Network element for distributing timing information
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A network element for distributing timing information includes a signal interface for receiving satellite signals transmitted by a satellite system and a processing system for producing the timing information based on the satellite signals and on assistance information received from a data transfer network. The network element transmits the timing information to the data transfer network in accordance with a timing transfer protocol. At a start-up, the network element requests a dynamic host configuration protocol server to send host configuration data containing a protocol address to be associated with the network element. The network element reads, from the host configuration data, information enabling the network element to get aware of the assistance information and obtains the assistance information in accordance with the read information. Thus, the dynamic host configuration protocol server enables the network element to operate as a network-assisted source of satellite-based timing.
14 Citations
35 Claims
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1-15. -15. (canceled)
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16. A network element comprising a data interface for connecting to a data transfer network, a signal interface for receiving one or more satellite signals transmitted by a satellite system that is a Global Navigation Satellite System, and a processing system adapted to:
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produce timing information based on the one or more satellite signals and on assistance information received from the data transfer network, the assistance information being based on A-GPS assistance data, control the network element to request a dynamic host configuration protocol server of the data transfer network to send host configuration data containing a protocol address to be associated with the network element, control the network element to transmit the timing information to the data transfer network in accordance with a timing transfer protocol used in the data transfer network, the network element operating as a timing source based on the one or more satellite signals and on the assistance information, and read, from the host configuration data, information enabling the network element to get aware of the assistance information, and to obtain the assistance information in accordance with the information read from the host configuration data. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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24. A dynamic host configuration protocol server comprising a data interface for connecting to a data transfer network and a processing system adapted to:
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allocate, in response to receiving a request from a network element of the data transfer network, a protocol address to be associated with the network element, control the dynamic host configuration protocol server to transmit, to the network element, host configuration data containing the allocated protocol address, and provide the host configuration data with information enabling the network element to get aware of assistance information assisting the network element to produce timing information based on one or more satellite signals transmitted by a satellite system, wherein the timing information enables the network element to operate as a timing source, the satellite system is a Global Navigation Satellite System, and the assistance information is based on A-GPS assistance data. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for configuring a network element, the method comprising:
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receiving, from a dynamic host configuration protocol server, host configuration data containing a protocol address to be associated with the network element, configuring the network element to communicate with a data transfer network in accordance with the host configuration data, reading, from the host configuration data, information enabling the network element to get aware of assistance information assisting the network element to produce timing information based on one or more satellite signals transmitted by one or more satellites of a satellite system, and obtaining the assistance information in accordance with the information read from the host configuration data, wherein the timing information enables the network element to operate as a timing source, the satellite system is a Global Navigation Satellite System, and the assistance information is based on A-GPS assistance data.
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30. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program for configuring a network element, the computer program comprising computer executable instructions for controlling a programmable processing system of the network element to:
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configure the network element to communicate with a data transfer network in accordance with host configuration data received from a dynamic host configuration protocol server and containing a protocol address associated with the network element, read, from the host configuration data, information enabling the network element to get aware of assistance information assisting the network element to produce timing information based on one or more satellite signals transmitted by one or more satellites of a satellite system, and obtain the assistance information in accordance with the information read from the host configuration data, wherein the timing information enables the network element to operate as a timing source, the satellite system is a Global Navigation Satellite System, and the assistance information is based on A-GPS assistance data.
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Specification