Clock Synchronization During Wireless Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
During cell handover in wireless communication networks, especially in the New Radio (NR) standard, achieving precision clock synchronization between a target base station and user equipment (UE) is challenging due to potential clock desynchronization between different base stations, which can lead to communication issues.
Innovation Solution
A method where the source base station sends a handover request to the target base station, requesting precision clock information, and subsequently receives and forwards this information to the UE, allowing for clock synchronization by calculating and compensating for the clock difference between the two base stations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If cell handover is performed between serving cell and neighbor cell across base stations, then mobility and flexibility are improved, but clock synchronization between base stations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The source base station obtains precision clock information of the target base station before the handover is executed. This preliminary acquisition of clock information allows the UE to perform delay compensation in advance, ensuring clock synchronization is maintained during the handover process across different base stations.
Solution Approach 2:
The source base station acts as an intermediary by obtaining and forwarding precision clock information from the target base station to the UE. This intermediary role enables the UE to calculate the clock difference and perform delay compensation, thereby resolving the synchronization issue between UE and target base station during handover.
2Measurement precision
If precision clock information is transmitted from target base station to UE, then clock synchronization precision is improved, but transmission delay requirements become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The precision clock information is obtained and processed before the handover execution. The UE uses this information to calculate clock difference and perform delay compensation in advance, reducing the critical transmission delay requirement during the actual handover process.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE autonomously calculates the clock difference using the obtained precision clock information and performs delay compensation on itself. This self-service approach eliminates the need for the network to continuously adjust timing, thereby reducing transmission delay requirements.
3Reliability
If clock difference calculation and delay compensation are implemented, then communication reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The source base station serves as an intermediary that obtains precision clock information from the target base station and forwards it to the UE. This centralized approach simplifies the system architecture compared to having each UE independently acquire clock information, while still achieving reliable clock synchronization through UE-based delay compensation.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a clock synchronization method and apparatus, and a storage medium. The clock synchronization method includes that: when a source base station determines that a user equipment (UE) satisfies a handover condition, the source base station sends a handover request to a target base station, where the handover request includes a request for precision clock information; and the source base station receives the precision clock information of the target base station.