CN104066166A

CN104066166A - Timing synchronization method and small base station

Info

Publication number: CN104066166A
Application number: CN201310093045.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张兴炜; 万蕾; 马莎; 李强; 郑娟
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2013-03-21
Filing date: 2013-03-21
Publication date: 2014-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-21
Also published as: CN104066166B; WO2014146601A1

Abstract

The embodiments of the invention disclose a timing synchronization method and a small base station, for avoiding the problem that a small base station needs to carry out synchronization source search again when an upper-grade synchronization base station cannot be used for timing synchronization. The method provided by the embodiments of the invention comprises: determining a first upper-grade synchronization base station for the timing synchronization; determining at least one second upper-grade synchronization base station; if the second upper-grade synchronization base station serves as an alternative for the timing synchronization, when the first upper-grade synchronization base station cannot be used for the timing synchronization, performing the timing synchronization by use of the second upper-grade synchronization base station; and if the second upper-grade synchronization base station is also used for the timing synchronization, performing the timing synchronization by use of the first upper-grade synchronization base station and/or the second upper-grade synchronization base station.

Description

A kind of time synchronization method and little base station

Technical field

The present invention relates to technical field of communication, especially relate to a kind of time synchronization method and little base station.

Background technology

In Long Term Evolution LTE (Long Term Evolution)-A Rel-12 version, for the enhancing of hot spot region, become a heat subject.Wherein, hot spot region is to be covered and formed a plurality of small-cells networks (SCN, Small Cell Network) by a plurality of lower powered little base stations (PicoeNB, Pico eNodeB).

Because little base station range is less than macro base station (MeNB, Macro Evolved NodeB), the subscriber equipment of service (UE, User Equipment) quantity also than MeNB still less, thereby can reduce the expense of pilot tone and control signal.Add, UE negligible amounts due to the service of little base station, even there is no to provide sometimes the UE of service, and because the effect of little base station is to improve throughput of system, and unlike macro base station, need ensuring coverage, thereby for the consideration of economizing on electricity, little base station can be closed or enter sleep state, enter dormant little base station no longer for UE provides service.

In LTE time division duplex (TDD, Time Division Duplex) and LTE Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) (FDD, Frequency Division Duplex) system, in order to reduce the interference of minizone, minizone needs precise synchronization.For the scene that there is no grand covering, it is a more difficult thing that little base station need to obtain Timing Synchronization.The existing the most frequently used synchronous method for Home eNodeB (HeNB, Home Evolved NodeB) is network monitoring mechanism (NLM, Network Listening Mechanism).In NLM, it is synchronous that little base station is used network monitoring to obtain from another base station, keep synchronizeing with this higher level's synchronising base station, synchronous if little base station cannot directly obtain from another base station, need to forward from base station acquisition far away synchronous through a plurality of nodes; But in the process of Timing Synchronization, when higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, little base station need to be expended the regular hour and re-start the search of synchronisation source, during this period of time cannot be for UE provides service, and take those base stations that little base station is higher level's synchronising base station and also cannot carry out Timing Synchronization and obtain stable synchronisation source.

Summary of the invention

The embodiment of the present invention provides a kind of time synchronization method and little base station, and for avoiding when synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, little base station need to re-start the problem of synchronisation source search.

In view of this, first aspect present invention provides a kind of time synchronization method, comprising:

Be identified for first higher level's synchronising base station of Timing Synchronization;

Determine at least one second higher level's synchronising base station;

If alternative for Timing Synchronization of described second higher level's synchronising base station,, when described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, utilizes described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization;

If described second higher level's synchronising base station also for Timing Synchronization, utilizes described first higher level's synchronising base station and/or described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization.

In the possible implementation of the first of first aspect, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, described second higher level's synchronising base station is determined based on following mode:

Determine that the base station that has identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station is second higher level's synchronising base station;

Or the highest base station of definite synchronization level is second higher level's synchronising base station;

Or the base station of definite signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station.

In conjunction with the possible implementation of the first of first aspect, in the possible implementation of the second, the highest base station of described definite synchronization level is second higher level's synchronising base station, comprising:

If determine while not thering is the base station of identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station, determine that the base station that synchronization level is the highest is second higher level's synchronising base station;

The base station of described definite signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station, comprising:

If determine when not having the base station of identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station or having a plurality of and described first higher level's synchronising base station to have the base station of identical synchronization level, the base station of determining signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station; Or

When not having the base station of identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station if determine and having the highest base station of a plurality of synchronization level, the base station of determining signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station.

In conjunction with the possible implementation of the first of first aspect, in the third possible implementation, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, described method also comprises:

If when described second higher level's synchronising base station cannot upgrade to current higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization for Timing Synchronization or described second higher level's synchronising base station, the definite mode based on described second higher level's synchronising base station is determined new alternative higher level's synchronising base station.

In the 4th kind of possible implementation of first aspect, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, described method also comprises:

If described first higher level's synchronising base station has not identical synchronization level with described second higher level's synchronising base station, and when described second higher level's synchronising base station upgrades to current higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, adjust self synchronization level than the low one-level of the synchronization level of described second higher level's synchronising base station, and control and take the corresponding adjustment in its base station as higher level's synchronising base station synchronization level.

In conjunction with four kinds of arbitrary possible implementations of the first to the of first aspect, in the 5th kind of possible implementation, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, before described definite at least one second higher level's synchronising base station, comprising:

Arrange and safeguard the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station, the synchronization level of the alternative higher level's synchronising base station in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station is all identical, and all identical with the synchronization level of described first higher level's synchronising base station, or the alternative higher level's synchronising base station synchronization level in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station is different;

Described definite at least one second higher level's synchronising base station is:

Definite mode based on described second higher level's synchronising base station, determines that at least one the alternative higher level's synchronising base station in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station is second higher level's synchronising base station.

In the 6th kind of possible implementation of first aspect, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for Timing Synchronization, described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station are determined based on following mode:

Determine that at least two one group of base stations with identical synchronization level are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station, and error is each other within the scope of preset threshold value.

In conjunction with the 6th kind of possible implementation of first aspect, in the 7th kind of possible implementation, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for Timing Synchronization, first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station are also determined based on following mode:

If determine many groups, there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value time, determine that at least two those the highest group base stations of synchronization level are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station;

If or determine many groups and there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value time, determine that group base station of at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station;

If or determine many groups and there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value time, determine that at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station.

