Method, apparatus and system for GPS time synchronization using cellular signal bursts
First Claim
1. A method, comprising the steps of:
- a) having a cellular module respond to a cellular communication signal indicating a time-stamp, by providing a trigger pulse derived from the data component of the cellular communication signal, and also by providing information indicating a time-mark relating the trigger pulse to a universal time;
b) having a main module, with access to a clock that provides a signal indicating local time, respond to the information indicating the time-mark;
c) communicating the trigger pulse to a timing register coupled to the main module, the communicating being performed via a special hardware path that provides the trigger pulse without substantial random delay;
d) having the timing register respond to the signal indicating local time, and also respond to the trigger pulse, by holding information indicating, in local time, when the trigger pulse is received by the timing register; and
e) having the main module access the timing register and so obtain the time when the trigger arrives, and further having the main module determine the difference between when the information indicating the time-mark arrives and when the trigger arrives.
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Abstract
A system, apparatus and corresponding method for time synchronization, using cellular signal bursts, of for example a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. To synchronized a main module, with access to a clock, to the reference time provided by a cellular communication system via a cellular communication signal, the method includes the steps of: a) having a cellular module respond to the cellular communication signal indicating a time-stamp, by providing a trigger pulse derived from the data component of the cellular communication signal, and also by providing information indicating a time-mark relating the trigger pulse to a universal time; b) having the main module, with access to the clock that provides a signal indicating local time, respond to the information indicating the time-mark; c) communicating the trigger pulse to a timing register coupled to the main module, the communicating being performed via a special hardware path that provides the trigger pulse without substantial random delay; d) having the timing register respond to the signal indicating local time, and also respond to the trigger pulse, by holding information indicating, in local time, when the trigger pulse is received by the timing register; and e) having the main module access the timing register and so obtain the time when the trigger arrives, and further having the main module determine the difference between when the information indicating the time-mark arrives and when the trigger arrives.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method, comprising the steps of:
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a) having a cellular module respond to a cellular communication signal indicating a time-stamp, by providing a trigger pulse derived from the data component of the cellular communication signal, and also by providing information indicating a time-mark relating the trigger pulse to a universal time;
b) having a main module, with access to a clock that provides a signal indicating local time, respond to the information indicating the time-mark;
c) communicating the trigger pulse to a timing register coupled to the main module, the communicating being performed via a special hardware path that provides the trigger pulse without substantial random delay;
d) having the timing register respond to the signal indicating local time, and also respond to the trigger pulse, by holding information indicating, in local time, when the trigger pulse is received by the timing register; and
e) having the main module access the timing register and so obtain the time when the trigger arrives, and further having the main module determine the difference between when the information indicating the time-mark arrives and when the trigger arrives. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus comprising:
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a) a cellular module, responsive to the cellular communication signal indicating a time-stamp, for providing a trigger pulse derived from the data component of the cellular communication signal, and for providing information indicating a time-mark relating the trigger pulse to a universal time;
b) a main module having access to a clock that provides a signal indicating local time, the main module responsive to the information indicating the time-mark;
c) a timing register, responsive to the signal indicating local time, and further responsive to the trigger pulse, for holding information indicating, in local time, when the trigger pulse is received; and
d) a special hardware path, for conducting the trigger pulse from the cellular module to the timing register;
wherein the main module is coupled to the timing register so as to be able to access the timing register and so obtain the time when the trigger arrives, and further wherein the main module includes means for determining the difference between when the information indicating the time-mark arrives and when the trigger arrives. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A system comprising:
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a) a cellular module, responsive to the cellular communication signal indicating a time-stamp, for providing a trigger pulse derived from the data component of the cellular communication signal, and for providing information indicating a time-mark relating the trigger pulse to a universal time;
b) a main module having access to a clock that provides a signal indicating local time, the main module responsive to the information indicating the time-mark;
c) a timing register, responsive to the signal indicating local time, and further responsive to the trigger pulse, for holding information indicating, in local time, when the trigger pulse is received; and
d) a special hardware path, for conducting the trigger pulse from the cellular module to the timing register;
wherein the main module is coupled to the timing register so as to be able to access the timing register and so obtain the time when the trigger arrives, and further wherein the main module includes means for determining the difference between when the information indicating the time-mark arrives and when the trigger arrives. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification