SYNCHRONIZATION INDICATION IN NETWORKS

• US 20100156710A1
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Halivaara, Ismo, Wirola, Lauri, Syrjarinne, Jari
• Granted Patent: US 8,625,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.310
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/254 relating to Doppler shift of satellite signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/256 relating to timing, e.g. time of week, code phase, timing offset
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/00 Synchronisation arrangements

Abstract

Systems and methods provide a network'"'"'s synchronization status to a terminal when the terminal receives a transmission from the network. This network synchronization status can be indicated in accordance with various methods including, but not limited to the following: with a status flag in a network message; in a network capability indication; in a network'"'"'s positioning capability indication; cell/network time relation information; in a time relation information of different Radio Access Technologies; and implicitly with another parameter and/or by a request for a certain measurement. When the network'"'"'s synchronization status is determined, accurate time information/time assistance data can be maintained at the terminal.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a transmission from a network;

determining a synchronization status of the network from the transmission; and

maintaining accurate time based on the synchronization status of the network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission is received at a global navigation satellite systems receiver.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises at least one of a synchronous and asynchronous network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization status of the network is indicated in the transmission via a status flag, and wherein the transmission comprises a network message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization status of the network is indicated in the transmission via a network capability indication.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization status of the network is indicated in the transmission via a network positioning capability indication.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization status of the network is indicated in the transmission via at least one of cell and network global navigation satellite systems time relation information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization status of the network is indicated in the transmission via time relation information associated with different radio access technologies.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising, utilizing the synchronization status of the network to enable “

pseudo-synchronization”

of the accurate time between the network and a second network, wherein the network operates using a first radio access technology and the second network operates using a second radio access technology.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization status of the network is indicated in the transmission implicitly with at least one of a parameter and a measurement request.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the parameter request comprises a request for assistance data, and wherein the network comprises a synchronized network.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the measurement request comprises a request for one of an observed time difference of arrival and a time of arrival, and wherein the network comprises a synchronized network.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission comprises one of a broadcast transmission and a point-to-point signaling transmission.

14. A computer program product, embodied on a computer-readable medium, comprising computer code configured to perform the processes of claim 1.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

an electronic device configured to;

receive a transmission from a network;

determine a synchronization status of the network from the transmission; and

maintain accurate time based on the synchronization status of the network.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the electronic device comprises a global navigation satellite systems receiver.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the network comprises at least one of a synchronous and asynchronous network.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the synchronization status of the network is indicated in the transmission via a status flag, and wherein the transmission comprises a network message.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the synchronization status of the network is indicated in the transmission via a network capability indication.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the synchronization status of the network is indicated in the transmission via a network positioning capability indication.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the synchronization status of the network is indicated in the transmission via at least one of cell and network global navigation satellite systems time relation information.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the synchronization status of the network is indicated in the transmission via time relation information associated with different radio access technologies.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the electronic device is further configured to utilize the synchronization status of the network to enable “

pseudo-synchronization”

of the accurate time between the network and a second network, wherein the network operates using a first radio access technology and the second network operates using a second radio access technology.

24. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the synchronization status of the network is indicated in the transmission implicitly with at least one of a parameter and a measurement request.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the parameter request comprises a request for assistance data, and wherein the network comprises a synchronized network.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the measurement request comprises a request for one of an observed time difference of arrival and a time of arrival, and wherein the network comprises a synchronized network.

27. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the transmission comprises one of a broadcast transmission and a point-to-point signaling transmission.