In conjunction with the 7th kind of possible implementation of first aspect, in the 8th kind of possible implementation, that group base station of described definite at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station, comprising:

If determine many groups, there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value, and while having the highest base station of many group synchronization level, determine that group base station of at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station;

Described definite at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station, comprising:

If determine many groups, there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value, and while having the highest base station of many group synchronization level, determine that at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station; Or

If determine many groups, there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value, and while having the base station of many group signal strength signal intensity maximums in the highest base station of many group synchronization level, determine that at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station.

In conjunction with the 8th kind of possible implementation of first aspect, in the 9th kind of possible implementation, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for Timing Synchronization, described method also comprises:

Obtain the position of described second higher level's synchronising base station transmission synchronizing signal;

On self relevant position, be set to multimedia broadcasting single frequency network MBSFN subframe.

In conjunction with the 8th kind of possible implementation of first aspect, in the tenth kind of possible implementation, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for Timing Synchronization, described method also comprises:

Obtain described second higher level's synchronising base station and receive the position of the synchronizing signal that its higher level's synchronising base station sends;

On self relevant position, be set to MBSFN subframe.

In the 11 kind of possible implementation of first aspect, describedly utilize described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization, comprise before:

When with described first higher level's synchronising base station link failure, judging described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization; Or,

When described first higher level's synchronising base station and its higher level's synchronising base station link failure, judging described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization.

In the 12 kind of possible implementation of first aspect, described Timing Synchronization comprises initial timing synchronization and synchronous tracking.

Second aspect present invention provides a kind of little base station, comprising:

Determination module, for being identified for first higher level's synchronising base station of Timing Synchronization;

Described determination module, also for determining at least one second higher level's synchronising base station;

Processing module, if for described second higher level's synchronising base station alternative for Timing Synchronization,, when described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, utilize described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization;

Described processing module, if also for described second higher level's synchronising base station also for Timing Synchronization, utilize described first higher level's synchronising base station and/or described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization.

In the possible implementation of the first of second aspect, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is alternative for Timing Synchronization, described determination module is specifically determined described second higher level's synchronising base station based on following mode: determine that the base station that has identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station is second higher level's synchronising base station; Or the highest base station of definite synchronization level is second higher level's synchronising base station; Or the base station of definite signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station.

In conjunction with the possible implementation of the first of second aspect, in the possible implementation of the second, described determination module, for determining that the highest base station of synchronization level is if that second higher level's synchronising base station is specially and determines while not having the base station of identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station, determines that the base station that synchronization level is the highest is second higher level's synchronising base station;

Described determination module, if for determining that the base station of signal strength signal intensity maximum is that second higher level's synchronising base station is specially and determines when not having the base station of identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station or having a plurality of and described first higher level's synchronising base station to have the base station of identical synchronization level, the base station of determining signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station; If or determine when not thering is the base station of identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station and having the highest base station of a plurality of synchronization level, the base station of determining signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station.

In conjunction with the possible implementation of the first of second aspect, in the third possible implementation, if alternative for Timing Synchronization of described second higher level's synchronising base station, described determination module also for:

In the 4th kind of possible implementation of second aspect, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, described little base station also comprises:

Adjusting module, if there is not identical synchronization level for described first higher level's synchronising base station with described second higher level's synchronising base station, and when described second higher level's synchronising base station upgrades to current higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, adjust self synchronization level than the low one-level of the synchronization level of described second higher level's synchronising base station;

Control module, take for controlling the corresponding synchronization level of adjusting in base station that described little base station is higher level's synchronising base station.

In conjunction with four kinds of arbitrary possible implementations of the first to the of second aspect, in the 5th kind of possible implementation, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, described little base station also comprises:

Module is set, for arranging and safeguard the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station, alternative higher level's synchronising base station synchronization level in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station is all identical, and all identical with the synchronization level of described first higher level's synchronising base station, or the alternative higher level's synchronising base station synchronization level in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station is different;

Described determination module, for determining that at least one second higher level's synchronising base station is specially the definite mode based on described second higher level's synchronising base station, determine that at least one the alternative higher level's synchronising base station in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station is second higher level's synchronising base station.

In the 6th kind of possible implementation of second aspect, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is for Timing Synchronization, described determination module is determined described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station based on following mode: determine that at least two one group of base stations with identical synchronization level are described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station, and error is each other within the scope of preset threshold value.

The 6th kind of possible implementation in conjunction with second aspect, in the 7th kind of possible implementation, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is for Timing Synchronization, described determination module is also determined described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station based on following mode: if determine many groups, have the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value time, determine that at least two those the highest group base stations of synchronization level are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station; If or determine many groups and there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value time, determine that group base station of at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station; If or determine many groups and there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value time, determine that at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station.

The 7th kind of possible implementation in conjunction with second aspect, in the 8th kind of possible implementation, described determination module, for determining that group base station of at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is if that first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station are specially and determine many groups and have the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value, and while having the highest base station of many group synchronization level, determine that group base station of at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station;

Described determination module, for determining that at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are if that first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station are specially and determine many groups and have the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value, and while having the highest base station of many group synchronization level, determine that at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station;

If or determine many groups and there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value, and while having the base station of many group signal strength signal intensity maximums in the highest base station of many group synchronization level, determine that at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station.

In conjunction with the 8th kind of possible implementation of second aspect, in the 9th kind of possible implementation, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for Timing Synchronization, described little base station also comprises:

Acquisition module, for obtaining the position of described second higher level's synchronising base station transmission synchronizing signal;

The described module that arranges, for being set to multimedia broadcasting single frequency network MBSFN subframe on relevant position, described little base station.

In conjunction with the 8th kind of possible implementation of second aspect, in the tenth kind of possible implementation, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for Timing Synchronization, described little base station also comprises:

Acquisition module, receives the position of the synchronizing signal that its higher level's synchronising base station sends for obtaining described second higher level's synchronising base station;

The described module that arranges, for being set to MBSFN subframe on relevant position, described little base station.

In the 11 kind of possible implementation of second aspect, described little base station also comprises:

Judge module, for when with described first higher level's synchronising base station link failure, judging described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization; Or when described first higher level's synchronising base station and its higher level's synchronising base station link failure, judging described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization.

As can be seen from the above technical solutions, a kind of time synchronization method that the embodiment of the present invention provides and little base station, not only determine current first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, also determined second higher level's synchronising base station, also for Timing Synchronization or alternative for Timing Synchronization, to avoid current higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization time, need to re-start the problem of synchronisation source search.

Accompanying drawing explanation

In order to be illustrated more clearly in the technical scheme of the embodiment of the present invention, below the accompanying drawing of embodiment being described to required use is briefly described, apparently, accompanying drawing in the following describes is only some embodiments of the present invention, for those of ordinary skills, do not paying under the prerequisite of creative work, can also obtain according to these accompanying drawings other accompanying drawing.

