GPS Clock Distribution for Converged Network Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication networks face challenges in achieving precise time and frequency synchronization, particularly in wireless access networks, leading to inefficiencies and resource wastage, especially in emerging femto-cell technologies and home networks, where synchronization processes are complex and resource-intensive.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for distributing a global clock using GPS signals across networked devices, involving acquiring the GPS clock, transmitting it over wired connections, and synchronizing network access points and user terminals, including a timing unit for micro base stations and a clock discipliner for wireless-enabled terminals to adjust local oscillators to the global clock.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If GPS clock distribution is implemented across networked devices, then time and frequency synchronization precision is improved, but system complexity and implementation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a GPS clock acquiring stage and control stage as intermediary components that mediate between the GPS satellite signals and the networked devices. The control stage receives GPS clock signals, processes them, and distributes synchronized timing information to network access points and terminals, thereby achieving precise synchronization without requiring each device to independently acquire and process GPS signals, thus reducing system complexity while maintaining high precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system is divided into distinct functional stages: GPS clock acquiring stage, control stage, network access stage, and terminal devices. Each stage performs a specific function in the clock distribution chain, allowing for modular implementation and management. This segmentation enables precise synchronization to be achieved at critical points (control stage) while simpler devices (terminals) only need to receive and follow the distributed timing signals, balancing precision requirements with implementation complexity
2Reliability
If GPS clock distribution is implemented across networked devices, then quality of service is improved, but implementation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control stage is designed to perform multiple functions: acquiring GPS clock signals, generating control messages, distributing timing information to multiple network access points, and managing synchronization across different types of devices. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems for each function, reducing overall implementation costs while maintaining high quality of service through reliable GPS-based synchronization
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring each networked device to have its own GPS receiver and processing capability (which would be expensive), the system creates copies of the synchronized timing information from a single GPS source at the control stage. These timing copies are then distributed to multiple devices, achieving reliable synchronization at low cost by replacing expensive individual GPS receivers with inexpensive timing reception circuits at each device
3Device complexity
If traditional asynchronous wireless networks are used, then device complexity is reduced, but network performance and resource utilization deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary synchronization action by having the control stage acquire GPS clock signals and generate synchronized timing information before actual data communication occurs. Network access points and terminals are pre-synchronized to the same time reference, ensuring that when data transmission takes place, all devices are already aligned in time and frequency, eliminating the need for complex real-time synchronization protocols during data communication and thereby improving network performance without significantly increasing device complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A method for synchronizing network elements to a global clock derived from the GPS clock acquired by a plurality of base stations. The global clock is distributed to controllers of various networks, and from there to network access devices. The network access devices further distribute the global clock to various wire-line and local wireless networks and from there, to the users served by these networks. The user equipment is enabled with a simple clock discipliner that adjusts the local clock to the global clock, resulting in a reliable synchronization across the converged communication networks.