Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04J—MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION
  • H04J3/00—Time-division multiplex systems
  • H04J3/02—Details
  • H04J3/06—Synchronising arrangements
  • H04J3/0635—Clock or time synchronisation in a network
  • H04J3/0638—Clock or time synchronisation among nodes; Internode synchronisation
  • H04J3/0658—Clock or time synchronisation among packet nodes
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04B—TRANSMISSION
  • H04B3/00—Line transmission systems
  • H04B3/54—Systems for transmission via power distribution lines

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method and apparatus in a network, wherein a node in the network generates a frequency, which needs to be synchronised with a reference frequency in order to obtain an exact frequency in the node.
• a communication network such as a mobile network or cellular network, constitutes cells, wherein each cell is equipped with a basestation.
• Each basestation operates on a set of radio channels with a respective carrier frequency, which channels are different from the channels used in neighbouring cells to avoid interference .
• a group of basestations are controlled by a basestation controller (BSC) and a group of basestation controllers in turn are controlled by a switching centre (MSC) .
• the switching centre connects different networks with each other like mobile networks (GSM, AMPS, NMT, UMTS) and the public switched telephone network (PSTN) .
• PCM-link Pulse Coded Modulation link
• the frequency of the PCM-link is used by the basestations as a reference to synchronise a local frequency in the basestations.
• the frequency of the PCM-link has a very high long term stability, with a deviation that is normally less than 0,05 ppm (parts per million) .
• Each basestation is connected to a power network, which network supplies the basestation with power.
• the local frequency generated by a local oscillator situated in the basestation, is normally used as a local reference to generate the carrier frequencies belonging to the different radio channels of the basestation.
• the transmission between the network and a basestation constitutes of information sent in packets, also called packet oriented information
• no PCM-link is used and therefore the frequency of the PCM-link can not be used by the basestation to synchronise the local frequency in the basestation.
• An example of packet oriented information is information transmitted over an Intranet/Internet.
• an IP-network Internet Protocol-network
• IP-network Internet Protocol-network
• a known method to synchronise the local frequency in a basestation when transmitting packet oriented information is to use high stable oven oscillators in each basestation, which oscillators synchronise the local oscillators in the corresponding basestation.
• the patent document US 4, 602, 340 describes a system for distributing values of coded time or other information signals through the existing electrical gridwork of a facility by reading the values of a clock in a place and formatting the read information to a suitable serial form.
• the formatted information is sent over the electrical gridwork by a form of modulation via the grounded leg in the gridwork.
• the problem dealt with by the present invention is to synchronise at least one frequency in at least one node in a net, also called network.
• One intention of the invention is thus to synchronise at least one frequency in at least one node in the network.
• the problem is solved essentially by using the phase of a signal generated by a power network, connected to the node, as a reference to define a stable time interval during which time interval at least one measurement is performed of the frequency in the node to be synchronised.
• At least one server generating a stable frequency is used, which server is connected to the power network, and the server performs a measurement of the stable frequency during the same time interval as the measurement of the frequency is performed in the node to be synchronised.
• the server and the node performs under the well defined time interval at least one measurement of the number of cycles of the stable frequency generated by the server respective the number of cycles of a local frequency generated by a local oscillator in the node.
• the server When a measurement is about to start, the server sends a message to the node comprising information about the length of the measurement, i.e. the time interval during which the measurement shall be performed.
• a measurement in both the server and in the node is started respective stopped when the phase of the signal, generated by the power network PN, equals a predefined threshold value.
• the resulting calculated number of cycles of the stable frequency in the server and the local frequency in the node are compared and the oscillator in the node is adjusted accordingly.
• measurements are continuously performed in the server and in the node.
• One advantage afforded by the invention is that it proposes a simple and general method to synchronise a frequency in a node.
• Another advantage is that the method according to the invention works even if there is a phase difference between the server and the node to be synchronised.
• Figure 1 is a schematic view of a system comprising different nets, according to the invention.
• Figure 2a and 2b are flowsheets illustrating a method according to the invention.
• Figure 3 is a block schematic illustrating a node and a clock server according to the invention.
• Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a number of nodes N x -N 4 in a net n, also called network.
• the network n is for example an internet network or a cellular network like GSM, NMT, AMPS, UMTS.
• the network n is as an example shown four nodes N].-N 4 , but of course more or less nodes can be located in the network n.
• Each node N ⁇ -N 4 is connected to a packet network IP, which in turn is connected to a switching centre MSC.
• the packet network IP is for example an internet protocol network.
• the switching centre MSC connects the network n with other networks n 2 , n 3 and the public switched telephone network PSTN, as shown in Figure 1.
• Each node N ⁇ -N 4 is also connected to a power network PN, which power network PN supplies the nodes N ! - 4 with power.
• a local oscillator L0 ⁇ -L0 is situated in each node N ⁇ -N 4 , which local oscillator LO ⁇ -L0 4 generates a local frequency of for example 10 MHz. The local frequency in turn is used as a reference to generate a number of carrier frequencies in the corresponding node N x -N 4 .
• a carrier frequency corresponds for example to a radio channel in the node N ⁇ -N .
• Packet transmission units PC are as an example connected to the nodes N ⁇ -N 4 via the packet network IP as shown in Figure 1.
• the packet transmission units PC are used for sending packet oriented information to a corresponding node N x -N 4 in the network n.
• the packet transmission units PC in Figure 1 illustrates as an example a way to send packet oriented information to a corresponding node Ni-N 4 .
• Packet oriented information can also be sent between the nodes N x -N 4 and further between the switching centre MSC and a corresponding node N]_-N 4 , but this is not described in this example.
• the invention is applicable to all kind of packet oriented transmissions to and from the nodes N ⁇ -N 4 in the network n.
• packet oriented transmission is described in the examples below to illustrate the invention, but the method according to the invention is also applicable to other kinds of transmissions to and from a corresponding node N ⁇ -N 4 to be synchronised.
• the invention could be applied for ATM transmission (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) or for SDH/PDH transmission (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy/Plesiochronous Digital Hierarchy) in cases where the clock stability is poor.
• a clock server C with a stable reference frequency f s , is connected to the power network PN and the packet network IP.
• the clock server C is for example a personal computer equipped with a GPS receiver (Global Positioning System) .
• the power network PN generates a signal with a frequency of for example 50 or 60 Hz, and the instant of time when the phase of this signal equals zero is in this example used as a reference to start and stop both a measurement of the reference frequency f s in the clock server C and of a local frequency f ⁇ f 4 in a node N ⁇ -N 4 in the network n.
• the mentioned phase is hereby used as a reference to define a stable time interval that start and end when the phase of said signal equals zero, during which time interval the measurement is performed of the reference frequency f s in the clock server C and of a local frequency f ⁇ - f 4 in a node Ni-N .
• the phase of the mentioned signal does not necessarily have to equal zero in order to define the start and the end of the stable time interval.
• a threshold value close to zero or a threshold value comprising a hysteresis function could also be used according to the invention as a reference to trigger a start and a stop of the measurement.
• the threshold value is equal to zero in the examples described below.
• Figure 2a illustrates a flowsheet of a method according to the invention.
• the node N x -N 4 the power network PN, the packet network IP, the clock server C, the packet transmission units PC and the switching centre MSC are located as described above.
• One or several of the packet transmission units PC are assumed to be communicating with a first node N x , wherein a local frequency f x in the first node N x is synchronised as will be described in this example.
• the first node N x is located in the network n as shown in Figure 1 and connected to the packet network IP and the power network PN.
• the method according to the invention could be applied to more than one node at a time, i.e. more than one node Nj_-N 4 can be synchronised at the same time by letting the clock server C send start messages and end reports as described below to more than one node at a time.
• the first node Ni is synchronised as an example below.
• the clock server C sends a start message to the first node N x via the packet network IP.
• the start message comprises information of the time interval, i.e. for how many cycles of the signal generated by the power network PN, a measurement of the local frequency f x in the first node N l as well as of the reference frequency f s in the clock server C, shall be performed.
• the mentioned measurement time interval may be 180000 cycles of the signal generated by the power network PN.
• a first measure of the reference frequency f s in the clock server C is performed in step 105.
• the clock server C performs a second measure of the reference frequency f s in step 109 at the end of the mentioned time interval when the measurement of the reference frequency f s shall end according to step 107.
• the second measure is performed when the phase of the signal, generated by the power network PN, equals zero and at the end of the mentioned time interval.
• step 111 the clock server C calculates the difference between the second and the first measure of the reference frequency f s , wherein the number of cycles of the reference frequency f s that has passed during the mentioned time interval is obtained. This result is included in an end report, which end report is sent to the first node Ni via the packet network IP in step 113.
• first measure of the reference frequency f s in the clock server C in step 105 is performed as described above, it is actually the value of the counter, connected to the reference oscillator, that is checked.
• This value called first value below, is registered in for example a register.
• the value of the counter is checked when the second measure of the reference frequency f s in the clock server C in step 109 is performed as described above. This value, called second value below, is also registered in the register.
• the first and the second value of the counter is checked when the phase of the signal, generated by the power network PN, equals zero, as described above i.e. at the start and at the end of the mentioned time interval.
• the clock server C in step 111 calculates the difference between the second and the first value of the counter, wherein the number of cycles of the reference frequency f s that has passed during the mentioned time interval is obtained.
• step 115 the first node N x receives the start message, marked with Ai in figure 2a, which was sent from the clock server C in step 101.
• the first node N x detects in step 117 when the phase of the signal, generated by the power network PN, equals zero.
• step 119 the first node N x then performs a first measure of the local frequency f l r generated by the local oscillator LOi in the first node N l7 when the mentioned phase of the signal is detected to equal zero.
• the first measure of the local frequency f x is as an example performed by checking the value of a counter (not shown in the Figure) , connected to the local oscillator LOi in the first node N x . This value, called first value below, is registered in a register. The counter counts the number of cycles of the local frequency fi.
• the first node x performs a second measure of the local frequency fi in step 123 at the end of the mentioned time interval when the measurement of the local frequency fi shall end, according to step 121.
• the second measure is performed when the phase of the signal, generated by the power network PN, equals zero and at the end of the mentioned time interval.
• the second measure of the local frequency fi is as an example performed by checking the value of the mentioned counter, connected to the local oscillator LOi. This value, called second value below, is registered in the mentioned register.
• the first node N x calculates the difference between the second and the first measure of the local frequency fj . . More specifically it is the difference between the second and the first value of the counter that is calculated, wherein the number of cycles of the local frequency f x that has passed during the mentioned time interval is obtained.
• the first node N x receives in step 127 the end report from the clock server C.
• the first node N x in step 129 compares the result in the end report from the clock server C with the result of the number of cycles of the local frequency f x that has passed during the mentioned time interval.
• the first node x in step 133 adjusts the local oscillator LOi in the first node N x . Adjusting the local oscillator LOi is done by changing the voltage level that controls the local oscillator LOi so that the local frequency f x equals the reference frequency f s in the server C.
• a first counter t is set to one in step 200.
• the first counter t increases by one every minute.
• the method begins in step 201 with the clock server C sending a start message m t to the first node N x via the packet network IP.
• the first counter t is equal to one the first time a start message is sent from the clock server C, wherein the start message m t is equal to m x .
• the start message comprises information about for how long time interval, i.e. for how many cycles of the signal generated by the power network PN, a measurement of the local frequency f x in the first node N X as well as of the reference frequency f s in the clock server C, shall be performed.
• this time interval is 180000 cycles of the power network PN generated signal, as mentioned above.
• the start message comprises information about the status of the first counter t so that the node N x and the clock server C can keep track of the number of the corresponding measurement.
• start messages m t to start every measurement are though described in these examples to better illustrate the method according to the invention.
• the clock server C in step 203 detects that the phase of the signal, generated by the power network PN, equals zero, the clock server C performs a first measure of the reference frequency f s in the clock server C in step 205 for the measurement number t.
• the first measure of the reference frequency f s is as an example performed by checking the value of a counter (not shown in the Figure) , connected to the reference oscillator in the clock server C. This value, called first value below, is registered in a register. The counter counts the number of cycles of the reference frequency f s .
• step 207 the first counter t is checked and if it has increased by one, i.e. one minute has passed, the clock server C continues to send a new start message m t to the first node N x via the packet network IP in step 201 as described above.
• the new start message m t is equal to m 2 the second time a start message is sent from the clock server C.
• the clock server C keeps sending a new start message m t to the first node N x via the packet network IP according to the steps above every time t increases by one according to step 207.
• the clock server C performs a second measure of the reference frequency f s in step 211 for a measurement when the mentioned time interval for the corresponding measurement has ended and this measurement of the reference frequency f s shall end according to step 209.
• the mentioned time interval is as described above 180000 cycles of the signal generated by the power network PN.
• the second measure is performed when the phase of the signal, generated by the power network PN, equals zero and 180000 cycles of this signal has passed.
• the second measure of the reference frequency f s is as an example performed by checking the value of the mentioned counter, connected to the reference oscillator. This value, called second value below, is registered in the mentioned register.
• step 209 the method returns to step 207 and the first counter t is checked. If the value of the first counter t has increased the method will return to step 201 where a new start message m t will be sent from the clock server C.
• the clock server C calculates in step 213 the difference between the second and the first measure of the reference frequency f s for a corresponding measurement. More specifically it is the difference between the second and the first value of the counter, connected to the reference oscillator, for the corresponding measurement that is calculated, wherein the number of cycles of the reference frequency f s that has passed during the mentioned time interval is obtained for this measurement.
• This result is included in an end report, corresponding to the measurement, which end report is sent to the first node N x via the packet network IP in step 215.
• the first node N x receives the start message, marked with A 2 in figure 2b, for the measurement number t.
• the first node N x detects in step 219 when the phase of the signal, generated by the power network PN, equals zero.
• the first node N x then performs a first measure of the local frequency f x , generated by the local oscillator LO x in the first node N x , for the measurement number t when the mentioned phase of the signal is detected to equal zero.
• the first measure of the local frequency f x is as an example performed by checking the value of a counter (not shown in the Figure) , connected to the local oscillator LO x in the first node N x . This value, called first value below, is registered in a register. The counter counts the number of cycles of the local frequency f x .
• the first node N x performs a second measure of the local frequency f x for a measurement in step 225 when the mentioned time interval, corresponding to the measurement, has ended and the corresponding measurement of the local frequency f x shall end, according to step 223.
• the second measure is performed when the phase of the signal, generated by the power network PN, equals zero and when 180000 cycles of this signal has passed.
• the second measure of the local frequency f x is as an example performed by checking the value of the mentioned counter, connected to the local oscillator LO . This value, called second value below, is registered in the mentioned register.
• the first node N x calculates the difference between the second and the first measure of the local frequency f x for a corresponding measurement. More specifically it is the difference between the second and the first value of the counter, connected to the local oscillator LO, for the corresponding measurement that is calculated, wherein the number of cycles of the local frequency f x that has passed during the mentioned time interval, corresponding to the measurement, is obtained.
• the first node N x receives in step 229 the end report from the clock server C for the corresponding measurement.
• the first node N x in step 231 compares the result in the end report from the clock server C with the result of the number of cycles of the local frequency f x that has passed during the mentioned time interval for the corresponding measurement.
• the first node N x in step 235 adjusts the local oscillator LO x in the first node N x , as described above.
• step 207 The method continues to step 207 and the method is repeated as described above for the rest of the measurements performed in the clock server C and in the first node N x .
• a certain error of the phase difference in the power network PN may cause an error in the results of a measurement in the clock server C and in the first node N x .
• the error of the phase difference depends on the distance between the clock server C and the first node N x , and the topology of the power network PN. As an example an error of the phase difference of about 5 degrees, i.e. 1.5 %, in the power network PN is obtained between Enk ⁇ ping and Ringhals in Sweden.
• the time interval for a measurement is set to sixty minutes, i.e. 3600 seconds.
• the local oscillator L0 X in the first node N x does not have to be adjusted after every comparison of results from a measurement as described in the above example.
• a mean value can be calculated of results from several measurements after these measurements have been performed in the clock server C and in the first node N x .
• the mean value is for example calculated in the first node N x of the results from a number of measurements in the clock server C, which results are received by the first node N x in the corresponding end reports, and of the results from the corresponding measurements in the first node N x . These mean values are compared in the first node N x , wherein the local oscillator L0 X in the first node N x is adjusted accordingly.
• the results from a number of measurements can be processed in some kind of filter, for example lowpass filter or Kalman filter, in the first node N x to improve the method according to the invention also.
• filter for example lowpass filter or Kalman filter
• the clock server C performs the treatment of the results obtained in the clock server C and in the node N x -N to be synchronised, wherein the clock server C controls the corresponding node N x -N 4 . This is described below in association with the previous embodiments.
• the local frequency f x in the first node N x is to be synchronised.
• several nodes N x - N can be synchronised at the same time but for clarity the first node N x is synchronised as an example below.
• the node N x - N 4 the power network PN, the packet network IP, the clock server C, the packet transmission units PC and the switching centre MSC are located as described above.
• the clock server C and the first node N x performs a measurement of the reference frequency f s respective of the local frequency f x during the stable time interval when a start message is sent to the first node N x via the packet network IP.
