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US 5,663,954 AGranted
Frame timing control of time division multiple access
AssigneeNokia Mobile Phones Ltd.
InventorsJouko Hakkanen, Arto Karppanen
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Abstract
The frame timing control of TDMA signals in cellular systems is implemented in mobile stations and/or base stations according to the invention so that the functions are divided between the frame timing control unit (1) and the microcontroller (2). In this way, the frame timing can be controlled in a flexible manner, for instance when moving from one TDMA cell type to another, without breaking the speech or data communication.
Claims18
A method for TDMA frame timing control in a transmitter and receiver part of a mobile station, wherein different burst lengths can be transmitted and received in a TDMA frame, comprising the steps of:
- dividing frame timing control between a microcontroller and a frame timing control unit that comprises a frame timing block, a receive branch burst building block, and a transmit branch burst building block;
- using the microcontroller to define a TDMA frame length, a burst start value, and a burst stop value;
- and
- using the frame timing block to set the TDMA frame length in accordance with the defined TDMA frame length, the frame timing block transmitting timing information to the microcontroller for indicating a start of each frame and a start of each burst within the frame, wherein timing data information is transmitted within the frame timing control unit to the burst building block of the receive branch and the burst building block of the transmit branch.
1 more element
A method for TDMA frame timing control in a mobile station, comprising the steps of:
- partitioning TDMA frame timing control between a data processor and a frame timing control unit circuit that comprises a frame timing block, a receive branch burst control block, and a transmit branch burst control block, all of which are coupled to the data processor through a data path;
- defining with the data processor a TDMA frame duration value, a transmit burst time start value within the frame, a transmit burst time end value, a receive burst time start value within the frame, and a receive burst time end value;
- storing, over the data path, the TDMA frame duration value within the frame timing block;
- generating, with the frame timing block, a frame timing interrupt to the data processor to indicate a start of a frame, and initiating a frame timer;
- in response to the frame timing interrupt, storing, over the data path, at least one of the transmit burst time start value within the transmit branch burst control block or the receive burst time start value within the receive branch burst control block;
- comparing, in the burst control block, the stored burst time start value to the frame timer and, when the times are equal, generating a burst start interrupt to the data processor to indicate the start of the burst;
- in response to the burst start interrupt, storing the corresponding one of the transmit burst time end value or receive burst time end value within the transmit branch burst control block or the receive branch burst control block;
- and
- comparing, in the burst control block, the stored burst time end value to the frame timer and, when the times are equal, terminating the burst.
6 more elements
A mobile station, comprising:
- a data processor;
- a frame timing control unit circuit that comprises a frame timing block that includes a frame timer, a receive branch burst control block, and a transmit branch burst control block, all of which are coupled to the data processor through a data path;
- means in said data processor for defining a TDMA frame duration value, a transmit burst time start value within the frame, a transmit burst time end value, a receive burst time start value within the frame, and a receive burst time end value, and for storing, over said data path, the TDMA frame duration value within the frame timing block;
- means in said frame timing block for generating a frame timing interrupt to said data processor to indicate a start of a frame, and for initiating said frame timer;
- said data processor being responsive to the frame timing interrupt for storing, over said data path, at least one of the transmit burst time start value within said transmit branch burst control block or the receive burst time start value within said receive branch burst control block;
- means in said burst control block for comparing the stored burst time start value to said frame timer and, when the times are equal, for generating a burst start interrupt to said data processor to indicate the start of the burst;
- said data processor being responsive to the burst start interrupt for storing the corresponding one of the transmit burst time end value or receive burst time end value within said transmit branch burst control block or said receive branch burst control block;
- and
- said comparing means in said burst control block comparing the stored burst time end value to said frame timer and, when the times are equal, for terminating the burst.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.