The schematic flow sheet of a kind of time synchronization method that Fig. 1 provides for the embodiment of the present invention;

Another schematic flow sheet of the time synchronization method that Fig. 2 provides for the embodiment of the present invention;

Another schematic flow sheet of the time synchronization method that Fig. 3 provides for the embodiment of the present invention;

Another schematic flow sheet of the time synchronization method that Fig. 4 provides for the embodiment of the present invention;

The structural representation of the little base station that Fig. 5 provides for the embodiment of the present invention;

Another structural representation of the little base station that Fig. 6 provides for the embodiment of the present invention;

Another structural representation of the little base station that Fig. 7 provides for the embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiment

The embodiment of the present invention provides a kind of time synchronization method and little base station, and for avoiding when higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, little base station need to re-start the problem of synchronisation source search.

Below in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in the embodiment of the present invention, the technical scheme in the embodiment of the present invention is clearly and completely described, obviously, described embodiment is only the present invention's part embodiment, rather than whole embodiment.Embodiment based in the present invention, those of ordinary skills, not making all other embodiment that obtain under creative work prerequisite, belong to the scope of protection of the invention.

Below be elaborated respectively.

Please refer to Fig. 1, the schematic flow sheet of a kind of time synchronization method that Fig. 1 provides for the embodiment of the present invention, wherein, described method comprises:

S101, be identified for first higher level's synchronising base station of Timing Synchronization;

Wherein, the inventive method executive agent is the little base station that needs Timing Synchronization, as micro-base station picoeNB, the little base station femto eNB of family, Home eNodeB HeNB etc., and for convenience of describing and understanding, can be referred to as target BS; Described time synchronization method goes for long-term advancing time division duplex LTE TDD system and Long Term Evolution Frequency Division Duplexing (FDD) LTE FDD system;

S102, determine at least one second higher level's synchronising base station;

Be understandable that, the adjacent base station that described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station are described target BS, wherein, first higher level's synchronising base station is the current base station for Timing Synchronization of target BS, what separately easily expect is, described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station can be little base stations, as pico, femto, HeNB etc., also can be the base station of other types, as global system for mobile communications (GSM, Global System of Mobile communication) or code division multiple access (CDMA, Code Division Multiple Access) base station (BS in, Base Station, BTS, BaseTransceiver Station), also can be Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) (WCDMA, Wideband CodeDivision Multiple Access) base station (NodeB) in, can also be evolved base station (eNB or the e-NodeB in LTE and LTE-A, evolutional Node B), the present invention does not do concrete restriction to this.

Can be according to concrete application scenarios in the embodiment of the present invention, judge first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station definite sequence really, in some embodiments, can first determine first higher level's synchronising base station, determine again second higher level's synchronising base station, in some embodiments, can determine first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station simultaneously, not do concrete restriction herein.

If alternative for Timing Synchronization of the described second higher level's synchronising base station of S103a,, when described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, utilizes described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization;

Under this execution mode, described first higher level's synchronising base station is the current base station for Timing Synchronization of target BS, and described second higher level's synchronising base station for being used for the candidate BS of Timing Synchronization when first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization;

If the described second higher level's synchronising base station of S103b also for Timing Synchronization, utilizes described first higher level's synchronising base station and/or described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization.

Under this execution mode, described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station are all the current base station for Timing Synchronization of target BS, described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station can be simultaneously for target BS provide Timing Synchronization, also can timesharing provide Timing Synchronization for target BS, what separately easily expect is, when a base station in described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, target BS can utilize other the base station that can be used for Timing Synchronization to carry out Timing Synchronization.

From the above, a kind of time synchronization method that the embodiment of the present invention provides, not only determine current first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, also determined second higher level's synchronising base station, also for Timing Synchronization or alternative for Timing Synchronization, to avoid current higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization time, little base station need to re-start the problem of synchronisation source search.

For convenience of understanding and describing, the time synchronization method that following examples are used for Timing Synchronization both of these case the embodiment of the present invention is provided for alternative and second higher level's synchronising base station of Timing Synchronization for second higher level's synchronising base station is respectively made a concrete analysis of:

If suppose in this execution mode of the present invention, described second higher level's synchronising base station is alternative for Timing Synchronization, be target BS in search synchronisation source, need to determine current first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization and determine at least one second alternative higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization; Can be with reference to figure 2, another schematic flow sheet of the time synchronization method that Fig. 2 provides for the embodiment of the present invention, wherein, described method comprises:

S201, be identified for first higher level's synchronising base station of Timing Synchronization;

S202, definite base station that has identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station are second higher level's synchronising base station; Or the highest base station of definite synchronization level is second higher level's synchronising base station; Or the base station of definite signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station.

Be understandable that, in the embodiment of the present invention, signal strength signal intensity can be the signal strength signal intensity stack of the combination of synchronizing signal intensity, reference signal strength, control signal intensity, data signal strength or these signals, does not do concrete restriction herein.

Optionally, in this embodiment, described second higher level's synchronising base station can the mode based on S202 be determined, also can be determined based on following mode:

Further, the highest base station of described definite synchronization level is that second higher level's synchronising base station can comprise:

The base station of described definite signal strength signal intensity maximum is that second higher level's synchronising base station can comprise:

If determine when not having the base station of identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station or having a plurality of and described first higher level's synchronising base station to have the base station of identical synchronization level, the base station of determining signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station; Or when not having the base station of identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station if determine and having the highest base station of a plurality of synchronization level, the base station of determining signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station.

Be understandable that, the preferential base station of selecting to have with described first higher level's synchronising base station identical synchronization level, like this when first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, target BS can directly be used second alternative higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization, and the synchronization level that does not need adjustment aim base station itself while carrying out Timing Synchronization, does not need to adjust yet and take the synchronization level of target BS as those base stations of higher level's synchronising base station;

In some embodiments, target BS can directly be determined second higher level's synchronising base station according to the height of synchronization level; Also can be further, in the situation that determine the base station with described first higher level's synchronising base station with identical synchronization level, preferably selecting the base station that synchronization level is the highest is second higher level's synchronising base station; Separately be understandable that, the base station that synchronization level is the highest can be understood as the base station that jumping figure is minimum or node hop count is minimum, and such base station can guarantee that synchronization accuracy error accumulation is minimum;

In some embodiments, target BS can directly be determined second higher level's synchronising base station according to the power of signal strength signal intensity; Also can be further, determining when not having the base station of identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station or having a plurality of and described first higher level's synchronising base station to have the base station of identical synchronization level, the base station of determining signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station; If or determine and do not there is the base station of identical synchronization level and have in the situation of the base station that a plurality of synchronization level are the highest with described first higher level's synchronising base station, the base station of determining signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station.

