Concluding Validity of Uplink Synchronization Parameter

• US 20090141701A1
• Filed: 03/26/2007
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Dalsgaard, Lars
• Granted Patent: US 9,634,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/350
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2681 Synchronisation of a mobile station with one base station
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0632 Synchronisation of packets and cells, e.g. transmission of voice via a packet network, circuit emulation service [CES] queuing arrangements in packet switching elements H04L49/90; synchronising systems for the synchronous transmission of a pulse code modulated video signal with one or more other pulse code modulated signals H04N7/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0682 by delay compensation, e.g. by compensation of propagation delay or variations thereof, by ranging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0045 compensating for timing error by altering transmission time

Abstract

Concluding the validity of an uplink synchronization parameter, such as a timing advance, in a packet-switched radio system. The method includes: detecting (802) an uplink synchronization parameter; measuring (804) an interval from the detection of the uplink synchronization parameter; and comparing (806, 808) the measured interval with a predetermined threshold and, if the measured interval is shorter than the predetermined threshold, concluding (810) that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is still valid, or else concluding (812) that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is no more valid.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a detector detecting an uplink synchronization parameter;

a time measurement unit measuring an interval from the detection of the uplink synchronization parameter by the detector; and

an evaluator comparing the measured interval with a predetermined threshold and, if the measured interval is shorter than the predetermined threshold, concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is still valid, or else concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is no more valid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the uplink synchronization parameter comprises a timing advance parameter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the evaluator adjusts the predetermined threshold on the basis of an estimated movement of user equipment of the uplink.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a memory storing history information on changes in the uplink synchronization parameter, the evaluator adjusting the predetermined threshold on the basis of the history information.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises user equipment.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a receiver receiving downlink signaling comprising the uplink synchronization parameter.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the receiver also receives downlink signaling comprising the predetermined threshold.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the receiver operates in a discontinuous reception mode, and the evaluator operates after the discontinuous operation mode ends.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a node B.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a transmitter transmitting downlink the decided validity.

11. An arrangement comprising:

means for detecting an uplink synchronization parameter;

means for measuring an interval from the detection of the uplink synchronization parameter by the means for detecting; and

means for comparing the measured interval with a predetermined threshold and, if the measured interval is shorter than the predetermined threshold, concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is still valid, or else concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is no more valid.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the uplink synchronization parameter comprises a timing advance parameter.

13. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the means for comparing adjusts the predetermined threshold on the basis of an estimated movement of user equipment of the uplink.

14. The arrangement of claim 11, further comprising means for storing history information on the uplink synchronization parameter changing, the means for comparing adjusting the predetermined threshold on the basis of the history information.

15. The arrangement of claim 11, further comprising means for receiving downlink signaling comprising the uplink synchronization parameter.

16. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein the means for receiving also receives downlink signaling comprising the predetermined threshold.

17. The arrangement of claim 15, wherein the means for receiving operates in a discontinuous reception mode, and the means for comparing operates after the discontinuous operation mode ends.

18. The arrangement of claim 11, further comprising means for transmitting downlink the decided validity.

19. User equipment comprising:

a detector detecting an uplink synchronization parameter;

a time measurement unit measuring an interval from the detection of the uplink synchronization parameter by the detector; and

an evaluator comparing the measured interval with a predetermined threshold and, if the measured interval is shorter than the predetermined threshold, concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is still valid, or else concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is no more valid.

20. The user equipment of claim 19, wherein the uplink synchronization parameter comprises a timing advance parameter.

21. The user equipment of claim 19, wherein the evaluator adjusts the predetermined threshold on the basis of an estimated movement of the user equipment of the uplink.

22. The user equipment of claim 19, further comprising a memory storing history information on changes in the uplink synchronization parameter, the evaluator adjusting the predetermined threshold on the basis of the history information.

23. The user equipment of claim 19, further comprising a receiver receiving downlink signaling comprising the uplink synchronization parameter.

24. The user equipment of claim 23, wherein the receiver also receives downlink signaling comprising the predetermined threshold.

