Time Reference Timestamping for Cellular Measurement Logs
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Solution Overview
Problem
In cellular communication systems, the lack of synchronized clocks in user equipment (UE) leads to inaccuracies in time stamping measurement data, making it challenging for network nodes to compare and analyze measurement logs from multiple UEs, which is crucial for optimizing radio coverage, mobility, network capacity, and quality of service.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism where the network node provides a time reference to the UE, allowing the UE to use an internal clock function to timestamp measurement data relative to this reference, enabling accurate comparison of measurement logs across UEs without requiring clock synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If UE devices use independent internal clocks for timestamping measurement data, then each UE can independently record measurements without synchronization infrastructure, but the measurement data from multiple UEs cannot be accurately compared due to time offsets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a time reference message as an intermediary carrier that transmits timing information from the network to the UE. This message contains a time reference value that serves as a common reference point, allowing UEs to synchronize their local counters with the network time without requiring direct clock synchronization between UEs.
Solution Approach 2:
The network node performs preliminary action by generating and sending time reference messages to UEs before measurement logging begins. This pre-establishes a common time reference that UEs can use to timestamp their measurements accurately, avoiding the need for post-hoc synchronization.
2Productivity
If the network node collects and compares measurement logs from multiple UEs, then network optimization can be improved, but the complexity of time synchronization across distributed UEs increases
Solution Approach 1:
The time reference message acts as a mediator that eliminates the need for complex peer-to-peer synchronization between UEs. Each UE independently receives the same time reference from the network, simplifying the synchronization mechanism while enabling effective comparison of measurement data across multiple UEs.
Solution Approach 2:
Each UE autonomously maintains its own local counter and timestamps measurements using its counter combined with the received time reference. This self-service approach allows UEs to independently generate synchronized timestamps without requiring complex coordination or synchronization protocols between devices.
3Device complexity
If UE internal clocks are not synchronized, then device complexity is reduced, but the accuracy of time-stamped measurement data comparison deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides preliminary time reference information to UEs before measurements are taken. This allows UEs to start their local counters from a known reference point, ensuring that timestamps are accurate relative to the network time without requiring continuous clock synchronization or complex synchronization mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE creates a copy of the time reference value received from the network and uses it in combination with its local counter to generate timestamps. This copying mechanism allows the UE to maintain accurate timestamps independently, without needing to continuously synchronize its clock with the network or other UEs.
Data Source
AI summary
Unsynchronized internal clocks of user equipments in a cellular communication system are addressed by a mechanism relying on a standalone clock function in user equipments. A network node distributes a time reference to a user equipment (UE), and the UE, using an internal clock function, time-stamps the logged measurements and/or events relative to the received time reference. When the UE has logged measurements, the UE indicates to the network node that it has an available measurement log. The network node may then request several UEs to deliver their respective measurement logs. The network node is then able to retrieve time-stamped measurement information from the measurement log of each UE relative to the sent time reference. The network node is then able to compare measurement information from each UE in a cell provided at the same time interval in all UEs.