Method and apparatus for timing and/or frequency offset monitoring and handling

摘要

Methods and apparatuses are provided for obtaining downlink or uplink signal characteristics of at least one access point in a network. The signal characteristics may be obtained through user equipment receiving the signal characteristics, through the at least one access point, or through another access point. Frequency or timing offset between two or more access points may be determined based on the obtained signal characteristics, where the frequency or timing offset may be handled through post processing. For example, a clock servo may be controlled or adjusted in response to the determined offset, the absolute frequency of a master network oscillator may be calibrated, traffic anomalies within the network may be detected and corrected, and/or respective clocks of the two or more access points may be synchronized.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
obtaining signal characteristics of two or more access points in a network, the signal characteristics being obtained through one of user equipment or the two or more access points receiving the signal characteristics; detecting an offset between the two or more access points based on the obtained signal characteristics, the offset being at least one of a timing offset or a frequency offset; and performing post processing to handle the offset; and aggregating the signal characteristics over a period of time, the signal characteristics comprising downlink signal characteristics, and wherein the detecting of the offset is based upon the aggregated downlink signal characteristics, and further wherein the detecting of the offset comprises determining a frequency offset between the two or more access points based upon monitored changes in a timing offset between the two or more access points over the period of time.