US6671291B1 — Method and apparatus for sequentially synchronize…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 132 words

A synchronized timing generator for a communication network having a first parent station which maintains a system time value, the synchronized timing generator comprising: a first time transfer unit which receives the system time value from said first parent station and generates a corrected system time value using a first known propagation delay, wherein the known propagation delay is a function of the distance between the first parent station and the first time transfer unit; and a first child station to which said first time transfer unit directly communicates the corrected system time value, whereby said first child station becomes a second parent station, wherein said first time transfer unit includes a pilot signal receiver which acquires the first parent station by receipt of a pilot signal from said first parent station.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 132 words

A synchronized timing generator for a communication network having a first parent station which maintains a system time value, the synchronized timing generator comprising: a first time transfer unit which receives the system time value from said first parent station and generates a corrected system time value using a first known propagation delay, wherein the known propagation delay is a function of the distance between the first parent station and the first time transfer unit; and a first child station to which said first time transfer unit directly communicates the corrected system time value, whereby said first child station becomes a second parent station, wherein said first time transfer unit includes a pilot signal receiver which acquires the first parent station by receipt of a pilot signal from said first parent station.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 24 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 1 , wherein the system time value is generated at said first parent station.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 1 , wherein the system time value is received from a remote source at said first parent station.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 23 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 3 , wherein the remote source is a global position system time measurement.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 23 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 1 , wherein said first parent station is a mobile telephone base station.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 1 , wherein said first child station is a mobile telephone base station.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 64 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 1 , wherein said first time transfer unit includes a demodulator which receives the system time value by demodulating a synchronous channel signal received from said first parent station. 8 .The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 7 , wherein the synchronous channel signal comprises a uniform series of electrical pulses.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 8 , wherein the electrical pulses occur every 80 milliseconds.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 8 , wherein the electrical pulses occur at a variable rate.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 33 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 7 , wherein the corrected system time value is generated in response to the predetermined propagation delay and the demodulated synchronous channel signal.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 22 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 1 , further comprising an adjustor coupled to said first child station.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 12 , wherein said adjustor advances or retards a free running local clock at said first child station.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 55 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 12 , wherein said adjustor includes an adjustor circuit which measures a time difference between a free running clock at said first child station and the corrected system time value, and wherein said adjustor circuit adjusts the free running clock to remove the time difference.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 27 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 14 , wherein said adjustor performs adjustment of the free running clock at a pre-assigned time interval.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 28 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 1 , wherein the system time value is used as a time coordinate for a global positioning measurement.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 89 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 1 , further comprising: at least one secondary time transfer unit, which sequentially receives the corrected system time value from a parent station and generates a recorrected time using a known propagation delay; and at least one secondary child station, wherein each secondary child station is correspondent to one of said secondary time transfer units, which receives the recorrected system time value from said correspondent secondary time transfer unit, whereby said secondary child station becomes a further parent station.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 23 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 17 , wherein each secondary child station is a mobile telephone base station.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 22 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 17 , wherein each parent station is a mobile telephone base station.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 43 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 17 , wherein said at least one secondary time transfer unit includes a pilot signal receiver which acquires said second parent station by receipt of a pilot signal from said second parent station.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 44 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 17 , wherein said at least one secondary time transfer unit includes a demodulator which receives the corrected system time value by demodulating a synchronous channel signal received from said first secondary parent station.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 21 , wherein the recorrected system time value is generated in response to the predetermined propagation delay and the demodulated synchronous channel signal.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 44 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 17 , wherein said at least one secondary time transfer unit includes a pilot signal receiver which acquires a correspondent parent station by receipt of a pilot signal unique to said correspondent parent station.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 26 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 17 , further comprising at least one adjustor coupled to each of said secondary child stations.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 31 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 24 , wherein said at least one adjustor advances or retards a local free running clock at said secondary child station.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 58 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 24 , wherein said at least one adjustor includes an adjustor circuit which measures a time difference between a free running clock at said secondary child station and the recorrected system time value, and wherein said adjustor circuit adjusts the free running clock to remove the time difference.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 27 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 26 , wherein said adjustor performs adjustment of the free running clock at a pre-assigned time interval.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 36 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 24 , wherein said at least one secondary child station becomes a further parent station after receipt of an adjustment from said at least one adjustor.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 41 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 17 , wherein the corrected system time value from said second parent station is sequentially received at said at least one secondary time transfer unit from at least one directional antenna.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 60 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 17 , wherein the corrected system time value from said second parent station is sequentially received at said at least one secondary time transfer unit from a transmission device selected from the group consisting of a coaxial cable, a fiber optic cable, a laser light transmitter, and a satellite transmitter.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 35 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network 6 f claim 17 , wherein each of said at least one secondary child stations is electrically connected to each of said correspondent secondary time transfer units.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 50 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 31 , wherein each of said secondary child stations is electrically connected to each of said correspondent secondary time transfer units using a connection selected from the group consisting of a coaxial cable, a fiber optic cable, and an antenna.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 29 words

The synchronized timing generator for a communication network of claim 17 , wherein the recorrected system time value is used as a time coordinate for a global positioning measurement.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 77 words

A time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system, comprising: a receiver which acquires a pilot signal set; a demodulator which demodulates a synchronous channel signal from a primary base station assigned from the pilot signal set and extracts timing information therefrom; and an adjustor which adds a predetermined propagation delay to the timing information and generates an accurate clock pulse, which is directly communicated to a connected base station.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 77 words

A time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system, comprising: a receiver which acquires a pilot signal set; a demodulator which demodulates a synchronous channel signal from a primary base station assigned from the pilot signal set and extracts timing information therefrom; and an adjustor which adds a predetermined propagation delay to the timing information and generates an accurate clock pulse, which is directly communicated to a connected base station.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 31 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 34 , wherein the pilot signal set includes two or more pilot signals.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 47 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 35 , wherein the pilot signal set has a sequence, and wherein the receiver includes a pilot signal receiver which acquires the pilot signal set according to the sequence.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 43 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 34 , wherein the predetermined propagation delay is a time delay for a transmission travelling between the primary base station and the time transfer unit.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 42 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 34 , wherein the accurate clock pulse is a retardation or an advancement of a local free running clock at the connected base station.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 37 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 34 , further comprising a transmission device which directly communicates the accurate clock pulse to the connected base station.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 41 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 39 , wherein the transmission device is chosen from the group consisting of a coaxial cable, a fiber optic cable, and an antenna.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 32 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 34 , wherein the synchronous channel signal comprises a uniform signal of electrical pulses.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 28 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 41 , wherein the electrical pulses occur every 80 milliseconds.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 29 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 41 , wherein the electrical pulses occur at a variable rate.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 43 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 34 , wherein said adjustor measures a time difference between the accurate clock pulse and a free running local clock at the connected base station.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 48 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 44 , wherein said adjustor adjusts the free running local clock at the connected base station by advancing or retarding the free running local clock at the connected base station.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 35 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 45 , wherein said adjustor retards or advances the free running clock at a pre-assigned time interval.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 28 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 34 , wherein the receiver receives from a transmission device.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 49 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 47 , wherein the transmission device is chosen from the group consisting of a directional antenna, a coaxial cable, a fiber optic cable, a laser light transmitter, and a satellite transmitter.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 33 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 34 , wherein the receiver operates continuously, or may take measurements only at assigned intervals.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 28 words

The time transfer unit for connection to a base station in a sequential time synchronization system of claim 34 , wherein the receiver operates at assigned time intervals.

Claim 52

Independent Claim 108 words

A method of synchronizing timing generation in a communication network, comprising: receiving a system time value from a parent station at a time transfer unit; and generating a corrected system time value at said time transfer unit using a known propagation delay and the system time value received from said parent station, wherein the known propagation delay is a function of the distance between the parent station and the parent station; and communicating the corrected time value to a child station, whereby said child station becomes a parent station; generating the system time value at a time generator; and receiving the system time value at said parent station.

Claim 53

Independent Claim 108 words

A method of synchronizing timing generation in a communication network, comprising: receiving a system time value from a parent station at a time transfer unit; and generating a corrected system time value at said time transfer unit using a known propagation delay and the system time value received from said parent station, wherein the known propagation delay is a function of the distance between the parent station and the parent station; and communicating the corrected time value to a child station, whereby said child station becomes a parent station; generating the system time value at a time generator; and receiving the system time value at said parent station.

Claim 54

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of synchronizing timing generation in a communication network of claim 51 , further comprising generating the system time value at said parent station.

Claim 55

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method of synchronizing timing generation in a communication network of claim 51 , further comprising repeating said receiving, generating, and communicating for a plurality of secondary time transfer units, whereby said plurality of secondary child stations sequentially become a plurality of secondary parent stations.

