Network frequency setting

• US 7,499,706 B1
• Filed: 09/05/2002
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Kallio, Janne J., Wesby, Philip, Rantala, Tero, Tuovinen, Kari, Rissanen, Pekka, Parkkinen, Jan, Rautiola, Markku, Esser, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Torres; Marcos L
• Application Number:
  US10/070,411
• Time in Patent Office: 2,371 Days
• Field of Search: 455447-422, 455/560, 370324-330, 370/431, 370/436, 370/503, 370519-520, 370/350
• US Class Current: 455/450
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0035 detecting errors in frequency or phase

Abstract

A frequency setting unit for a radio telecommunications network comprising a first, reference base station transmitting signals at a first frequency, and a second base station transmitting at a second frequency; the frequency control unit comprising: a radio receiver for receiving signals from the first base station; analysis apparatus for analysing the received signals to determine the first frequency; and feedback apparatus responsive to the decoding apparatus and coupled to the second base station for adjusting the second frequency with the aim of establishing a desired relationship between the second frequency and the first frequency.

Claims

1. A frequency setting unit for a radio telecommunications network wherein base stations transmit at an accurately set frequency derived from a reference signal, the frequency setting unit comprising:

a radio receiver for receiving signals at a first frequency from a first base station located in a first radio telecommunication network;

an analysis apparatus for analysing the received signals to determine the first frequency; and

a frequency setting apparatus responsive to the analysis apparatus and coupled to a second base station transmitting at a second frequency, located in a second radio telecommunication network, for adjusting the second frequency with the aim of establishing a desired relationship between the second frequency and the first frequency.

2. A frequency setting unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reference signal is provided to the first base station by a reference clock where a pulse train is sent to a first controller controlling the first base station.

3. A frequency setting unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein said sent pulse train is used by the first controller to derive a set of pulse trains that are sent to said first base station.

4. A frequency setting unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second base station comprises a clock and the frequency setting unit is capable of transmitting a clock setting signal to the second base station for setting the clock.

5. A frequency setting unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the clock setting signal comprises a stream of clock pulses.

6. A frequency setting unit according to claim 4, wherein said clock setting signal to the second base station for setting said clock is derived from an internal clock within said second base station.

7. A frequency setting unit according to claim 4, wherein said clock setting signal to the second base station for setting said clock is derived straight from the detected frequency of said analysis apparatus.

8. A frequency setting unit according to claim 1, wherein said desired relationship is such that the second frequency matches the first frequency in an absolute manner.

9. A frequency setting unit according to claim 1, wherein said desired relationship is such that the second frequency is a multiple of the first frequency by shifting the frequency of said internal clock within a second controller controlling said base station.

10. A frequency setting unit according to claim 1, wherein the said signals from the first base station (23) are broadcast signals.

11. A frequency setting unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frequency setting unit is comprised in said second controller controlling said second base station.

12. A frequency setting unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second base station is connected to the second telecommunications network by means of an asynchronous connection.

13. A frequency setting unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the asynchronous connection is an internet protocol connection.

14. A frequency setting unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of said first and second telecommunications networks is operable according to a global system for mobile communications standard.

16. A frequency setting unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frequency setting unit is a Base Station Controller.

17. A frequency setting control unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frequency control unit is provided on an expansion card.

15. A method for frequency setting in a wireless telecommunications network such that base stations transmit at an accurately set frequency derived from a reference signal, wherein a first base station transmitting signals at a first frequency, and a second base station transmitting signals at a second frequency, and the first and second base stations are of different radio telecommunications networks;

the method comprising the steps of;

receiving signals in a radio receiver from the first base station;

analysing the received signals in an analysis apparatus to determine the first frequency; and

adjusting the second frequency in a frequency setting unit responsive to the analysis and coupled to the second base station with the aim of establishing a desired relationship between the second frequency and the first frequency.

18. An expansion card for a radio telecommunications network wherein base stations transmit at an accurately set frequency derived from a reference signal, the expansion card comprising:

a receiver for receiving signals from a first base station located in a first radio telecommunications network;

an analysis apparatus for analysing the received signals to determine a first frequency; and

a frequency setting unit responsive to the analysis apparatus and coupled to a second base station, located in a second radio telecommunications network, for adjusting a second frequency with the aim of establishing a desired relationship between the second frequency and the first frequency.

19. An expansion card as claimed in claim 18, wherein the expansion card is adapted to be inserted to a network element responsible of controlling base station operations.

20. A frequency setting unit for a radio telecommunications network wherein base stations transmit at an accurately set frequency derived from a reference signal, the frequency setting unit comprising:

means for receiving signals having a first frequency from a first base station located in a first radio telecommunications network;

means for analysing the received signals to determine the first frequency; and

means for adjusting a second frequency with the aim of establishing a desired relationship between the second frequency and the first frequency, the means for adjusting being responsive to the means for analysis and coupled to a second base station transmitting signals with the second frequency, located in a second radio telecommunications network.

21. A base station for a radio telecommunications network, the base station comprising:

a radio receiver for receiving signals having a first frequency from a reference base station located in a different radio telecommunication network;

an analysis apparatus for analysing the received signals to determine the first frequency;

a frequency setting unit responsive to the analysis apparatus for adjusting a second frequency with the aim of establishing a desired relationship between the second frequency and the first frequency and for sending a clock-setting signal for a clock; and

the clock for providing a clock signal for the base station, the clock being set according to the clock-setting signal from the frequency setting unit.

22. A network element for controlling base stations in a radio telecommunications network wherein base stations transmit at an accurately set frequency derived from a reference signal, the network element comprising:

a radio receiver for receiving signals having a first frequency from a first reference base station located in a first radio telecommunications network;

an analysis apparatus for analysing the received signals to determine the first frequency; and

a frequency setting unit responsive to the analysis apparatus and coupled to a second base station transmitting at a second frequency, located in a second radio telecommunications network, for adjusting the second frequency with the aim of establishing a desired relationship between the second frequency and the first frequency.

23. A network element according to claim 22 wherein the network element is part of the second telecommunications network.

24. A network element according to claim 22 wherein the network element is a Base Station Controller.

25. A synchronization unit for a radio telecommunications network wherein base stations transmit at an accurately set frequency derived from a reference signal, the synchronization unit comprising:

a radio receiver for receiving signals having a first frequency from a first reference base station located in a first radio telecommunication network,

an analysis apparatus for analysing the received signals to determine the first frequency; and

a connection for coupling the synchronization unit to a frequency setting unit responsive of adjusting the frequency of a second base station, located in a second radio telecommunications network.

26. A synchronization unit according to claim 25, wherein the synchronization unit is a mobile handset.

27. A system of at least first and second radio telecommunications networks wherein each base station transmits signals at an accurately set frequency derived from a reference signal, the system comprising:

a radio receiver for receiving signals having a first frequency from a first reference base station located in a first radio telecommunications network;

an analysis apparatus for analysing the received signals to determine the first frequency; and

a frequency setting unit responsive to the analysis apparatus and coupled to a second base station transmitting at a second frequency, located in a second radio telecommunications network, for adjusting the second frequency with the aim of establishing a desired relationship between the second frequency and the first frequency.