Asynchronous Wireless Timing Offset Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In asynchronous wireless communication systems, determining base station timing differences is challenging due to unknown and variable timing offsets, which limits geo-location accuracy of wireless communication units.
Innovation Solution
A method to estimate timing offsets between pairs of base stations using records of communications from wireless communication units, allowing for the tracking of these offsets over time without requiring monitoring circuitry in the base stations, and enabling geo-location using techniques typically reserved for synchronous systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If asynchronous wireless communication systems are used, then system flexibility and adaptability are improved, but timing offset determination accuracy deteriorates due to unknown and variable timing offsets between base stations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where wireless communication units report timing measurements to base stations, which then adjust their transmission timing based on received feedback. This closed-loop approach allows asynchronous base stations to synchronize their timing without requiring complex monitoring circuitry, resolving the contradiction between system flexibility and timing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless communication units as intermediaries that measure timing differences between base station signals and report these measurements to the network. This intermediary approach enables timing offset determination without requiring direct monitoring between base stations, maintaining system flexibility while improving measurement accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If monitoring circuitry is added to base stations for timing offset determination, then timing offset measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables base stations to determine timing offsets by processing measurements reported from wireless communication units, rather than requiring dedicated monitoring circuitry at each base station. This self-service approach reduces device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through network-based processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses wireless communication units as intermediaries to perform timing measurements and report results to base stations. This eliminates the need for complex monitoring circuitry in base stations, reducing device complexity while achieving accurate timing offset determination through the intermediary measurement process.
3Measurement precision
If multiple measurements from wireless communication units are collected, then timing offset estimation accuracy is improved, but loss of time increases due to data collection and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous timing measurement and reporting by wireless communication units, allowing the network to accumulate timing data over time without interrupting normal operations. This continuous approach improves estimation accuracy while minimizing time loss by processing data in the background during ongoing communications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary timing measurements and reports from wireless communication units before final timing offset determination is required. This preliminary action allows the network to have timing offset estimates ready in advance, reducing the time loss associated with real-time data collection and processing when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an asynchronous wireless communication system, such as a UMTS system. The various base stations of an asynchronous wireless communication system do not typically have known timing offsets Tb(i), and these timing offsets vary with time. The invention allows the calculation of the difference dTb(i,j) between timing offsets Tb(i), Tb(j) for pairs of base stations B(i), B(j), using the timing of signals received by one or more wireless communication units. Having eliminated the timing offsets between the base stations as a variable, geo-location techniques from synchronous networks may then be used to locate wireless communication units in the asynchronous wireless communication system.