# US 8,787,945 B1 · Correction of timing errors to enable long sleep times > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,787,945 B1 - Document ID: US8787945B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 13/959,412 - Filed: 2013-08-05 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-12-08 - Assignees: Marvell International Ltd. - Applicants: Marvell International Ltd. - Inventors: Daniel Yellin; Ronen Mayrench; Yona Perets - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787945B1 ## CPC - H04W 52/0206: {in access points, e.g. base stations} - H04W 52/0216: {using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame} - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract A mobile user equipment includes a user equipment clock and a dual mode time tracker. The clock periodically wakes up the user equipment. The dual mode time tracker uses a serving cell reference signal to correct timing errors of the user equipment clock with respect to a network clock while timing errors remain minimal and otherwise uses a serving cell synchronization signal to correct timing errors of the user equipment clock. The dual mode time tracker also sets a next wakeup time as a function at least of the size of the timing errors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for synchronizing a user equipment clock in a cellular telecommunications user equipment, the method comprising: periodically waking up the user equipment to receive signals transmitted on a cellular telecommunications network; selecting a synchronization mode to synchronize the user equipment clock to a network clock, based at least on one or more signals received by the user equipment while the user equipment is awake to receive signals in a first instance, wherein a first synchronization mode uses a first type of signals and a second synchronization mode uses at least a second type of signals that is different from the first type of signals; in response to selecting the first synchronization mode to synchronize the user equipment clock to the network clock, in a second instance that is subsequent to the first instance, waking up the user equipment for a first period of time to receive signals; and in response to selecting the second synchronization mode to synchronize the user equipment clock to the network clock, in the second instance that is subsequent to the first instance, waking up the user equipment for a second period of time to receive signals, such that the second period of time is different from the first period of time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein waking up the user equipment to receive signals for the first period of time further comprises: in response to selecting the first synchronization mode to synchronize the user equipment clock to the network clock, waking up the user equipment to receive signals for the first period of time, such that the first period of time is sufficient to receive the first type of signals. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein waking up the user equipment to receive signals for the first period of time further comprises: in response to selecting the first synchronization mode to synchronize the user equipment clock to the network clock, waking up the user equipment to receive signals for the first period of time, such that the period of time is insufficient to receive the second type of signals. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein selecting the synchronization mode to synchronize the user equipment clock to the network clock further comprises: selecting the synchronization mode to synchronize the user equipment clock to the network clock, based at least on one or more pilot symbols received by the user equipment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining that the first type of signals is not sufficiently suitable to synchronize the user equipment clock to the network clock, based at least on one or more signals received by the user equipment while the user equipment is awake to receive signals in a third instance that is subsequent to the second instance; based at least on determining that the first type of signals is not sufficiently suitable to synchronize the user equipment clock to the network clock, selecting the second synchronization mode to synchronize the user equipment clock to the network clock in a fourth instance that is subsequent to the third instance; and in response to selecting the second synchronization mode to synchronize the user equipment clock to the network clock, in the fourth instance that is subsequent to the third instance, waking up the user equipment to receive signals for the second period of time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein waking up the user equipment in the fourth instance further comprises: in the fourth instance, waking up the user equipment to receive signals for the second period of time that is sufficient to receive the second type of signals. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein waking up the user equipment in the fourth instance further comprises: in the fourth instance, waking up the user equipment to synchronize the user equipment clock to the network clock based on the second type of signals. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to the selection of the first synchronization mode, synchronizing the clock to the network clock using the first type of signals during the first period of time, the first type of signals being one or more pilot signals. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: in response to the selection of the second synchronization mode, synchronizing the clock to the network clock using at least the second type of signals during the second period of time, the second type of signals being synchronization signals. ### Claim 10 A user equipment comprising: a clock configured to generate a clock signal and periodically wake up the user equipment to receive signals transmitted on a cellular telecommunications network; and a dual mode time tracker configured to select a synchronization mode to synchronize the user equipment clock to a network clock, based at least on one or more signals received by the user equipment while the user equipment is awake to receive signals in a first instance, wherein a first synchronization mode uses a first type of signals and a second synchronization mode uses at least a second type of signals that is different from the first type of signals, wherein the clock is further configured to, in a second instance that is subsequent to the first instance, (i) in response to the selection of the first synchronization mode, wake up the user equipment for a first period of time to receive signals, and (ii) in response to the selection of the second synchronization mode, wake up the user equipment for a second period of time to receive signals, such that the second period of time is different from the first period of time. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The user equipment of claim 10, wherein the clock is further configured to, in the second instance that is subsequent to the first instance and in response to the selection of the first synchronization mode, wake up the user equipment for the first period of time, such that the first period of time is sufficient to receive the first type of signals. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The user equipment of claim 10, wherein the clock is further configured to, in the second instance that is subsequent to the first instance and in response to the selection of the first synchronization mode, wake up the user equipment for the first period of time, such that the first period of time is insufficient to receive the second type of signals. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The user equipment of claim 10, wherein the dual mode time tracker is configured to select the synchronization mode to synchronize the user equipment clock to the network clock, based at least on one or more pilot symbols received by the user equipment. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The user equipment of claim 10, wherein: the dual mode time tracker is further configured to determine that the first type of signals is not sufficiently suitable to synchronize the user equipment clock to the network clock, based at least on one or more signals received by the user equipment while the user equipment is awake to receive signals in a third instance that is subsequent to the second instance; the dual mode time tracker is further configured to select the second synchronization mode to synchronize the user equipment clock to the network clock in a fourth instance that is subsequent to the third instance; and in response to the selection of the second synchronization mode to synchronize the user equipment clock to the network clock in the fourth instance, the clock is further configured to, in the fourth instance, wake up the user equipment to receive signals for the second period of time. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The user equipment of claim 14, wherein the clock is further configured to, in the fourth instance that is subsequent to the third instance, wake up the user equipment to receive signals for the second period of time, such that the second period of time is sufficient to receive the second type of signals. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The user equipment of claim 14, wherein the clock is further configured to, in the fourth instance, wake up the user equipment to synchronize the clock to the network clock based on the second type of signals. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The user equipment of claim 10, wherein the dual mode time tracker is further configured to, in response to the selection of the first synchronization mode, synchronize the clock to the network clock using the first type of signals during the first period of time, the first type of signals being one or more pilot signals. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The user equipment of claim 10, wherein the dual mode time tracker is further configured to, in response to the selection of the second synchronization mode, synchronize the clock to the network clock using at least the second type of signals during the second period of time, the second type of signals being synchronization signals.