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; and
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.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system, apparatus and corresponding method by which to synchronize to a time reference a main module of a device—a main module such as global positioning system (GPS) receiver—using a cellular communication signal received by a cellular module also included in the device. To synchronize the main module to the reference time, the invention provides a method including the steps of: having the cellular module respond to the cellular communication signal by providing to a clock module of the main module a trigger pulse derived from the data component of the cellular communication signal, and also by providing to the main module information relating the trigger pulse to a universal time. The main module is then able to resolve a value for time based on the information relating the trigger pulse to a universal time and the trigger pulse.
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Citations
28 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; and 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. - 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. - 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. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method, comprising the steps of:
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a) receiving a cellular communication signal with a cellular module; b) providing a trigger pulse derived from the data component of the cellular communication signal, and providing information relating the trigger pulse to time; c) receiving the trigger pulse in a timing module component of a non-cellular module; and d) resolving a value for time using the trigger pulse and the information relating the trigger pulse to time. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus, comprising:
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a) a cellular module, for receiving a cellular communication signal, and for providing a trigger pulse derived from the data component of the cellular communication signal, and also for providing information relating the trigger pulse to time; b) a timing module component of a non-cellular module for receiving the trigger pulse; and c) means for receiving the information relating the trigger pulse to time and for resolving a value for time using the trigger pulse and the information relating the trigger pulse to time. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system comprising:
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a) a cellular module, for receiving a cellular communication signal, and for providing a trigger pulse derived from the data component of the cellular communication signal, and also for providing information relating the trigger pulse to time; b) a timing module component of a non-cellular module for receiving the trigger pulse; c) means for receiving the information relating the trigger pulse to time and for resolving a value for time using the trigger pulse and the information relating the trigger pulse to time; and d) a cellular base station, for providing the cellular communication signal. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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Specification