Wireless Access Point Clock Synchronization via Signal Offset Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks face limitations in synchronization of clocks among base stations, which affects network performance, and require expensive accurate clocks for synchronization.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for monitoring and handling timing and frequency offsets between access points in a network by obtaining signal characteristics, detecting offsets, and performing post-processing to synchronize clocks, using user equipment and access points to collect and aggregate signal data, allowing for more accurate and cost-effective synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If expensive accurate clocks are used for synchronization, then clock synchronization accuracy is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses user equipment to measure and report timing information about access points, creating a copy of the timing data that can be processed to determine relative timing offsets between multiple access points without requiring expensive synchronized clocks at each location
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary processing system that collects timing information from multiple user equipment reports and calculates relative timing offsets between access points, eliminating the need for direct expensive clock synchronization between all access points
2Reliability
If clocks of multiple access points are synchronized, then network performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the synchronization problem by measuring timing offsets between access points individually through separate user equipment reports, then processing these segmented measurements to determine relative timing relationships without requiring a centralized complex synchronization system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables access points to self-synchronize by having them report their own timing information through user equipment, allowing the system to automatically calculate and apply timing corrections without external intervention or complex synchronization infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses are provided for obtaining downlink or uplink signal characteristics of at least one access point in a network. The signal characteristics may be obtained through user equipment receiving the signal characteristics, through the at least one access point, or through another access point. Frequency or timing offset between two or more access points may be determined based on the obtained signal characteristics, where the frequency or timing offset may be handled through post processing. For example, a clock servo may be controlled or adjusted in response to the determined offset, the absolute frequency of a master network oscillator may be calibrated, traffic anomalies within the network may be detected and corrected, and/or respective clocks of the two or more access points may be synchronized.