Base station synchronization

• US 9,247,513 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2013
• Issued: 01/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Interdigital Technology Corporation (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dick, Stephen G., Zeira, Eldad
• Primary Examiner(s): Lai, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANDREWS, LEON T
• Application Number:
  US13/850,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20130229983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7073 Synchronisation aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2201/70702 Intercell-related aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2668 Arrangements for Wireless Code-Division Multiple Access [CDMA] System Synchronisation, for code acquisition H04B1/7075, for code tracking H04B1/7085
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2687 Inter base stations synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/269 Master/slave synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2693 Centralised synchronisation, i.e. using external universal time reference, e.g. by using a global positioning system [GPS] or by distributing time reference over the wireline network
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2696 Over the air autonomous synchronisation, e.g. by monitoring network activity H04B7/2693 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0641 Change of the master or reference, e.g. take-over or failure of the master
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/002 Mutual synchronization
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0065 using measurement of signal travel time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0075 based on arrival time vs. expected arrival time

Abstract

A method and apparatus of time synchronizing a plurality of base stations in a wireless communication system includes receiving an indication of a timing associated with a synch burst, where the synch burst is from a mastercell having a better time synchronization quality than other cells and measured by at least one cell other than the mastercell. A request is sent to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for a measurement of a base station time of arrival (BSTOA) value of the at least one cell other than the mastercell. The BSTOA value from the WTRU is received and a timing adjustment is sent to the at least one cell other than the mastercell.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system including a radio network controller (RNC) and a base station, comprising:

the RNC comprising;

circuitry configured to receive an indication of a timing associated with a synch burst, wherein the synch burst is from a mastercell having a better time synchronization quality than other cells and measured by at least one cell other than the mastercell;

circuitry configured to send a request to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for a measurement of a base station time of arrival (BSTOA) value of the at least one cell other than the mastercell;

circuitry configured to receive the BSTOA value from the WTRU; and

circuitry configured to send a timing adjustment to the at least one cell other than the mastercell; and

the base station comprising;

circuitry configured to send a synch burst from at least one mastercell, wherein the mastercell has a better time synchronization quality than other cells on a condition that the base station is in the mastercell;

circuitry configured to measure for at least one cell other than the mastercell, a synch burst from at least the mastercell and indicate a timing associated with the synch burst to the RNC on a condition that the base station is in the cell other than the mastercell;

circuitry configured to send a request for the BSTOA value to a cell other than the mastercell on a condition that the base station is in the mastercell;

circuitry configured to transmit the BSTOA value on a condition that the base station is in the cell other than the mastercell; and

circuitry configured to receive from the RNC, a timing adjustment to the at least one cell other than the mastercell on a condition that the base station is in the cell other than the mastercell.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the RNC further comprises circuitry configured to update a covariant matrix database.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 2 wherein the RNC further comprises circuitry configured to update state estimates in the covariance matrix and update the database with received BSTOA values.

4. A method of time synchronizing a plurality of base stations in a wireless communication system implemented in a radio network controller (RNC), comprising:

the RNC receiving an indication of a timing associated with a synch burst, wherein the synch burst is from a mastercell;

the RNC sending a request to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for a measurement of a base station time of arrival (BSTOA) value of the at least one cell other than the mastercell;

the RNC receiving the BSTOA value from the WTRU;

and the RNC sending a timing adjustment to the at least one cell other than the mastercell.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the RNC updating a covariant matrix database.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein, the mastercell has a better time synchronization quality than other cells.

7. A radio network controller (RNC), comprising:

circuitry configured to receive an indication of a timing associated with a synch burst, wherein the synch burst is from a mastercell;

circuitry configured to send a request to a wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) for a measurement of a base station time of arrival (BSTOA) value of the at least one cell other than the mastercell;

circuitry configured to receive the BSTOA value from the WTRU; and

circuitry configured to send a timing adjustment to the at least one cell other than the mastercell.

8. The RNC of claim 7, further comprising circuitry configured to update a covariant matrix database.

9. The RNC of claim 7 wherein, the master cell has a better time synchronization quality than other cells.