Method and apparatus for network synchronization

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016192304-A1
Application number	US-201414910222-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 16, 2014
Priority date	Sep 16, 2013
Publication date	Jun 30, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and an apparatus for network synchronization are provided. The apparatus comprises a radio frequency (RF) unit for transmitting and receiving a radio signal and a processor operatively coupled to the RF unit, wherein the processor is configured for transmitting signals via the RF unit, wherein the processor performs network synchronization with neighboring cells.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for network synchronization, the apparatus comprising:
a radio frequency (RF) unit for transmitting and receiving a radio signal; and a processor operatively coupled to the RF unit, wherein the processor is configured for transmitting signals via the RF unit, wherein the processor performs network synchronization with neighboring cells.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the RF unit transmits a synchronization signal and receives a round-trip signal as a response of the synchronization signal, and
wherein the processor measures round trip time based on the round-trip signal, and transmits information on timing adjustment via the RF unit when round trip delay is detected through measuring the round trip time.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the round-trip signal is received on random access channel.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the processor transmits information on timing advance offset to a user equipment via the RF unit, and
wherein the random access channel is transmitted from the user equipment using the timing advance offset.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the RF unit transmits information on synchronization gap pattern periodically, and wherein the processor configures the synchronization gap pattern to be aligned with transmission pattern of a source cell.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the RF unit receives information on synchronization gap pattern periodically, and
wherein the processor transmits a signal via the RF unit based on the synchronization gap pattern which is aligned with transmission pattern of a source cell.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor applies a frame boundary offset between downlink subframe and uplink subframe, and wherein the frame boundary offset is configured based on higher layer signaling.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor synchronizes with clock source so as to align a boundary of subframe with a boundary of the clock source's subframe.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the RF unit receives signal containing information on timing advance from a user equipment, and wherein the processor determines cells to be woke up based on timing advance of the user equipment and propagation delay for each cell.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor determines whether the apparatus can be synchronize with other apparatus when a coverage of the apparatus overlaps with a coverage of the other apparatus.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the processor determines that the apparatus are synchronized with the other apparatus when the apparatus and the other apparatus share a source cell and accumulated synchronization error does not exceed a threshold.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the accumulated synchronization is derived based on synchronization error per hop.

13 . A method for network synchronization, the method comprising:
receiving signal from a user equipment and/or a cell; performing network synchronization with neighboring cells; and transmitting signal to the user equipment and or the cell.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of receiving signal includes receiving a round-trip signal as a response of the synchronization signal, wherein the step of performing network synchronization includes measuring round trip time based on the round-trip signal, and
wherein the step of transmitting signal includes transmitting information on timing adjustment when round trip delay is detected through measuring the round trip time.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the round-trip signal is received on random access channel.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Yi Yunjung
• Ahn Joonkui

Classifications

• H04W56/001 Primary

  Synchronization between nodes · CPC title

• H04W56/009

  Closed loop measurements · CPC title

• H04J11/00

  Orthogonal multiplex systems, {e.g. using WALSH codes}(H04J13/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04W52/0206

  in access points, e.g. base stations · CPC title

• H04W56/0045

  compensating for timing error by altering transmission time · CPC title