S203, when described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, utilize described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization;

Alternatively, if target BS is at definite first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, with determine that after a second alternative higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, alternative higher level's synchronising base station (i.e. second higher level's synchronising base station) can be used based on following mode:

Under an application scenarios, if the synchronization level of second higher level's synchronising base station is identical with the synchronization level of first higher level's synchronising base station, when first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, alternative second higher level's synchronising base station upgrades to current higher level's synchronising base station, so that target BS can obtain new higher level's synchronising base station fast.Because the synchronization level of new higher level's synchronising base station (i.e. second higher level's synchronising base station) is identical with the synchronization level of former higher level's synchronising base station (i.e. first higher level's synchronising base station), thereby the change of higher level's synchronising base station can not cause that the synchronization level of target BS changes, target BS can directly be used new higher level's synchronising base station (i.e. second higher level's synchronising base station) to carry out Timing Synchronization and not need to adjust self synchronization level, does not also need to adjust to take the synchronization level of target BS as those base stations of higher level's synchronising base station.

Under Another Application scene, if described first higher level's synchronising base station has not identical synchronization level with described second higher level's synchronising base station, and when described second higher level's synchronising base station upgrades to current higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, target BS is adjusted himself synchronization level than the low one-level of the synchronization level of described second higher level's synchronising base station, and controls and take the corresponding adjustment in its base station as higher level's synchronising base station synchronization level.

Under this application scenarios, when former higher level's synchronising base station (i.e. first higher level's synchronising base station) cannot be for Timing Synchronization, alternative second higher level's synchronising base station upgrades to current higher level's synchronising base station equally, and target BS can obtain new higher level's synchronising base station fast.But because the synchronization level of new higher level's synchronising base station (i.e. second higher level's synchronising base station) is not identical with the synchronization level of former higher level's synchronising base station (i.e. first higher level's synchronising base station), thereby the change of higher level's synchronising base station changes the grade that causes target BS, now, target BS can directly be used new higher level's synchronising base station (i.e. second higher level's synchronising base station) to carry out Timing Synchronization, but need to adjust the synchronization level of self than the low one-level of the synchronization level of new higher level's synchronising base station, and those be take the base station that target BS is higher level's synchronising base station and also need the corresponding synchronization level of adjusting.

Be understandable that, in this execution mode, the use of alternative higher level's synchronising base station (i.e. second higher level's synchronising base station) goes for the scene of a plurality of second higher level's synchronising base stations, the present embodiment only take second higher level's synchronising base station as alternative higher level's synchronising base station as example describes, do not form limitation of the invention.

Optionally, the alternative embodiment at described second higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, described time synchronization method also comprises:

Be understandable that, at target BS described in this execution mode of the present invention, safeguarding all the time at least one alternative higher level's synchronising base station (i.e. second higher level's synchronising base station).When alternative higher level's synchronising base station cannot or upgrade to current higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization for Timing Synchronization, again according to the selective rule of alternative higher level's synchronising base station, select new alternative higher level's synchronising base station.

In the present embodiment, optionally, target BS utilizes described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization (S203) can also to comprise before: when with described first higher level's synchronising base station link failure, judging described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization; Or when described first higher level's synchronising base station and its higher level's synchronising base station link failure, judging described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization.

Be understandable that, target BS and described first higher level's synchronising base station link failure, for example, detect N continuous and time step-out detected, can determine that target BS and described first higher level's synchronising base station are not synchronizeed to go up, and described N is preset value; Wherein, target BS and described first higher level's synchronising base station link failure link failure can be because first higher level's synchronising base station is closed at random, or the reasons such as bad channel quality between target BS and first higher level's synchronising base station cause; Described first higher level's synchronising base station and its higher level's synchronising base station link failure, can be because higher level's synchronising base station of first higher level's synchronising base station is closed at random, or the reasons such as bad channel quality between higher level's synchronising base station of first higher level's synchronising base station and first higher level's synchronising base station cause, the present invention does not do concrete restriction to this.

In addition, in embodiment of the present invention, described Timing Synchronization can comprise initial timing synchronization and synchronous tracking, wherein, initial timing synchronization refers to first acquisition regularly when target BS or target terminal network, now need to obtain by scanning primary/secondary synchronizing signal (PSS/SSS, Primary/SecondarySynchronization Signal); Synchronous tracking refers to and on the basis that obtains timing, remains synchronous, by detecting public reference signal (CRS, Common Reference Signal), realizes fine setting regularly to remain synchronous.

From the above, a kind of time synchronization method that the embodiment of the present invention provides, not only determine current first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, also determined second higher level's synchronising base station, be used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, to avoid current higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization time, little base station need to re-start the problem of synchronisation source search, thereby can use second higher level's synchronising base station to continue to keep synchronous, reduce the interference between base station and base station, subscriber equipment (UE, User Equipment) and UE.

If suppose in this execution mode of the present invention, described second higher level's synchronising base station is alternative for Timing Synchronization, different from a upper embodiment, in this execution mode, before described definite at least one second higher level's synchronising base station, also comprise and arrange and safeguard the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station; Be that target BS is in search synchronisation source, need to determine current first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, also need to safeguard the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station, easily expect, the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station comprises several alternative higher level's synchronising base stations; Can be with reference to figure 3, another schematic flow sheet of the time synchronization method that Fig. 3 provides for the embodiment of the present invention, wherein, described method comprises:

S301, be identified for first higher level's synchronising base station of Timing Synchronization;

S302, setting are also safeguarded the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station;

Wherein, alternative higher level's synchronising base station synchronization level in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station is all identical, and all identical with the synchronization level of described first higher level's synchronising base station, or the alternative higher level's synchronising base station synchronization level in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station is different;

S303, determine that at least one the alternative higher level's synchronising base station in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station is second higher level's synchronising base station;

Be understandable that, under this execution mode, definite mode that can be based on second higher level's synchronising base station described in a upper embodiment, determines that at least one the alternative higher level's synchronising base station in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station is second higher level's synchronising base station; The mode of determining second higher level's synchronising base station in this execution mode is: determine that the base station that has identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station is second higher level's synchronising base station; Or the highest base station of definite synchronization level is second higher level's synchronising base station; Or the base station of definite signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station.

