Synchronization for cellular telecommunications network

US6373834B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ) · SE

Inventors

• Peter Lundh · Skärholmen, SE
• Jasmina Nesic · Stockholm, SE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 11, 1998
• Grant date: Apr 16, 2002
• Expiry date: Jun 11, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04J3/0697
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Synchronization is effected in a cellular telecommunications network (20) between a master timing unit (60) located at control node (30) of the network and a slave timing unit (STU) located either at the control node or a controlled node, e.g., base station (22), of the network. In accomplishing the synchronization, one of the master timing unit or the slave timing unit serves as an initiating timing unit for transmitting a synchronization analysis command message including a first parameter (t1) to the other of the timing units which serves as a responding timing unit. In response, the responding timing unit sends a synchronization analysis response message which includes at least second parameter (t2) and preferably a third parameter (t3) to the initiating timing unit. The initiating unit uses e.g., parameters extracted from the synchronization analysis response message to determine a synchronization adjustment value for the slave timing unit. When the master timing unit is the initiating timing unit, the master timing unit transmits the synchronization adjustment value in a synchronization updating command message to the slave timing unit.