USING SYSTEM FRAME NUMBER TO IMPLEMENT TIMERS IN TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM HAVING REDUNDANCY

摘要

A wireless communication system utilizes system frame numbers (SFNs) upon which to base identification of frames of information transmitted by the communication system, as well as for expressing timeout values associated with process-set timers. The wireless communication system comprises a first (active) unit (40) which executes an operational process (OP), as well as a second (standby) unit (42) which executes the operational process in redundant manner with the first unit. The operational process sets a timer by computing an expiration system frame number to be used for determining a timeout value. The timer expires when a current system frame number reaches the calculated expiration system frame number. The SFN-based timeout values of the present invention are easily accessible and easily re-established upon reset and resynchronization of one of the redundant units.