Network Node Timing Source Outage Reaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems face performance degradation due to temporary loss of synchronization caused by Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) outages, which can impact timing synchronization among network nodes, affecting features like carrier aggregation and positioning operations.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for reacting to a timing source outage by receiving an indication of the outage and deactivating or modifying transmissions associated with affected nodes, including those involved in carrier aggregation, dual connectivity, dynamic spectrum sharing, and handover procedures, using timing source outage notification messages to enable network nodes to respond to synchronization losses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If cells operate synchronously by aligning timing to GNSS reference time source, then synchronization performance is improved, but system reliability deteriorates when GNSS outages occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting GNSS signal quality in advance and proactively notifying affected nodes before complete outage occurs. The notification message is prepared and transmitted ahead of time, allowing the network to switch to asynchronous operation before synchronization is completely lost, thereby maintaining reliability during outage while preserving synchronization precision during normal operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches operational modes based on GNSS availability. When GNSS signal is available, cells operate in synchronous mode for precise timing alignment. When outage is detected and notification is sent, the system transitions to asynchronous operation, allowing each cell to operate independently. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by adjusting the synchronization strategy according to real-time GNSS signal conditions
2Duration of action of stationary object
If transmissions are continued during timing source outage, then service continuity is maintained, but performance degradation occurs due to loss of synchronization
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts transmission operations based on synchronization status. During GNSS outage, after notification is sent to affected nodes, the system transitions from synchronous transmission mode to asynchronous transmission mode. This allows transmissions to continue maintaining service continuity while adapting to the degraded synchronization condition, preventing performance degradation that would occur if synchronous transmissions were forced during outage
Solution Approach 2:
The system converts the harmful effect of GNSS outage into a beneficial adaptive response. By detecting the outage and sending notifications, the system triggers a mode switch that allows continued operation in asynchronous mode. The previously harmful loss of synchronization becomes a manageable condition where the system operates independently at each node, maintaining service while adapting performance expectations rather than forcing degraded synchronous operation
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are provided for reacting to a notification of a timing source outage in a network node. An example method for reacting to an indication of a timing source outage includes receiving the indication of the timing source outage associated with a first node, and deactivating at least one transmission from the first node.