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US 8,576,778 B2Granted
Transfer of synchronization in a hybrid global satellite packet network system
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
InventorGarry Irvine
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Networks, network devices and methods of synchronization using transfer of synchronization packets are provided. Some network devices are configured to use either a timing reference extracted based on GPS signals or an imported timing reference, as an operative time reference. A network device from which to import the time reference is selected and may be updated to meet a selection rule related to the quality of receiving the transfer of synchronization packets.
Claims28
A network device comprising:
- a global position signal (GPS) receiver configured to receive GPS signals and to determine a time reference based on the received GPS signals;
- a switching part configured to communicate transfer of synchronization packets;
- an operative part configured to manage radio communication using an operative time reference;
- and
- a controller configured to switch the operative part between at least (i) a first mode, in which the operative part uses, as the operative time reference, the time reference determined by the GPS receiver and (ii) a second mode, in which the operative part uses the operative time reference determined using one or more imported time references, each of the imported time references being extracted from the transfer of synchronization packets communicated with a network device, the controller switching the operative part between the first mode and the second mode depending on a quality of the received GPS signals and a quality of communicating the transfer of synchronization packets by the switching part from each of at least one other network device, respectively;
- wherein the switching part is configured to process packets based on a priority associated to each packet, the transfer of synchronization packets having the highest priority.
3 more elements
A radio communication network comprising:
- base stations each having a switching part configured to communicate transfer of synchronization packets, the switching part being configured to process the communicated transfer of synchronization packets with highest priority, and an operative part configured to manage radio communication using an operative time reference, at least some of the base stations having a global position signal (GPS) receiver configured to receive GPS signals and to determine a time reference based on the received GPS signals;
- and
- a controller configured to switch the operative part between at least (i) a first mode, in which the operative part uses, as the operative time reference, the time reference determined by the GPS receiver and (ii) a second mode, in which the operative part uses the operative time reference determined using one or more imported time references, each imported time reference being extracted from the transfer of synchronization packets communicated with a network device, the controller switching the operative part between the first mode and the second mode depending on a quality of the received GPS signals and a quality of receiving the transfer of synchronization packets by the switching part from each of at least one network device, respectively;
- wherein the switching part is configured to process packets based on a priority associated to each packet, the transfer of synchronization packets having the highest priority.
1 more element
A method of determining an operative time reference in a GPS equipped radio communication device of a network including at least other two GPS
- equipped radio communication devices, comprising:
- receiving GPS signals;
- evaluating a quality of the received GPS signals;
- determining a time reference based on the received GPS signals, if the quality of the received GPS allows;
- receiving transfer of synchronization packets from at least one GPS equipped network device;
- evaluating a quality of receiving the transfer of synchronization packets for each of the at least one GPS equipped network devices from which transfer of synchronization packets have been received;
- selecting one network device among the at least one GPS equipped network devices from which transfer of synchronization packets have been received, based on the evaluated quality;
- determining an imported time reference from the transfer of synchronization packets received from the selected one network device;
- and
- determining whether to use the time reference or the imported time reference as the operative time reference, based on the evaluated quality of the received GPS signals and the quality of receiving the transfer of synchronization packets from the selected one network device;
- wherein the least one GPS equipped network device comprising a switching part is configured to process packets based on a priority associated to each packet, the transfer of synchronization packets having the highest priority.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.