Be understandable that, in this embodiment, all identical scenes of alternative higher level's synchronising base station synchronization level in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station, or the different scene of alternative higher level's synchronising base station synchronization level in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station, in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station, select to determine when at least one alternative higher level's synchronising base station is second higher level's synchronising base station, can preferentially select to have with described first higher level's synchronising base station the base station of identical synchronization level, like this when first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, target BS can directly be used second alternative higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization, and the synchronization level that does not need adjustment aim base station itself while carrying out Timing Synchronization, do not need to adjust and take the synchronization level of target BS as those base stations of higher level's synchronising base station yet,

S304, when described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, utilize described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization;

Alternatively, if target BS is at definite first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, with from the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station, determine that after a second alternative higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, second higher level's synchronising base station can be used based on following mode:

Under an application scenarios, when first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, second higher level's synchronising base station upgrades to current higher level's synchronising base station, so that target BS can obtain new higher level's synchronising base station fast.If the synchronization level of second higher level's synchronising base station is identical with the synchronization level of first higher level's synchronising base station, the change of higher level's synchronising base station can not cause that the synchronization level of target BS changes, target BS can directly be used new higher level's synchronising base station (i.e. second higher level's synchronising base station) to carry out Timing Synchronization and not need to adjust self synchronization level, does not also need to adjust to take the synchronization level of target BS as those base stations of higher level's synchronising base station.

Under Another Application scene, if described first higher level's synchronising base station has not identical synchronization level with second higher level's synchronising base station, and when described second higher level's synchronising base station upgrades to current higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, target BS is adjusted himself synchronization level than the low one-level of the synchronization level of described second higher level's synchronising base station, and controls and take the corresponding adjustment in its base station as higher level's synchronising base station synchronization level.

It should be noted that, in this execution mode of the present invention, only in the definite mode based on above-mentioned second higher level's synchronising base station, from the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station, selecting at least one alternative higher level's synchronising base station is that example is specifically implemented determining of second higher level's synchronising base station as second higher level's synchronising base station, but do not form limitation of the invention, in some embodiments, alternative higher level's synchronising base station in the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station can be according to the setting of sorting of certain rule, described rule can be with reference to definite mode of above-mentioned second higher level's synchronising base station, before coming with the base station of the identical synchronization level of first higher level's synchronising base station, after the base station not identical with first higher level's synchronising base station synchronization level comes, synchronization level is little is before base station that synchronization level is high comes, and synchronization level is greatly after base station that synchronization level is low comes, before the large base station of signal strength signal intensity is come, after the base station that signal strength signal intensity is little comes.If in this embodiment, alternative higher level's synchronising base station in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station is pressed after described regularly arranged getting well, and target BS can determine that at least one the alternative higher level's synchronising base station in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station is second higher level's synchronising base station; When described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, utilize described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization.

Be understandable that, at target BS described in this execution mode of the present invention, safeguarding all the time the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station.For this optional mode, if the alternative higher level's synchronising base station in the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station is by described regularly arranged good, when first the alternative higher level's synchronising base station in the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station upgrades to current higher level's synchronising base station, second alternative higher level's synchronising base station in the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station upgrades to first the alternative higher level's synchronising base station in the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station.Separately easily expect, in this implement to be implemented, when the alternative higher level's synchronising base station in the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, this alternative higher level's synchronising base station can be removed from the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station.

In the present embodiment, optionally, target BS utilizes described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization (S304), can also comprise before: when with described first higher level's synchronising base station link failure, judging described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization; Or when described first higher level's synchronising base station and its higher level's synchronising base station link failure, judging described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization.

In addition, in embodiment of the present invention, described Timing Synchronization can comprise initial timing synchronization and synchronous tracking, and wherein, initial timing synchronization refers to first acquisition regularly when target BS or target terminal network, and now needs to obtain by scanning primary/secondary synchronizing signal; Synchronous tracking refers to and on the basis that obtains timing, remains synchronous, by detecting public reference signal, realizes fine setting regularly to remain synchronous.

From the above, a kind of time synchronization method that the embodiment of the present invention provides, not only determine current first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, also determined in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station that at least one alternative higher level's synchronising base station is as second higher level's synchronising base station, be used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, to avoid current higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization time, little base station need to re-start the problem of synchronisation source search, thereby can use second higher level's synchronising base station to continue to keep synchronous, reduce the interference between base station and base station, UE and UE.

If suppose in this execution mode of the present invention, described second higher level's synchronising base station is also for Timing Synchronization, be that target BS is in search synchronisation source, need to determine at least two current for Timing Synchronization higher level synchronising base station, be respectively first higher level's synchronising base station and at least one second higher level's synchronising base station; Can be with reference to figure 4, another schematic flow sheet of the time synchronization method that Fig. 4 provides for the embodiment of the present invention, wherein, described method comprises:

S401, definite at least two one group of base stations with identical synchronization level are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station, and error is each other within the scope of preset threshold value.

Optionally, in this embodiment, described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station can the mode based on S401 be determined, also can be determined based on following mode:

Further, if determine many groups, there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value time, determine that at least two those the highest group base stations of synchronization level are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station;

Further, that group base station of described definite at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station, can comprise: if determine many groups, there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value, and while having the highest base station of many group synchronization level, determine that group base station of at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station;

Described definite at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station, can comprise: if determine many groups, there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value, and while having the highest base station of many group synchronization level, determine that at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station; If or determine many groups and there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value, and while having the base station of many group signal strength signal intensity maximums in the highest base station of many group synchronization level, determine that at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station.

Be understandable that, in the embodiment of the present invention, at least two higher level's synchronising base stations for Timing Synchronization, its select to determine can with reference in above-described embodiment for the implementation process of alternative higher level's synchronising base station, determine at least two and have under the base station of identical synchronization level and the condition of error each other within the scope of preset threshold value meeting, preferential selection, secondly preferentially selected that group base station that signal strength signal intensity is large at that group base station that synchronization level is high.In this embodiment, if having many groups base station in base station identical in synchronization level and that signal strength signal intensity is suitable, the preferential base station of selecting to have identical higher level's synchronising base station.

S402, when described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, utilize described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization;

Alternatively, if target BS determines that one for first higher level's synchronising base station of Timing Synchronization, with determine that one also for second higher level's synchronising base station of Timing Synchronization, be that target BS is determined two higher level's synchronising base stations, these two higher level's synchronising base stations (i.e. first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station) can be used based on following mode:

Target BS carries out Timing Synchronization to two higher level's synchronising base stations simultaneously, receives the synchronizing signal of two higher level's synchronising base stations, and now, described method can also comprise: obtain the position that described second higher level's synchronising base station sends synchronizing signal; On self relevant position, be set to multimedia broadcasting single frequency network (MBSFN, Multimedia Broadcast Single Frequency Network) subframe, this object is the synchronous of realize target base station; Under this execution mode, described method can also comprise: obtain the position that described second higher level's synchronising base station receives the synchronizing signal of its higher level's synchronising base station transmission; On self relevant position, be set to MBSFN subframe, this object is the interference of avoiding second higher level's synchronising base station; The MBSFN subframe that is to say target BS is the union that two higher level's synchronising base stations receive subframe; In MBSFN subframe, target BS can not send data, and UE also can know that in configuration information before this subframe is MBSFN subframe and can not go to receive data.

Be understandable that, in this execution mode, the use of two higher level's synchronising base stations (i.e. first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station) goes for the scene of a plurality of higher level's synchronising base stations, the present embodiment only take higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station as current higher level's synchronising base station as example describes, do not form limitation of the invention.

It should be noted that, at target BS described in this execution mode of the present invention, safeguarding all the time at least two higher level's synchronising base stations, be i.e. first higher level's synchronising base station and at least one second higher level's synchronising base station.When higher level's synchronising base station at least two higher level's synchronising base stations cannot be for Timing Synchronization, this base station is not re-used as higher level's synchronising base station.When higher level's synchronising base station of target BS is less than two, according to the selective rule of higher level's synchronising base station, increase a base station, the base station newly increasing should meet and synchronous error identical with existing higher level's synchronising base station synchronization level within the scope of described preset threshold value.

Optionally, target BS utilizes described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization (S402), can also comprise before: when with described first higher level's synchronising base station link failure, judging described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization; Or when described first higher level's synchronising base station and its higher level's synchronising base station link failure, judging described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization.

From the above, a kind of time synchronization method that the embodiment of the present invention provides, not only determine current first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, also determined second higher level's synchronising base station, also for Timing Synchronization, to avoid first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization time, little base station need to re-start the problem of synchronisation source search, thereby can use second higher level's synchronising base station to continue to keep synchronous, reduce the interference between base station and base station, UE and UE.

For ease of better implementing the technical scheme of the embodiment of the present invention, the embodiment of the present invention is also provided for implementing the relevant apparatus of above-mentioned time synchronization method.Wherein identical in the implication of noun and the method for above-mentioned Timing Synchronization, the explanation of specific implementation details in can reference method embodiment.

Please refer to Fig. 5, the structural representation of a kind of little base station 500 that Fig. 5 provides for the embodiment of the present invention, wherein, described little base station 500 can be applicable to LTE TDD system and LTE FDD system, described little base station 500 can be micro-base station pico eNB, the little base station femto eNB of family, Home eNodeB HeNB etc., and described little base station 500 comprises:

Determination module 501, for being identified for first higher level's synchronising base station of Timing Synchronization;

Described determination module 501, also for determining at least one second higher level's synchronising base station;

Processing module 502, if for described second higher level's synchronising base station alternative for Timing Synchronization,, when described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, utilize described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization;

Under this execution mode, described first higher level's synchronising base station is for needing the synchronous current base stations for Timing Synchronization, little base station (being target BS), and described second higher level's synchronising base station for being used for the candidate BS of Timing Synchronization when first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization;

Described processing module 502, if also for described second higher level's synchronising base station also for Timing Synchronization, utilize described first higher level's synchronising base station and/or described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization.

From the above, a kind of little base station 500 that the embodiment of the present invention provides, not only determine current first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, also determined second higher level's synchronising base station, also for Timing Synchronization or alternative for Timing Synchronization, to avoid current higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization time, little base station need to re-start the problem of synchronisation source search, thereby can use alternative or other base stations for Timing Synchronization to continue to keep synchronous, reduce the interference between base station and base station, UE and UE.

For convenience of understanding and describing, the little base station that following examples are used for Timing Synchronization both of these case the embodiment of the present invention is provided for alternative and second higher level's synchronising base station of Timing Synchronization for second higher level's synchronising base station is respectively made a concrete analysis of:

If suppose in this execution mode of the present invention, described second higher level's synchronising base station is alternative for Timing Synchronization, be target BS in search synchronisation source, need to determine current first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization and determine at least one second alternative higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization;

Optionally, described determination module 501 is specifically determined described second higher level's synchronising base station based on following mode: determine that the base station that has identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station is second higher level's synchronising base station; Or the highest base station of definite synchronization level is second higher level's synchronising base station; Or the base station of definite signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station.

Further, described determination module 501, for determining that the highest base station of synchronization level is if that second higher level's synchronising base station is specially and determines while not having the base station of identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station, determines that the base station that synchronization level is the highest is second higher level's synchronising base station;

Described determination module 501, if for determining that the base station of signal strength signal intensity maximum is that second higher level's synchronising base station is specially and determines when not having the base station of identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station or having a plurality of and described first higher level's synchronising base station to have the base station of identical synchronization level, the base station of determining signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station; Or when not having the base station of identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station if determine and having the highest base station of a plurality of synchronization level, the base station of determining signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station.

Be understandable that, the preferential base station of selecting to have with described first higher level's synchronising base station identical synchronization level of described determination module 501, like this when first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, target BS can directly be used second alternative higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization, and the synchronization level that does not need adjustment aim base station itself while carrying out Timing Synchronization, does not need to adjust yet and take the synchronization level of target BS as those base stations of higher level's synchronising base station;

In some embodiments, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is alternative for Timing Synchronization, target BS, in search synchronisation source, need to be determined current first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, also needs to safeguard the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station; Can be with reference to figure 6, Fig. 6 is the structural representation of the medium and small base station 600 of this execution mode, described little base station, except comprising determination module 501 and processing module 502, also comprises: module 503 is set, for arranging and safeguard the list of alternative higher level's synchronising base station; Described determination module 501, for determining that at least one second higher level's synchronising base station is specially the definite mode based on described second higher level's synchronising base station, determine that at least one the alternative higher level's synchronising base station in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station is second higher level's synchronising base station.Wherein, alternative higher level's synchronising base station synchronization level in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station is all identical, and all identical with the synchronization level of described first higher level's synchronising base station, or the alternative higher level's synchronising base station synchronization level in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station is different;

Optionally, if alternative for Timing Synchronization of described second higher level's synchronising base station, determination module 501 described in this execution mode can also be for:

Alternatively, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is alternative for Timing Synchronization, described little base station 600 can also comprise: adjusting module, if there is not identical synchronization level for described first higher level's synchronising base station with described second higher level's synchronising base station, and when described second higher level's synchronising base station upgrades to current higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, adjust self synchronization level than the low one-level of the synchronization level of described second higher level's synchronising base station; Control module, take for controlling the corresponding synchronization level of adjusting in base station that described little base station is higher level's synchronising base station.

