Apparatus and method for providing synchronization of base-stations in a communication system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for providing synchronization for a base-station in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving a first clocking signal from a source external to the base station, the first clocking signal having a first frequency with a first stability and utilized for synchronization when available;
means for providing a second clocking signal having a second frequency with a second stability, the second stability being less than the first stability;
means for characterizing the second stability of the second clocking signal utilizing said first clocking signal to produce characterization information; and
means, coupled to said means for characterizing, for employing said second clocking signal and said characterization information for synchronization when said first clocking signal is absent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system (105) utilizes the global positioning system (GPS) to maintain a high degree of accuracy of synchronization of base-stations (115-116). When the GPS signal (106, 107, or 108) is absent, the communication system (105) employs an alternate signal (110-113), such as a WWVB, LORAN-C, and MSF signal, to provide redundant synchronization of the base-stations (115-116). To achieve the degree of synchronization accuracy provided by the GPS signal (106-108), the communication system (105) characterizes the alternate signal (110-113) by utilizing the GPS signal (106-108) when the GPS signal (106-108) is present. When the GPS signal (106-108) is absent, the characterized alternate signal is then employed such that synchronization of the base-stations (115-116) is transparent to the base-stations (115, 116). Use of the GPS signal (106-108) to characterize the alternate signal (110-113) also allows the characterized alternate signal to provide the same degree of accuracy as that of the GPS signal (106-108).
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for providing synchronization for a base-station in a communication system, the apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving a first clocking signal from a source external to the base station, the first clocking signal having a first frequency with a first stability and utilized for synchronization when available;
means for providing a second clocking signal having a second frequency with a second stability, the second stability being less than the first stability;
means for characterizing the second stability of the second clocking signal utilizing said first clocking signal to produce characterization information; and
means, coupled to said means for characterizing, for employing said second clocking signal and said characterization information for synchronization when said first clocking signal is absent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A base-station in a communication system employing an apparatus for providing synchronization, the base-station comprising:
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means for receiving a first clocking signal from a source external to the base station, said first clocking signal having a first clocking rate with a first stability;
means for receiving a second clocking signal having a second clocking rate with a second stability, the second stability being worse than the first stability;
means for improving the stability of said second clocking rate of said second clocking signal utilizing said first clocking rate by comparing said first clocking rate and said second clocking rate over a period of time and generating characterization information; and
means for employing said second clocking signal and said characterization information for synchronization when said first clocking signal is absent. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A cellular radiotelephone system requiring synchronization between base-stations, the base-stations being initially synchronized to one another by a global positioning system (GPS) signal having a known clocking rate, the cellular radiotelephone system comprising:
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a first base-station employing means for receiving the GPS signal and means for receiving a low frequency (LF) signal transmitted by a LF transmitter, said LF signal having a clocking rate less than said known clocking rate of said GPS signal;
a second base-station employing means for receiving the GPS signal and means for receiving said LF signal transmitted by said LF transmitter;
means, at each base-station, for characterizing each received LF signal utilizing each received GPS signal to produce a signal having a time-transferred clocking rate;
means, when said GPS signal is removed, for employing said signal having a time-transferred clocking rate to provide the required synchronization between said base-stations. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A method of providing synchronization for a base-station in a communication system, the method comprising:
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comparing a first clocking signal received from a source external to the base station to an alternate clocking source;
characterizing, based on the step of comparing, the differences between said first clocking signal and said alternate clocking source to provide characterization information operable to improve the stability of said alternate clocking source; and
employing said alternate clocking source and said characterization information for synchronization when said first clocking signal is absent. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for providing synchronization comprising:
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means for receiving a first clocking signal from a source external to the apparatus;
means for providing a second clocking signal, wherein the second clocking signal is less stable than the first clocking signal;
means for comparing the first clocking signal to the second clocking signal;
means for characterizing the second clocking signal based on the first clocking signal to generate characterization information operable for increasing the stability of the second clocking signal; and
means for employing the second clocking signal and the characterization information when the first clocking signal is absent.
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16. An apparatus for providing synchronization comprising:
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a receiver for receiving a first clocking signal from a source external to the apparatus;
a localized oscillator to provide a second clocking signal;
a microprocessor for digital filtering the first clocking signal to remove errors associated with the first clocking signal and for determining a change over time in the second clocking signal with respect to the first clocking signal; and
means for adjusting the second clocking signal based on the determined change over time when the first clocking signal is unavailable. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A wireless communication system requiring synchronization between fixed stations, the wireless communication system comprising:
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means, at a first fixed station, for receiving a clocking signal having a high stability and means for receiving a first clocking signal having a low stability;
means, at a second fixed station, for receiving the clocking signal having a high stability and means for receiving a second clocking signal having a low stability;
means, at each fixed station, for comparing each received first and second clocking signals having a low stability with the clocking signal having a high stability to produce comparison information;
means, when the clocking signal having a high stability is removed, for employing the clocking signal having a low stability and the comparison information to provide the required synchronization between the fixed stations. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification