METHODS IMPLEMENTED IN ACCESS NODES FOR MAINTAINING SYNCHRONIZATION IN RADIO ACCESS NETWORK AND ASSOCIATED ACCESS NODES

摘要

The present disclosure provides methods implemented in ANs for maintaining synchronization in a radio access network employing a hierarchical synchronization mechanism. One of the methods is implemented in an AN at synchronization level 1 and comprises detecting that an AN at synchronization level 0 is down and initiating a random back-off procedure. The method further comprises determining whether a first synchronization signal generated at another AN at synchronization level 1 is received during the random back-off procedure. If it is determined that no first synchronization signal is received during the random back-off procedure, a second synchronization signal providing a synchronization reference is generated and broadcast upon completion of the random back-off procedure. The present disclosure also provides ANs for maintaining synchronization in a radio access network employing a hierarchical synchronization mechanism.