Methods and system for synchronizing nodes in a wireless network

A node configured to wirelessly time synchronize a target node with a source node, the node comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the node to:
• send to the source node a request for time synchronizing the target node with the source node;
• determine a first time, T1, indicative of a time of transmission of a first radio signal from the source node to the target node;
• determine a second time, T2, indicative of a time of receipt of the first radio signal at the target node;
• determine a third time, T3, indicative of a time of transmission of a second radio signal from the target node to the source node, the first and second radio signals comprising periodic reference signals;
• configure second radio signal transmissions with a muting pattern such that the third time, T3, indicative of the time of transmission of the second radio signal from the target node to the source node does not overlap with the second time, T2, indicative of the time of receipt of the first radio signal at the target node;
• determine a fourth time, T4, indicative of a time of receipt of the second radio signal at the source node;
• and
• determine a clock offset based on the times T1, T2, T3 and T4 for use in time synchronizing the target node with the source node.

A non-transitory computer readable memory configured to store executable instructions that when executed by a processor, configure the processor to:

• send to a source node a request for time synchronizing a target node with the source node;
• determine a first time, T1, indicative of a time of transmission of a first radio signal from the source node to the target node;
• determine a second time, T2, indicative of a time of receipt of the first radio signal at the target node;
• determine a third time, T3, indicative of a time of transmission of a second radio signal from the target node to the source node, the first and second radio signals comprising periodic reference signals;
• configure second radio signal transmissions with a muting pattern such that the third time, T3, indicative of the time of transmission of the second radio signal from the target node to the source node does not overlap with the second time, T2, indicative of the time of receipt of the first radio signal at the target node;
• determine a fourth time, T4, indicative of a time of receipt of the second radio signal at the source node;
• and
• determine a clock offset based on the times T1, T2, T3 and T4 for use in time synchronizing the target node with the source node.