Synchronization of devices in a wireless communication network

摘要

Techniques for synchronizing devices in a wireless network are described. In an aspect, a device determines a receive time for a base station, obtains a time offset for the base station from a network entity, and sets its transmit time based on the receive time and the time offset for the base station. The time offset compensates for the degree by which the base station is asynchronous with respect to a reference time, e.g., UTC time. In another aspect, a device determines and sends time difference information (e.g., a time offset or a TDOA measurement) for at least one base station to support synchronization of other devices. In yet another aspect, a network entity supports synchronization of devices, receives time difference information for at least one base station, and determines at least one time offset for the at least one base station based on the time difference information.

主权项

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:
determining a receive time for a first base station at a first device; obtaining a first time offset for the first base station by the first device; setting a first transmit time of the first device based on the receive time and the first time offset for the first base station; and transmitting a first signal based on the first transmit time of the first device, wherein the first signal is synchronous with a second signal transmitted by a second device having a second transmit time set based on a second time offset for a second base station, the first base station and the second base station are asynchronous, each of the first and second time offsets is periodically updated based on a mean timing drift of a plurality of base stations, and the mean timing drift is determined by setting a time offset associated with each of the plurality of base stations to zero at different time intervals, wherein the first time offset for the first base station and the second time offset for the second base station are determined based on at least one of time difference of arrival (TDOA) measurements for the plurality of base stations, or a reference time to which the first device and the second device are synchronized.