PROVIDING REFERENCE SIGNAL TO RADIO HEADS

摘要

A method and apparatus for supplying a timing signal from a central unit to at least one radio head connected to the central unit via a communications link. An external signal, typically generated by a MSC, is received at a first framer of the central unit and the first framer generates a reference clock signal based thereon. This reference clock signal is used as the transmit clock for a second framer, known as the radio head framer. The radio head framer transmits a radio head downlink signal to the radio head(s) via the communications link. The radio head downlink signal typically includes payload information and an associated timing reference signal, typically in the form an embedded clock signal. This timing reference signal of the downlink is based on the reference clock signal from the first framer, rather than being based on a clock signal from an oscillator within the central unit. The transceivers within the radio head(s) may then control their RF transmission using the timing reference signal from the radio head framer of the central unit. Accordingly, the radio head(s) are provided with a timing reference signal that is based relatively directly on the signal from the MSC.