25. The user equipment of claim 23, wherein the receiver operates in a discontinuous reception mode, and the evaluator operates after the discontinuous operation mode ends.

26. A node B comprising:

a detector detecting an uplink synchronization parameter;

a time measurement unit measuring an interval from the detection of the uplink synchronization parameter by the detector; and

an evaluator comparing the measured interval with a predetermined threshold and, if the measured interval is shorter than the predetermined threshold, concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is still valid, or else concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is no more valid.

27. The node B of claim 26, wherein the uplink synchronization parameter comprises a timing advance parameter.

28. The node B of claim 26, wherein the evaluator adjusts the predetermined threshold on the basis of an estimated movement of user equipment of the uplink.

29. The node B of claim 26, further comprising a memory storing history information on changes in the uplink synchronization parameter, the evaluator adjusting the predetermined threshold on the basis of the history information.

30. The node B of claim 26, further comprising a transmitter transmitting downlink the decided validity.

31. A method comprising:

detecting an uplink synchronization parameter;

measuring an interval from the detection of the uplink synchronization parameter; and

comparing the measured interval with a predetermined threshold and, if the measured interval is shorter than the predetermined threshold, concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is still valid, or else concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is no more valid.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the uplink synchronization parameter comprises a timing advance parameter.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

adjusting the predetermined threshold on the basis of an estimated movement of user equipment of the uplink.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

storing history information on changes in the uplink synchronization parameter; and

adjusting the predetermined threshold on the basis of the history information.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

receiving downlink signaling comprising the uplink synchronization parameter.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

receiving downlink signaling comprising the predetermined threshold.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the validity is decided after a discontinuous operation mode of user equipment of the uplink ends.

38. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

transmitting downlink the decided validity.

39. A computer program product embodied in a distribution medium and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process, the process comprising:

detecting an uplink synchronization parameter;

measuring an interval from the detection of the uplink synchronization parameter; and

comparing the measured interval with a predetermined threshold and, if the measured interval is shorter than the predetermined threshold, concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is still valid, or otherwise concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is no more valid.

40. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the uplink synchronization parameter comprises a timing advance parameter.

41. The computer program product of claim 39, further comprising:

adjusting the predetermined threshold on the basis of an estimated movement of user equipment of the uplink.

42. The computer program product of claim 39, further comprising:

storing history information on changes in the uplink synchronization parameter; and

adjusting the predetermined threshold on the basis of the history information.

43. The computer program product of claim 39, further comprising:

receiving downlink signaling comprising the uplink synchronization parameter.

44. The computer program product of claim 39, further comprising:

receiving downlink signaling comprising the predetermined threshold.

45. The computer program product of claim 39, wherein the validity is decided after a discontinuous operation mode of user equipment of the uplink ends.

46. The computer program product of claim 39, further comprising:

transmitting the decided validity downlink.

47. An integrated circuit comprising:

a detector detecting an uplink synchronization parameter;

a time measurement unit measuring an interval from the detection of the uplink synchronization parameter by the detector; and

an evaluator comparing the measured interval with a predetermined threshold and, if the measured interval is shorter than the predetermined threshold, concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is still valid, or else concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is no more valid.

48. The integrated circuit of claim 47, wherein the uplink synchronization parameter comprises a timing advance parameter.

49. The integrated circuit of claim 47, wherein the evaluator adjusts the predetermined threshold on the basis of an estimated movement of user equipment of the uplink.

50. The integrated circuit of claim 47, further comprising a memory storing history information on changes in the uplink synchronization parameter, and the evaluator adjusts the predetermined threshold on the basis of the history information.

51. A processor comprising:

a detector detecting an uplink synchronization parameter;

a time measurement unit measuring an interval from the detection of the uplink synchronization parameter by the detector; and

an evaluator comparing the measured interval with a predetermined threshold and, if the measured interval is shorter than the predetermined threshold, concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is still valid, or else concluding that the detected uplink synchronization parameter is no more valid.