Base Station Frame Structure Timing Adjustment for Femtocell Synchronization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Femtocells, located indoors and lacking GPS synchronization, experience timing misalignment with outdoor base stations, leading to interference in wireless communications.
Innovation Solution
A method where a base station determines an initial frame structure with active and dummy regions, adjusts its timing based on received timing information from a mobile station and another base station to improve synchronization, reducing interference by aligning its internal timing with the second base station.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If femtocells are deployed indoors without GPS synchronization, then deployment flexibility and coverage improvement are enhanced, but timing synchronization with base stations deteriorates causing interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a timing adjustment mechanism that acts as an intermediary between the femtocell's internal timing and the base station's GPS-synchronized timing. The femtocell receives timing information from base stations and adjusts its frame structure accordingly, using the timing adjustment mechanism as a mediator to resolve the synchronization conflict without requiring direct GPS access.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing parameters of the femtocell by adjusting its frame structure. Specifically, it modifies the timing advance values and frame alignment based on received timing information from base stations, thereby adapting its operational parameters to achieve synchronization despite lacking GPS capability.
2Ease of manufacture
If femtocells use simplified low-power design without GPS, then cost and power consumption are reduced, but timing precision and network coordination worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the femtocell continuously receives timing information from base stations and mobile stations, measures its timing offset, and adjusts its frame structure accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system enables the simplified femtocell to achieve precise timing synchronization without complex hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The femtocell performs self-synchronization by autonomously adjusting its own timing based on feedback from the network. It calculates timing offsets using received signals from base stations and mobile stations, then automatically corrects its frame structure without requiring external synchronization hardware or complex manual configuration.
3Ease of operation
If femtocells operate with independent timing, then deployment simplicity is improved, but network interference and communication reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the femtocell's frame structure dynamic rather than static. The frame structure is continuously adjusted based on real-time timing information from base stations and mobile stations, allowing the femtocell to adapt its timing characteristics dynamically to maintain synchronization and minimize interference while preserving deployment simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus of synchronization and frame structure determination of a base station are disclosed. One method includes the base station determining an initial frame structure including an active region and a dummy region, wherein the regions are sets of OFDM symbols. The base station receives timing information from at least one of a mobile station and a second base station, wherein the mobile station is simultaneously communicating with the base station and the second base station. The base station adjusts its frame structure based at least in part on the timing information, wherein adjusting its frame structure includes at least one of adjusting the active region and the dummy region. The base station adjusts its internal timing to improve synchronization with the second base station based on the timing error information.