Claim 56

Dependent Claim 102 words

The method of synchronizing timing generation in a communication network of claim 51 , further comprising: receiving sequentially at a plurality of time transfer units the corrected system time value; generating at each of the plurality of time transfer units a recorrected time using a known propagation delay between a previous parent station in the sequence and a current child station in the sequence; and adopting the recorrected time at a plurality of secondary child stations, wherein each secondary child station is correspondent to one of said plurality of secondary time transfer units, whereby said secondary child stations become secondary parent stations.

Claim 57

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of synchronizing timing generation in a communication network of claim 51 , further comprising calculating at said parent station a global positioning of said parent station using three spatial coordinates and the system time value.

Claim 58

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of synchronizing timing generation in a communication network of claim 55 , wherein the spatial coordinates are received from at least one global positioning satellite.

Claim 59

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of synchronizing timing generation in a communication network of claim 51 , wherein the predetermined propagation delay is a time delay for a signal travelling between said parent station and said time transfer unit.

Claim 60

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of synchronizing timing generation in a communication network of claim 51 , wherein said generating is performed by adding the predetermined propagation delay and the system time value.

Claim 61

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of synchronizing timing generation in a communication network of claim 51 , wherein said communicating is a direct electrical connection communicating.

Claim 62

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of synchronizing timing generation in a communication network of claim 59 , wherein said direct electrical connection is selected from the group consisting of a coaxial cable, a fiber optic cable, and an antenna.

Claim 63

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of synchronizing timing generation in a communication network of claim 51 , wherein said receiving includes demodulating a synchronous channel signal from said parent station after receiving a pilot signal from said parent station.

Claim 64

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of synchronizing timing generation in a communication network of claim 51 , wherein said communicating includes: comparing a free running local clock at said child station to said generating of the corrected system time value; and adjusting the free running local clock at said child station in accordance with said comparing.

Claim 65

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of synchronizing timing generation in a communication network of claim 62 , further comprising repeating said receiving, said generating, and said communicating at an assigned time interval.

Claim 66

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method synchronizing timing generation in a communication network of claim 51 , further comprising calibrating at a given time interval to recalibrate the predetermined propagation delay.

Claim 67

Dependent Claim 158 words

A synchronized frequency generator for a communication network, comprising: a first parent station which transmits a pilot signal at a first center, frequency; a first frequency transfer unit which receives the pilot signal from said first parent station and generates a corrected system frequency value by translating the center frequency of the received pilot signal to a reference center frequency; a first child station to which said first frequency transfer unit directly communicates the corrected system frequency value, whereby said first child station becomes a second parent station; a second frequency transfer unit, which receives the translated pilot signal from said second parent station and generates a further corrected system frequency value by translating a center frequency of the pilot signal from the second parent station to the reference frequency; and a second child station which receives the corrected system frequency value from said second time transfer unit, whereby said second child station becomes a third parent station.

Claim 68

Dependent Claim 158 words

A synchronized frequency generator for a communication network, comprising: a first parent station which transmits a pilot signal at a first center, frequency; a first frequency transfer unit which receives the pilot signal from said first parent station and generates a corrected system frequency value by translating the center frequency of the received pilot signal to a reference center frequency; a first child station to which said first frequency transfer unit directly communicates the corrected system frequency value, whereby said first child station becomes a second parent station; a second frequency transfer unit, which receives the translated pilot signal from said second parent station and generates a further corrected system frequency value by translating a center frequency of the pilot signal from the second parent station to the reference frequency; and a second child station which receives the corrected system frequency value from said second time transfer unit, whereby said second child station becomes a third parent station.

Claim 69

Dependent Claim 19 words

The synchronized frequency generator for a communication network of claim 65 , wherein the reference frequency is 10 MHz.

Claim 70

Dependent Claim 96 words

In a wireless communication system, a method comprising: determining a system time value at a first base station; transmitting the system time value to a second base station; generating a second system time value based on the system time value and a predetermined time delay between the first base station and the second base station; transmitting the second system time value to a third base station; and generating a third system time value based on the second system time value and a second predetermined time delay between the second base station and the third base station.

Claim 71

Dependent Claim 96 words

In a wireless communication system, a method comprising: determining a system time value at a first base station; transmitting the system time value to a second base station; generating a second system time value based on the system time value and a predetermined time delay between the first base station and the second base station; transmitting the second system time value to a third base station; and generating a third system time value based on the second system time value and a second predetermined time delay between the second base station and the third base station.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2006-12-29	2007-06-30	2007-12-30	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2010-12-29	2011-06-30	2011-12-30	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2014-12-29	2015-06-30	2015-12-30	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for sequentially synchronized network

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag