Device and method for maintaining synchronization and frequency stability in a wireless telecommunication system

• US 5,960,331 A
• Filed: 07/01/1996
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Korsky, Vincent, Sehmar, Harbans, Foerster, Ronald, Payne, Warren, Petersen, Charles, Weir, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth, David R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABEBE, DANIEL DEMELASH
• Application Number:
  US08/673,031
• Time in Patent Office: 1,184 Days
• Field of Search: 455/265, 455/554, 455/555, 455/119, 455/75, 455/208
• US Class Current: 455/75
• CPC Class Codes: H03L 7/00 Automatic control of frequency or phase; Synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0685 Clock or time synchronisation in a node; Intranode synchronisation

Abstract

Techniques employed to guarantee isochronous operation of a wireless system to within Federal Communication Commission, Unlicensed Personal Communication System (UPCS) requirements. Synchronization and frequency stability is tracked and maintained for more than one frequency references of stratum 3 or better in a wireless telecommunication system.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining frequency stability in a wireless device of a telecommunication system which uses a network clock for normal operation thereof and in which the wireless communication device requires a clock input with a frequency more stable than that of a PEX system clock, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) providing an input to the wireless communication device from the PBX system clock;

(b) operating the wireless communication device with reference to a precision oscillator which has a frequency stability which meets or exceeds the frequency stability requirement of the wireless communication device;

(c) frequency synchronizing PBX system clock to network clock; and

(d) evaluating the frequency stability of the PBX system clock input with reference to the precision oscillator, and based on the evaluation,

(1) maintaining frequency stability of the wireless clock to the PBX system clock input while the frequency stability of the PBX system clock input meets the frequency stability requirement of the wireless communication device, and

(2) not maintaining frequency stability of the wireless clock to the PBX system clock input while the frequency stability of the PBX system clock input does not meet the frequency stability requirement of the wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the telecommunication system has two clock sources, first is a PBX PLL for controlling the frequency of the PBX system clock to the network clock and wherein the second is the wireless clock that has a frequency stability evaluator, frequency synchronizer and precision oscillator for controlling the frequency thereof, and wherein the step of evaluating the frequency stability of the PBX system clock input with reference to the network clock and a further step of using the PBX system clock with reference to the precision oscillator to derive the wireless clock stability.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of periodically using the stability evaluator to direct the frequency synchronizer to adjust the frequency of the wireless clock communication device by increasing or decreasing the period of a cycle of the wireless clock, while maintaining the frequency stability of the wireless communication device, relative to the PBX system clock thus minimizing frame slips between the PBX system and the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of providing a controlled slip of a frame of telecommunication data before a condition arises wherein an elastic store PBX side counters and the wireless side counters address the same memory space.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the frequency stability requirement of the wireless communication device is better than plus or minus 4.6 parts per million and wherein the step of operating the wireless communication device with reference to a precision oscillator comprises the step of providing a temperature compensated crystal oscillator which has a frequency stability of better than plus or minus one part per million.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the frequency stability of the wireless communication device is determined in which the frequency stability evaluator tracks the PBX PLL or network clock while the frequency stability is within the limits of the wireless communication device requirements.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprises the ability of the frequency stability evaluator to maintain the frequency stability of the wireless communication device clock at the limit as long as the PBX PLL or network clock are outside the requirement of the wireless communication device and will track the PBX PLL or network clock from that limit when these clocks are again within the stability requirements on the wireless communication device.

6. A wireless communication device of a telecommunication system which uses a PBX system clock for normal operation thereof, the wireless communication device requiring a clock input with a frequency more stable than that of the PBX system clock, the wireless communication device comprising:

(a) means for receiving a wireless clock input from the system clock;

(b) a wireless clock operating the wireless communication device which has a frequency stability which meets the frequency stability requirement of the wireless communication device;

(c) means for frequency synchronizing said wireless clock to the PBX system clock input; and

(d) means for evaluating the frequency stability of the PBX system clock input with reference to a precision oscillator, wherein the frequency synchronization of said wireless clock to the PBX system clock input is maintained while the frequency stability of the PBX system clock input meets the frequency stability requirement of the wireless communication device, and frequency synchronization of said wireless clock to the PBX system clock input is not maintained while the frequency stability of the PBX system clock input does not meet the frequency stability requirement of the wireless communication device.

7. The wireless communication device of claim 6 wherein the telecommunication system has a PBX PLL for synchronizing the frequency of the PBX system clock to a network clock and wherein generation of a wireless clock comprised of a precision oscillator, stability evaluator and frequency synchronizer for controlling the frequency thereof, and wherein said means for evaluating the frequency stability of the PBX system clock input with reference to said precision oscillator comprises means for guaranteeing stability requirements of the wireless device.

8. The wireless communication device of claim 7 further comprising an elastic store and a pair of address counters whose function is to provide a means of transporting the PCM information from the PBX side to the wireless side and visa versa where the PBX clock and the wireless clock are not necessarily phase and frequency synchronous and allow for controlled frame slips when necessary.