Multistandard Base Station Clocking for CPRI Synchronization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Multimode base stations, which support multiple radio access technologies, face challenges in synchronizing system clocks of different standards, leading to potential out-of-synchronization and malfunction of the CPRI interface during radio frequency processing.
Innovation Solution
A base station clock apparatus comprising first- and second-standard clock modules generates frequency and phase synchronization signals, allowing for the synchronization of system clocks across different standards, with the modules capable of receiving and processing external clock signals to produce synchronized system clock signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple clock modules of different standards are used in a multimode base station, then the base station can support multiple radio access technologies, but the system clocks of different standards may become out of synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a clock synchronization device as an intermediary component that receives clock signals from multiple clock modules of different standards (GSM, UMTS, LTE) and outputs synchronized clock signals. This mediator ensures that all radio access technologies share a common timing reference, resolving the synchronization conflict while maintaining multi-standard support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The clock synchronization device is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple types of clock inputs from different standards (GSM 26MHz, UMTS 156MHz, LTE 19.2MHz) and provide unified synchronized outputs to various radio frequency modules. This universal approach allows a single device to serve multiple standards without requiring separate synchronization mechanisms for each.
2Adaptability or versatility
If system clocks of different standards are not synchronized, then each standard can operate independently, but the CPRI interface experiences out-of-synchronization and malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The clock synchronization device acts as a mediator between independent clock modules and the CPRI interface, receiving unsynchronized clock signals from different standards and providing a unified synchronized clock signal that ensures proper CPRI interface operation while preserving the independence of each standard's clock module.
3Reliability
If a single external clock source is used for all standards, then clock synchronization is achieved, but the base station loses the ability to support multiple radio access technologies with their specific clock requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the clock supply architecture into independent clock modules for each standard (GSM, UMTS, LTE) that maintain their specific clock characteristics, while introducing a clock synchronization device that segments the synchronization function. This allows each standard to retain its clock independence while achieving synchronization through the dedicated synchronization component.
Solution Approach 2:
The clock synchronization device serves as an intermediary that preserves the independence of multiple clock sources while achieving synchronization. It receives clock signals from different standards without requiring them to share a common source, thus maintaining adaptability to multiple radio access technologies while ensuring reliable synchronization.
Data Source
AI summary
A base station clock apparatus, a base station system, and a method for clock synchronization are provided in embodiments of the present invention. The base station clock apparatus includes: a first-standard clock module based on a first standard, configured to generate a first frequency synchronization clock signal, a first phase synchronization signal, and a first system clock signal according to a first external clock signal, where the first system clock signal includes the first frequency synchronization clock signal and the first phase synchronization signal; a second-standard clock module based on a second standard that is different from the first standard, configured to receive the first frequency synchronization clock signal and the first phase synchronization signal from the first-standard clock module, and generate a second system clock signal, where the second system clock signal includes the first frequency synchronization clock signal and the first phase synchronization signal.