Method and a system for time synchronisation between a control centre and several transmitters

A method of time synchronisation between a control centre and a plurality of transmitters in a single frequency network, comprising the steps of:

• at least one of generating, by one or more signal generators, and receiving, by the control centre, a first reference time signal with a high time and frequency accuracy in a short and long time horizon and a second reference time signal supplied to the control centre with a low time and frequency accuracy in the short time horizon and a high time and frequency accuracy in the long time horizon;
• generating a transport data stream to be supplied to the plurality of transmitters with a time-variable data rate through the control centre corresponding to a frequency of the second reference time signal, wherein data packets containing a transmission time of a data packet referenced to the first reference time signal in the transmitters are distributed within the transport data stream, and wherein a time accuracy of a transmission time of the respective data packet is optimised by time averaging of the time and frequency accuracy of the second reference time signal,
• wherein the time averaging of the time and frequency accuracy of the second reference time signal is implemented through time averaging of the time-variable frequency of the second reference time signal;
• and
• performing time displacement of the trans ort data stream received from the control centre by a respective one of the plurality of transmitters until the data packets of the transport data stream each containing a transmission time are transmitted, with regard to the first reference time signal supplied to the respective transmitter, at a correct transmission time.

A system for time synchronisation between a control centre and a plurality of transmitters within a single frequency network, comprising:

• a first reference signal generator operable to generate a first reference time signal with a high time and frequency accuracy in a short and long time horizon;
• a second reference signal generator connected to the first reference signal generator operable to generate a second reference time signal with a low time and frequency accuracy in the short time horizon and a high time and frequency accuracy in the long time horizon;
• a control centre connected to the second reference signal generator for the generation of a transport data stream supplied to several transmitters with a data rate corresponding to a frequency of the second reference time signal,
• wherein data packets with transmission times referenced to the second reference time signal in the transmitters are distributed within the transport data stream,
• wherein the time accuracy of the transmission times is optimised by time averaging of the time accuracy of the second reference time signal,
• wherein the time averaging of the time and frequency accuracy of the second reference time signal is implemented by summing the previously transmitted data packets and weighting with a reference data rate corresponding to the frequency of the first reference time signal, and
• wherein the transport data stream received from the control centre by the plurality of transmitters are time displaced until the data packets of the transport data stream each containing a transmission time with regard to the first reference time signal supplied in each case to the transmitters are transmitted at the correct transmission time.

A system for time synchronisation between a control centre and a plurality of transmitters within a single frequency network, comprising:

• a first reference signal generator operable to generate a first reference time signal with a high time and frequency accuracy in a short and long time horizon;
• a second reference signal generator connected to the reference signal generator operable to generate a second reference time signal with a low time and frequency accuracy in the short time horizon and a high time and frequency accuracy in the long time horizon;
• a control centre connected to the second reference signal generator for the generation of a transport data stream supplied to several transmitters with a data rate corresponding to a frequency of the second reference time signal,
• wherein data packets with transmission times referenced to the second reference time signal in the transmitters are distributed within the transport data stream,
• wherein the time accuracy of the transmission times is optimised by time averaging of the time accuracy of the second reference time signal,
• wherein the time averaging of the time and frequency accuracy of the second reference time signal is implemented through time averaging of the time-variable frequency of the second reference time signal, and
• wherein the transport data stream received from the control centre by the plurality of transmitters are time displaced until the data packets of the transport data stream each containing a transmission time with regard to the first reference time signal supplied in each case to the transmitters are transmitted at the correct transmission time.