Further alternative, described little base station 600 can also comprise: judge module, and for when with described first higher level's synchronising base station link failure, judging described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization; Or when described first higher level's synchronising base station and its higher level's synchronising base station link failure, judging described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization.

Be understandable that, target BS and described first higher level's synchronising base station link failure, for example, detect N continuous and time step-out detected, can determine that target BS and described first higher level's synchronising base station are not synchronizeed to go up, and described N is preset value; Wherein, target BS and described first higher level's synchronising base station link failure link failure can be because first higher level's synchronising base station is closed at random, or the reasons such as bad channel quality between target BS and first higher level's synchronising base station cause; Described first higher level's synchronising base station and its higher level's synchronising base station link failure, can be because higher level's synchronising base station of first higher level's synchronising base station is closed at random, or the reasons such as bad channel quality between higher level's synchronising base station of first higher level's synchronising base station and first higher level's synchronising base station cause, the present invention does not do concrete restriction to this.In addition, in embodiment of the present invention, described Timing Synchronization can comprise initial timing synchronization and synchronous tracking.

From the above, a kind of little base station 600 that the embodiment of the present invention provides, not only determine current first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, also determined second higher level's synchronising base station, be used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, or, determined in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station that at least one alternative higher level's synchronising base station is as second higher level's synchronising base station, be used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, to avoid current higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization time, little base station need to re-start the problem of synchronisation source search, thereby can use second higher level's synchronising base station to continue to keep synchronous, reduce base station and base station, interference between UE and UE.

If suppose in this execution mode of the present invention, described second higher level's synchronising base station is also for Timing Synchronization, be that target BS is in search synchronisation source, need to determine at least two current for Timing Synchronization higher level synchronising base station, be respectively first higher level's synchronising base station and at least one second higher level's synchronising base station;

Under this execution mode, described determination module 501 can be determined described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station based on following mode: determine that at least two one group of base stations with identical synchronization level are described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station, and error is each other within the scope of preset threshold value.

Optionally, described determination module 501 is also determined described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station based on following mode: if determine many groups, have the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value time, determine that at least two those the highest group base stations of synchronization level are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station; If or determine many groups and there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value time, determine that group base station of at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station; If or determine many groups and there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value time, determine that at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station.

Further, described determination module 501, for determining that group base station of at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is if that first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station are specially and determine many groups and have the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value, and while having the highest base station of many group synchronization level, determine that group base station of at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station; Described determination module 501, for determining that at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are if that first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station are specially and determine many groups and have the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value, and while having the highest base station of many group synchronization level, determine that at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station; If or determine many groups and there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value, and while having the base station of many group signal strength signal intensity maximums in the highest base station of many group synchronization level, determine that at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station.

Alternatively, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for Timing Synchronization, described little base station 600 can also comprise:

The described module 503 that arranges, for being set to multimedia broadcasting single frequency network MBSFN subframe on relevant position, described little base station.

The described module 503 that arranges, for being set to MBSFN subframe on relevant position, described little base station.

From the above, a kind of little base station 600 that the embodiment of the present invention provides, not only determine current first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, also determined second higher level's synchronising base station, also for Timing Synchronization, to avoid first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization time, little base station need to re-start the problem of synchronisation source search, thereby can use second higher level's synchronising base station to continue to keep synchronous, reduce the interference between base station and base station, UE and UE.

Those skilled in the art can be well understood to, for convenience and simplicity of description, the specific works process of the unit module in the Ji little base station, little base station of foregoing description, can, with reference to the corresponding process in the embodiment of the method for aforementioned Timing Synchronization, not repeat them here.

Please refer to Fig. 7, the structural representation of the little base station 700 of another kind that Fig. 7 provides for the embodiment of the present invention, described little base station 700 can be applicable to LTE TDD system and LTE FDD system, described little base station 500 can be micro-base station pico eNB, the little base station femto eNB of family, Home eNodeB HeNB etc., described little base station 700 comprises input unit 701, output device 702, processor 703, wherein, described processor 703 is carried out following steps:

Be identified for first higher level's synchronising base station of Timing Synchronization; Determine at least one second higher level's synchronising base station; If alternative for Timing Synchronization of described second higher level's synchronising base station,, when described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization, utilizes described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization; If described second higher level's synchronising base station also for Timing Synchronization, utilizes described first higher level's synchronising base station and/or described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization.

In one embodiment, preferably, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, described processor 703 can also be carried out following steps:

Described second higher level's synchronising base station is determined based on following mode: determine that the base station that has identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station is second higher level's synchronising base station; Or the highest base station of definite synchronization level is second higher level's synchronising base station; Or the base station of definite signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station.

Preferably, described processor 703 determines that the highest base station of synchronization level is second higher level's synchronising base station, specifically comprises:

Wherein, the base station of described definite signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station, comprising:

Preferably, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, described processor 703 can also be carried out following steps:

Preferably, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, before described definite at least one second higher level's synchronising base station, described processor 703 can also be carried out following steps:

In another embodiment, preferably, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for Timing Synchronization, described processor 703 can also be carried out following steps:

Described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station are determined based on following mode: determine that at least two one group of base stations with identical synchronization level are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station, and error is each other within the scope of preset threshold value.

Preferably, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for Timing Synchronization, described processor 703 can also be carried out following steps:

First higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station are also determined based on following mode: if determine many groups, have the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value time, determine that at least two those the highest group base stations of synchronization level are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station;

Preferably, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for Timing Synchronization, described processor 703 determines that group base station of at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station, specifically comprises:

Obtain the position of described second higher level's synchronising base station transmission synchronizing signal; On self relevant position, be set to multimedia broadcasting single frequency network MBSFN subframe.

Obtain described second higher level's synchronising base station and receive the position of the synchronizing signal that its higher level's synchronising base station sends; On self relevant position, be set to MBSFN subframe.

Preferably, described processor 703 utilizes described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization, can also carry out following steps before:

When with described first higher level's synchronising base station link failure, judging described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization; Or when described first higher level's synchronising base station and its higher level's synchronising base station link failure, judging described first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization.

In embodiments of the present invention, described Timing Synchronization comprises initial timing synchronization and synchronous tracking, and wherein, initial timing synchronization refers to first acquisition regularly when target BS or target terminal network, and now needs to obtain by scanning primary/secondary synchronizing signal; Synchronous tracking refers to and on the basis that obtains timing, remains synchronous, by detecting public reference signal, realizes fine setting regularly to remain synchronous.

