Remote Radio Head Timing Generator for Wireless Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently and cost-effectively transferring precise timing signals from a base station to remote digital radio heads, often requiring expensive satellite-derived timing sources and complex installations, especially when the distance between the radio head and antenna is significant.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication system where a satellite receiver antenna and timing generator are located at the radio head, extracting timing information from satellite signals and providing synchronized timing signals to both the radio head and base station, reducing the need for precise timing at the base station and allowing for less expensive wired transmission links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If satellite-derived timing sources are used at the base station to provide precise timing to remote digital radio heads, then timing precision is improved, but system cost and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The timing generator function is extracted from the base station and placed at the remote radio head location. This allows the remote radio head to independently generate precise timing signals from satellite signals, eliminating the need for complex timing signal transfer infrastructure while maintaining timing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
A timing generator acts as an intermediary device that converts satellite signals into synchronized timing signals. This intermediary component enables precise timing to be generated locally at the remote radio head, avoiding the complexity of transferring timing signals over long distances through wired infrastructure.
2Reliability
If satellite receiver antenna and timing generator are located at the base station, then timing control is centralized, but installation cost and difficulty increase due to required unobstructed sky view and complex wiring
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of centralizing the timing generator at the base station and distributing timing signals to remote radio heads, the invention inverts the architecture by placing the timing generator at the remote radio head location. This inversion simplifies installation by eliminating the need for unobstructed sky view at the base station and reduces wiring complexity.
3Measurement precision
If precise timing signals are transferred over long wired transmission links from base station to remote radio heads, then synchronization is maintained, but transmission cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The timing signal generation function is extracted from the base station and relocated to the remote radio head. This eliminates the need for complex wired transmission infrastructure for timing signals, as each remote radio head generates its own timing signals locally while maintaining synchronization through the timing generator's design.
Data Source
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AI summary
An improved digital radio head system and method for wireless communications is disclosed that simplifies the timing and synchronization between the access network (105), base station (280), and radio head (260). A satellite derived timing source is obtained at one or more of the remote radio heads (260) where it is convenient to obtain and use the timing reference. The reference is transmitted back to the base station (280), if necessary, to synchronize the two. This is further synchronized at a lower accuracy through the access network.