station.

4. A user equipment (UE), comprising:

an antenna configured to receive a measurement message from a radio network controller (RNC) directing the UE to measure a time difference of arrival (TDOA) between signals transmitted from a first and second base station and to receive a transmission from the first and second base stations; and

a measurement device configured to measure the TDOA of the transmission from the first and second base station.

5. The UE of claim 4 wherein the antenna is further configured to transmit the measurement of the TDOA of the transmission from the first base station to the first base station, and the measurement of the TDOA of the transmission from the second base station to the second base station.

6. The UE of claim 5, further comprising an isolator configured to receive from the antenna, the measurement message from the RNC directing the UE to measure the TDOA between signals transmitted from the first and second base station and to receive a transmission from the first and second base stations.

7. The UE of claim 6 wherein the isolator is further configured to control the antenna to to transmit the measurement of the TDOA of the transmission from the first base station to the first base station, and the measurement of the TDOA of the transmission from the second base station to the second base station.