Avoiding contention between synchronization packets and in-phase and quadrature (IQ) packets communicated over fronthaul of a radio access network
AssigneeOutdoor Wireless Networks LLC
InventorsStuart D. Sandberg, Irfaan Ahamed Salahuddeen
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Abstract
Techniques are described for avoiding contention between synchronization packets (for example, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) synchronization packets) and in-phase and quadrature (IQ) packets communicated over a fronthaul network used in a radio access network (for example, a Fifth Generation (5G) radio access network).
Claims17
A radio access network (RAN) system comprising:
- a plurality of nodes, at least some of which are communicatively coupled to each other via a fronthaul network;
- wherein the RAN system is configured to wirelessly communicate with user equipment (UE);
- and
- wherein the system is configured so that, while at least one of the nodes of the RAN system receives synchronization packets transmitted from a timing master over the fronthaul network at a synchronization packet transmission rate and synchronization packet phase, said at least one of the nodes discovers the synchronization packet transmission phase of the synchronization packets being transmitted from the timing master and selectively delays, using the discovered synchronization packet transmission phase, transmission of at least some in-phase and quadrature (IQ) data over the fronthaul network in order to avoid contention with at least some of the synchronization packets transmitted from the timing master over the fronthaul network.
A method of operating a radio access network (RAN) comprising a plurality of nodes, at least some of which are communicatively coupled to each other via a fronthaul network, wherein the RAN is configured to wirelessly communicate with user equipment (UE), the method comprises:
- while at least one of the nodes of the RAN system receives synchronization packets transmitted from a timing master over the fronthaul network at a synchronization packet transmission rate and a synchronization packet transmission phase,
- discovering, by said at least one of the nodes, the synchronization packet transmission phase of the synchronization packets being transmitted from the timing master;
- and
- selectively delaying, by said at least one of the nodes using the discovered synchronization packet transmission phase, transmission of at least some in-phase and quadrature (IQ) data over the fronthaul network in order to avoid contention with at least some of the synchronization packets transmitted from the timing master over the fronthaul network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.