Method and apparatus for wireless network timekeeping and synchronization

A network timing system, comprising:

• a receiver at a mobile unit configured to detect signal data containing accurate timing information, wherein said mobile unit is in an area serviced by a base station;
• a processing device configured to derive accurate timing information from said signal data;
• and
• a central network authority, coupled to receive said accurate timing information and configured to generate association data associating said accurate timing information with base station timing information maintained by said base station, and to provide said accurate timing information and association data to said base station to provide updated network timing at said base station.

A network timing method in a network including a central network authority and a plurality of areas each serviced by at least one base station, comprising:

• detecting, at a mobile unit in one of said areas, GPS signal data;
• deriving, at one of said mobile unit and said central network authority, GPS timing information from said GPS signal data;
• associating said GPS timing information with base station timing information from said base station in said area;
• and
• updating network timing information for said base station using said GPS timing information and said base station timing information.