Timing error estimate of UL synchronization

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one processor and a memory storing a set of computer instructions, in which the processor and the memory storing the computer instructions are configured to cause the apparatus to:
• demodulate a group of pilots received in uplink by the apparatus from a user equipment served by the network element, to provide a group of demodulated pilots, each pilot corresponding to one frequency subcarrier of a plurality of frequency subcarriers;
• and
• slide an averaging window through the demodulated pilots of the group of the demodulated pilots to determine, using predetermined rules, a modified group of demodulated pilots having a removed interference component caused by other user equipments, the average window having a length comprising multiple pilots,
• wherein the computer instructions are configured to cause the apparatus to calculate timing offsets in the demodulated group of pilots using phase difference for pairs of the demodulated pilots comprised in the modified group of demodulated pilots, the demodulated pilots in the pairs being separated by one or more frequency subcarriers of the plurality of frequency subcarriers.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium bearing computer program code embodied herein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising:

• code for demodulating, in a network elements, a group of pilots received via a plurality of frequency subcarriers in uplink from user equipment served by the network element to provide a group of demodulated pilots, each pilot corresponding to a respective frequency subcarrier to the plurality of frequency subcarriers;
• code for demodulating, in a network element, a group of pilots received via a plurality of frequency subcarriers in uplink from a user equipment served by the network element to provide a group of demodulated pilots, each pilot corresponding to a respective frequency subcarrier of the plurality of frequency subcarriers;
• code for removing, in the network element, at least one interference component caused by other user equipment from the group of demodulated pilots, at least by sliding an averaging window through the demodulated pilots of the group of the demodulated pilots to determine a modified group of demodulated pilots that does not include the at least one removed interference component, the averaging window having a length comprising multiple pilots;
• and
• code for a calculation, in the network element, timing offsets in the demodulated group of pilots using phase differences for pairs of the demodulated pilots comprised in the modified group of demodulated pilots, the demodulated pilots in the pairs being separated by one or more frequency subcarriers of the plurality of frequency subcarriers.

A method comprising:

• demodulating, in a network element, a group of pilots received via a plurality of frequency subcarriers in uplink from a user equipment served by the network element to provide a group of demodulated pilots, each pilot corresponding to a respective frequency subcarrier of the plurality of frequency subcarriers;
• removing, in the network element, at least one interference component caused by other user equipments from the group of demodulated pilots, at least by sliding an averaging window through the demodulated pilots of the group of the demodulated pilots to determine a modified group of demodulated pilots that does not include the at least one removed interference component, the averaging window having a length comprising multiple pilots;
• and
• calculating, in the network elements, timing offsets in the demodulated group of pilots using phase differences for pairs of the demodulated pilots comprised in the modified group of demodulated pilots, the demodulated pilots in the pairs being separated by one or more frequency subcarriers of the plurality of frequency subcarriers.