Minimizing the Impact of Self Synchronization on Wireless Communication Devices

• US 20140064265A1
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Palanki, Ravi, Gheoghiu, Valentin A.
• Application Number:
  US14/069,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20140064265A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/350
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0638 Clock or time synchronisation among nodes; Internode synchronisation synchronization for ring networks H04L12/422; data switching networks with synchronous transmission H04L12/43
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0015 one node acting as a reference for the others
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 Mutual synchronization

Abstract

A method for self synchronization by a base station is described. Network information is sent to a wireless communication device. The network information indicates a first time period. The first time period is a period of silence by the base station. Synchronization signals are monitored during the first time period. Monitoring synchronization signals includes not transmitting.

Claims

1. A base station configured for use in a wireless communication network, the base station comprising:

means for monitoring one or more synchronization signals; and

means for determining a hierarchical level of the base station in a synchronization hierarchy of base stations of the wireless communication network.

2. The base station of claim 1, further comprising:

means for acquiring synchronization based on the one or more synchronization signals; and

wherein the means for determining is configured to determine the hierarchical level based on the one or more synchronization signals used by the means for acquiring to acquire synchronization.

3. The base station of claim 1, wherein the one or more synchronization signals are received from one or more other respective base stations, and wherein the one or more synchronization signals contain respective data to indicate one or more respective hierarchical levels of the one or more respective base stations in the synchronization hierarchy.

4. The base station of claim 3, wherein the means for determining is configured to increment a hierarchical level indicated by the data to obtain a hierarchical level of the base station.

5. The base station of claim 1, wherein the base station is configured to refrain from transmitting during at least one time period, and wherein the means for monitoring is configured to monitor the one or more synchronization signals during the at least one time period.

6. The base station of claim 5, wherein the at least one time period corresponds to at least one time period during which one or more other base stations of at least one level of the synchronization hierarchy greater than a hierarchical level of the base station transmit the respective one or more synchronization signals.

7. The base station of claim 1, further comprising:

means for transmitting a synchronization signal during a time period associated with the hierarchical level of the base station.

8. A method of synchronizing a base station in a wireless network, the method comprising:

monitoring, at the base station, one or more synchronization signals; and

determining, at the base station, a hierarchical level of the base station in a synchronization hierarchy of base stations of the wireless communication network.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

acquiring synchronization based on the one or more synchronization signals; and

wherein the determining comprises determining the hierarchical level based on the one or more synchronization signals used in the acquiring to acquire synchronization.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more synchronization signals are received from one or more other respective base stations, and wherein the one or more synchronization signals contain respective data to indicate one or more respective hierarchical levels of the one or more respective base stations in the synchronization hierarchy.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the determining includes incrementing a hierarchical level indicated by the data to obtain a hierarchical level of the base station.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

refraining from transmitting during at least one time period, and

wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring the one or more synchronization signals during the at least one time period.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one time period corresponds to at least one time period during which one or more other base stations of at least one level of the synchronization hierarchy greater than a hierarchical level of the base station transmit the respective one or more synchronization signals.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

transmitting a synchronization signal during a time period associated with the hierarchical level of the base station.

15. A base station configured for use in a wireless communication network, comprising:

a processor; and

memory in electronic communication with the processor and containing instructions that are executable by the processor to implement operations including;

monitoring, at the base station, one or more synchronization signals; and

determining, at the base station, a hierarchical level of the base station in a synchronization hierarchy of base stations of the wireless communication network.

16. The base station of claim 15, wherein the operations further include:

acquiring synchronization based on the one or more synchronization signals; and

wherein the determining comprises determining the hierarchical level based on the one or more synchronization signals used in the acquiring to acquire synchronization.

17. The base station of claim 15, wherein the one or more synchronization signals are received from one or more other respective base stations, and wherein the one or more synchronization signals contain respective data to indicate one or more respective hierarchical levels of the one or more respective base stations in the synchronization hierarchy.

18. The base station of claim 17, wherein the determining includes incrementing a hierarchical level indicated by the data to obtain a hierarchical level of the base station.

19. The base station of claim 15, wherein the operations further include:

refraining from transmitting during at least one time period, and

wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring the one or more synchronization signals during the at least one time period.

20. The base station of claim 19, wherein the at least one time period corresponds to at least one time period during which one or more other base stations of at least one level of the synchronization hierarchy greater than a hierarchical level of the base station transmit the respective one or more synchronization signals.

21. The base station of claim 15, wherein the operations further include:

transmitting a synchronization signal during a time period associated with the hierarchical level of the base station.

22. A computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions thereon that, if executed in a base station of a wireless communication network, result in the implementation of operations comprising:

monitoring, at the base station, one or more synchronization signals; and

determining, at the base station, a hierarchical level of the base station in a synchronization hierarchy of base stations of the wireless communication network.

23. The computer-program product of claim 22, wherein the operations further comprise:

acquiring synchronization based on the one or more synchronization signals; and

wherein the determining comprises determining the hierarchical level based on the one or more synchronization signals used in the acquiring to acquire synchronization.

24. The computer-program product of claim 22, wherein the one or more synchronization signals are received from one or more other respective base stations, and wherein the one or more synchronization signals contain respective data to indicate one or more respective hierarchical levels of the one or more respective base stations in the synchronization hierarchy.

25. The computer-program product of claim 24, wherein the determining includes incrementing a hierarchical level indicated by the data to obtain a hierarchical level of the base station.

26. The computer-program product of claim 22, wherein the operations further comprise:

refraining from transmitting during at least one time period, and

wherein the monitoring comprises monitoring the one or more synchronization signals during the at least one time period.

27. The computer-program product of claim 26, wherein the at least one time period corresponds to at least one time period during which one or more other base stations of at least one level of the synchronization hierarchy greater than a hierarchical level of the base station transmit the respective one or more synchronization signals.

28. The computer-program product of claim 22, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting a synchronization signal during a time period associated with the hierarchical level of the base station.