US 2019/0098588 A1Published application

Systems and methods for synchronization signal timeslot reselection for synchronization target selection in networks

AssigneeHong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Company Limited

InventorsWilson Wang Kit Thong, Victor Man Wai Kwan, Elaine Jihui Zhang, Jie Chuai, Ching Hong Leung, Yan Lam Lee, Eric Kong Chau Tsang

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Abstract

Methods and systems which provide for synchronization target selection by configuring a network device to reselect a synchronization signal transmission timeslot for synchronization target searching by the network device are described. Synchronization signal timeslot reselection may provide for downgrading a current stratum index to an artificial stratum index that does not accurately indicate a number of hops between the network device and a global synchronization source to allow for selection of available synchronization targets with stratum indices that are higher than or equal to the network device's stratum index without causing a synchronization loop. A synchronization signal pattern cycle structure having synchronization signal timeslots organized into multiple subcycles for accommodating synchronization signal timeslot reselection is utilized according to embodiments.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A method comprising:

monitoring, by a network device, for a synchronization signal transmitted by a first synchronization target network device at synchronization signal timeslot k, wherein the network device is operating in synchronization with the first synchronization target network device based upon previously receiving a synchronization signal from the first synchronization target network device, wherein the synchronization signal timeslot k corresponds to a stratum level of the first synchronization target network device within a synchronization tree, and wherein the synchronization signal timeslot k is a synchronization signal timeslot of N synchronization signal timeslots each of which corresponds to a different stratum level of the synchronization tree and 0≤k<N;
transmitting, by the network device when the synchronization signal transmitted by the first synchronization target network device is received by the network device at synchronization signal timeslot k, a network device synchronization signal at synchronization signal timeslot k+1 for synchronizing operation of network devices downstream from the network device in the synchronization tree, wherein the synchronization signal timeslot k+1 corresponds to a stratum level of the network device within the synchronization tree;
and
performing, by the network device when the synchronization signal transmitted by the first synchronization target network device is not received by the network device at the synchronization signal timeslot k, a stratum level downgrade procedure configured for searching for a second synchronization target network device having a synchronization tree stratum level equal to or higher than the synchronization tree stratum level of the network device.

1 more element

A system comprising:

a network device having a receiver and transmitter for data communication in a network, the network device configured to:
monitor for a synchronization signal transmitted by a first synchronization target network device at synchronization signal timeslot k, wherein the synchronization signal timeslot k corresponds to a stratum level of the first synchronization target network device within a synchronization tree, and wherein the synchronization signal timeslot k is a synchronization signal timeslot of N synchronization signal timeslots each of which corresponds to a different stratum level of the synchronization tree and 0≤k<N;
transmit a network device synchronization signal at synchronization signal timeslot k+1 for synchronizing operation of network devices downstream from the network device in the synchronization tree when the synchronization signal transmitted by the first synchronization target network device is received by the network device at the synchronization signal timeslot k, wherein synchronization signal timeslot k+1 corresponds to a stratum level of the network device within the synchronization tree;
and
perform a stratum level downgrade procedure configured for searching for a second synchronization target network device having a synchronization tree stratum level equal to or higher than the synchronization tree stratum level of the network device when the synchronization signal transmitted by the first synchronization target network device is not received by the network device at synchronization signal timeslot k.

2 more elements

A synchronization signal timeslot reselection method for synchronization target selection in a network, the method comprising:

monitoring, by a network device, for a synchronization signal of a first synchronization target network device of the network device in a synchronization signal timeslot corresponding to a synchronization tree stratum index of the first synchronization target network device, wherein the network device is operable to transmit the synchronization signal in the synchronization signal timeslot corresponding to a synchronization tree stratum index of the network device when the synchronization signal of the first synchronization target network device is received by the network device in the synchronization signal timeslot corresponding to the synchronization tree stratum index of the first synchronization target network device;
determining, by the network device, that the synchronization signal of the first synchronization target network device of the network device has not been received by the network device in the synchronization signal timeslot corresponding to the synchronization tree stratum index of the first synchronization target network device;
reselecting a synchronization signal timeslot corresponding to an artificial stratum index for scheduling transmission of the synchronization signal in a synchronization signal timeslot corresponding to the artificial stratum index during a search for a second synchronization target network device by the network device, wherein the network device is operable to stop transmitting the synchronization signal in the synchronization signal timeslot corresponding to the synchronization tree stratum index of the network device when the synchronization signal of the first synchronization target network device is determined to have been received by the network device in the synchronization signal timeslot corresponding to the synchronization tree stratum index of the first synchronization target network device;
and
initiating, by the network device, the search for the second synchronization target network device.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.