From the above, a kind of little base station that the embodiment of the present invention provides, in some embodiments, not only determines current first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, has also determined second higher level's synchronising base station, alternative for Timing Synchronization; In some embodiments, not only determine current first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, also determined in the list of described alternative higher level's synchronising base station that at least one alternative higher level's synchronising base station is as second higher level's synchronising base station, alternative for Timing Synchronization; In some embodiments, not only determine current first higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, also determined second higher level's synchronising base station, also for Timing Synchronization, to avoid first higher level's synchronising base station cannot be for Timing Synchronization time, little base station need to re-start the problem of synchronisation source search, thereby can use second higher level's synchronising base station to continue to keep synchronous, reduces the interference between base station and base station, UE and UE.

Those skilled in the art can be well understood to, and for convenience and simplicity of description, the specific works process of the little base station of foregoing description, can, with reference to the corresponding process in the embodiment of the method for aforementioned Timing Synchronization, not repeat them here.

In the several embodiment that provide in the application, should be understood that disclosed apparatus and method can realize by another way.For example, device embodiment described above is only schematic, for example, the division of described unit, be only that a kind of logic function is divided, during actual realization, can have other dividing mode, for example a plurality of unit or assembly can in conjunction with or can be integrated into another system, or some features can ignore, or do not carry out.Another point, shown or discussed coupling each other or direct-coupling or communication connection can be by some interfaces, indirect coupling or the communication connection of device or unit can be electrically, machinery or other form.

The described unit as separating component explanation can or can not be also physically to separate, and the parts that show as unit can be or can not be also physical locations, can be positioned at a place, or also can be distributed in a plurality of network element.Can select according to the actual needs some or all of unit wherein to realize the object of the present embodiment scheme.

In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present invention can be integrated in a processing unit, can be also that the independent physics of unit exists, and also can be integrated in a unit two or more unit.Above-mentioned integrated unit both can adopt the form of hardware to realize, and also can adopt the form of SFU software functional unit to realize.

If the form of SFU software functional unit of usining described integrated unit realizes and during as production marketing independently or use, can be stored in a computer read/write memory medium.Understanding based on such, the all or part of of the part that technical scheme of the present invention contributes to prior art in essence in other words or this technical scheme can embody with the form of software product, this computer software product is stored in a storage medium, comprise that some instructions are with so that a computer equipment (can be personal computer, server, or the network equipment etc.) carry out all or part of step of method described in each embodiment of the present invention.And aforesaid storage medium comprises: USB flash disk, portable hard drive, read-only memory (ROM, Read-OnlyMemory), the various media that can be program code stored such as random access memory (RAM, Random Access Memory), magnetic disc or CD.

Above a kind of time synchronization method provided by the present invention and little base station are described in detail, for one of ordinary skill in the art, thought according to the embodiment of the present invention, all will change in specific embodiments and applications, in sum, this description should not be construed as limitation of the present invention.

Claims

1. a time synchronization method, is characterized in that, comprising:

Determine at least one second higher level's synchronising base station;

2. method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, if alternative for Timing Synchronization of described second higher level's synchronising base station, described second higher level's synchronising base station is determined based on following mode:

3. method according to claim 2, is characterized in that, the highest base station of described definite synchronization level is second higher level's synchronising base station, comprising:

4. method according to claim 2, is characterized in that, if alternative for Timing Synchronization of described second higher level's synchronising base station, described method also comprises:

5. method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, if alternative for Timing Synchronization of described second higher level's synchronising base station, described method also comprises:

6. according to method described in claim 2 to 5 any one, it is characterized in that, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, before described definite at least one second higher level's synchronising base station, comprising:

7. method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, if described second higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station are determined based on following mode:

8. method according to claim 7, is characterized in that, if described second higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station are also determined based on following mode:

9. method according to claim 8, is characterized in that, describedly determines that group base station of at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station, comprising:

10. method according to claim 9, is characterized in that, if described second higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, described method also comprises:

11. methods according to claim 9, is characterized in that, if described second higher level's synchronising base station for Timing Synchronization, described method also comprises:

On self relevant position, be set to MBSFN subframe.

12. methods according to claim 1, is characterized in that, describedly utilize described second higher level's synchronising base station to carry out Timing Synchronization, comprise before:

13. methods according to claim 1, is characterized in that, described Timing Synchronization comprises initial timing synchronization and synchronous tracking.

14. 1 kinds of little base stations, is characterized in that, comprising:

15. according to little base station described in claim 14, it is characterized in that, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is alternative for Timing Synchronization, described determination module is specifically determined described second higher level's synchronising base station based on following mode: determine that the base station that has identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station is second higher level's synchronising base station; Or the highest base station of definite synchronization level is second higher level's synchronising base station; Or the base station of definite signal strength signal intensity maximum is second higher level's synchronising base station.

16. according to little base station described in claim 15, it is characterized in that, described determination module, for determining that the highest base station of synchronization level is if that second higher level's synchronising base station is specially and determines while not having the base station of identical synchronization level with described first higher level's synchronising base station, determines that the base station that synchronization level is the highest is second higher level's synchronising base station;

17. according to little base station described in claim 15, it is characterized in that, if alternative for Timing Synchronization of described second higher level's synchronising base station, described determination module also for:

18. according to little base station described in claim 14, it is characterized in that, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, described little base station also comprises:

19. according to claim 15 to little base station described in 18 any one, it is characterized in that, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for the alternative of Timing Synchronization, described little base station also comprises:

20. according to little base station described in claim 14, it is characterized in that, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is for Timing Synchronization, described determination module is determined described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station based on following mode: determine that at least two one group of base stations with identical synchronization level are described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station, and error is each other within the scope of preset threshold value.

21. according to little base station described in claim 20, it is characterized in that, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is for Timing Synchronization, described determination module is also determined described first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station based on following mode: if determine many groups, have the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value time, determine that at least two those the highest group base stations of synchronization level are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station; If or determine many groups and there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value time, determine that group base station of at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station; If or determine many groups and there is the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value time, determine that at least two those group base stations with identical higher level's synchronising base station are first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station.

22. according to little base station described in claim 21, it is characterized in that, described determination module, for determining that group base station of at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is if that first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station are specially and determine many groups and have the base station of identical synchronization level and error each other within the scope of preset threshold value, and while having the highest base station of many group synchronization level, determine that group base station of at least two signal strength signal intensity maximums is first higher level's synchronising base station and second higher level's synchronising base station;

23. according to little base station described in claim 22, it is characterized in that, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for Timing Synchronization, described little base station also comprises:

24. according to little base station described in claim 22, it is characterized in that, if described second higher level's synchronising base station is used for Timing Synchronization, described little base station also comprises:

25. according to little base station described in claim 14, it is characterized in that, described little base station also comprises: