Over-the-air synchronization for small cells in a wireless communication network
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
InventorsHavish Koorapaty, Daniel Larsson, Angelo Centonza
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A timing offset value between at least one macro node and a common global navigation satellite system, GNSS, derived reference time is measured. The timing offset value is transmitted to at least a cell node that does not have a GNSS reference for transmission timing adjusting at the cell node. In some embodiments, where no small cell in a cluster has a GNSS reference time, a timing of a macro base station is used as a reference for synchronizing small cells in the cluster.
Claims26
A method of synchronizing a plurality of nodes in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:
- receiving a first measured timing offset value between a first node of a first type and a common global navigation satellite system, GNSS, reference time received from a first node of a second type having the GNSS reference time;
- determining a timing offset value based on the first measured timing offset value;
- and
- transmitting the determined timing offset value to a second node of the second type that does not have a GNSS reference time so that the second node of the second type is enabled to synchronize to timing of the first node of the first type.
A method for synchronizing a plurality of nodes of a second type in the absence of the plurality of nodes of the second type having a global navigation satellite system, GNSS, reference, the method comprising:
- receiving from a first node of the second type a first measured timing offset value between a first node of a first type and the first node of the second type;
- determining a timing offset value based on the first measured timing offset value;
- and
- transmitting the timing offset value to the plurality of nodes of the second type.
A network node configured to synchronize a plurality of nodes of a second type to the timing of a node of a first type, the network node comprising:
- a memory configured to store:
- a first measured timing offset value between a first node of the first type and a global navigation satellite system, GNSS, reference time received from a first node of the second type having the GNSS reference time;
- and
- a timing offset value based on the first measured timing offset value;
- and
- a processor configured to:
- determine the timing offset value;
- a transceiver configured to:
- receive the first measured timing offset value;
- and
- transmit the determined timing offset value to a second node of the second type lacking a GNSS reference time to enable the second node of the second type to synchronize to the first node of the first type.
A network node configured to synchronize a plurality of nodes of a second type, the plurality of nodes of the second type not having a common global navigation satellite system, GNSS, reference, the network node comprising:
- a transceiver configured to:
- receive from a first node of the second type a first measured timing offset value between a first node of a first type and the first node of the second type;
- and
- transmit a timing offset value to the plurality of nodes of the second type, the timing offset value being determined based on the first measured timing offset value;
- a processor configured to determine the timing offset value;
- and
- a memory configured to store:
- the first measured timing offset value;
- and
- the timing offset value.
A node of a second type having a global navigation satellite system, GNSS, reference, the node of the second type being in a cluster of nodes of the second type within a coverage area of at least one of a first type, the node of the second type comprising:
- a memory configured to store:
- a GNSS reference time;
- and
- a measured timing offset value between a timing of a node of the first type and the GNSS reference time;
- a processor configured to determine the measured timing offset value;
- and
- a transceiver configured to:
- receive the timing from the node of the first type;
- and
- transmit the measured timing offset value to a network node.
A network node, comprising:
- a memory module configured to store:
- a measured timing offset value;
- and
- a determined timing offset value;
- a processor module including:
- a timing offset value determination module configured to determine the determined timing offset value based on the measured timing offset value;
- and
- a transceiver module configured to:
- receive the measured timing offset value;
- and
- transmit the determined timing offset value to a plurality of nodes of another type.
A node, comprising:
- a memory module configured to store:
- a measured timing offset value;
- and
- a global navigation satellite system, GNSS, reference time;
- a processor module including:
- a timing offset value measurement module configured to measure a timing offset value between the GNSS reference time and a time of a node of another type;
- a GNSS reference time generator configured to generate the GNSS reference time;
- and
- a transceiver module configured to:
- receive the time of the node of the other type;
- and
- transmit the measured timing offset value to a network node.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.