• the time interval is defined to start and end when the phase of the signal, generated by the power network PN, equals zero as described above.
• the result obtained of the number of cycles of the local frequency f x that has passed during the mentioned time interval is included in a report, which report is sent from the first node N x to the clock server C via the packet network IP.
• the clock server C compares the result in the report from the first node N x with the result of the number of cycles of the reference frequency f s that has passed during the mentioned time interval.
• the clock server C sends an adjusting message to the first node N x .
• the adjusting message comprise as an example of information about how much the local oscillator LO x in the first node N x should be adjusted in order to make the local frequency f x be equal to the reference frequency f s in the clock server C.
• the clock server C can include a filtering function in which results from a number of measurements, performed in the clock server C and in the first node N x , can be processed to improve the method according to the invention, wherein the local oscillator LO in the first node N x is adjusted accordingly.
• the node N comprise as an example a receiver 303, a transmitter 305, a measuring unit 307, a local oscillator LO 309, a memory unit 311, a filter unit 313, a calculating unit 315, a comparator unit 317, an adjusting unit 319, a power connector 321, a detector unit 322 and a control unit 323, which are the components shown in figure 3.
• the receiver 303 and the transmitter 305 are connected to an antenna 301. All the units are connected to each other by a databus 300 as shown in the figure.
• the measuring unit 307 in the node N is used to measure the local frequency f x , which local frequency f x is used as a reference to generate several carrier frequencies in the node N.
• the memory unit 311 stores the measures from the measuring unit
• the calculating unit 315 in the node N calculates for example a difference between two measures stored in the memory unit 311, which measures are obtained at the start and at the end of a measurement, and a mean value of results from several measurements stored in the memory unit 311.
• the power connector 321 connects the node N to the power network PN.
• the detector unit 322 in the node N detects when the phase of the signal, generated by the power network PN, equals zero.
• the detector unit 322 also performs calculation of the cycles of the local frequency f x .
• a comparator unit 317 and a filter unit 313 are situated in the node N, as shown in the figure.
• the comparator unit 317 is used as an example for determining if the result of measurements sent from the clock server C, as described in the above examples, is different from the result of corresponding measurements stored in the memory unit 311 in the node N.
• the adjusting unit 319 adjusts the local oscillator LO 309 when needed by changing the voltage that controls the local oscillator LO 309 so that the local frequency f x equals the reference frequency f s in the server C.
• the units 303, 305, 307, LO 309, 311, 313, 315, 317, 319, 321, 322 and 323 are connected to the databus 300, through which the units communicate with each other.
• the control unit 323 in the node N controls the different units via the databus 300 and affects them to perform wanted operations according to the invention.
• the clock server C comprise as an example a detector unit 405, a measuring unit 407, a reference oscillator 409, a memory unit 411, a calculating unit 415, a timer unit 416, a power connector 417 and a control unit 419, which are the components shown in figure 3. All the units are connected to each other by a databus 400 as shown in the figure.
• the detector unit 405 detects when the phase of the signal, generated by the power network PN, equals zero.
• the detector unit 405 also performs calculation of the cycles of the reference frequency f s , which stable reference frequency f s is generated by the reference oscillator 409.
• the measuring unit 407 in the clock server C is used to measure the reference frequency f s .
• the memory unit 411 is used for example for storing measures from the measuring unit 407, results from the calculating unit 415, and in some cases results from the calculating unit 315 in the node N described above.
• the calculating unit 415 calculates the difference between two measures stored in the memory unit 411, which measures are obtained at the start and at the end of a measurement, and a mean value of results from several measurements stored in the memory unit 411.
• the timer unit 416 in the clock server C is used for handling the first counter t described above.
• the power connector 417 connects the clock server C to the power network PN.
• a comparator unit and a filter unit are situated in the clock server C but this is not shown in the figure.
• the comparator unit in the clock server C is used as an example for determining if the result of measurements sent from the node N, as described above, is different from the result of corresponding measurements stored in the memory unit 411 in the clock server C.
• the units 405, 407, 409, 411, 415, 416, 417 and 419 are connected to the databus 400, through which the units communicate with each other.
• the control unit 419 in the clock server C controls the different units via the databus 400 and affects them to perform wanted operations according to the invention.
• the signal, generated by the power network PN comprise a voltage part and a current part.
• the instant of time when the phase of this signal equals zero is used above as a reference to start and stop a measurement in the clock server C and in the nodes N x -N 4 . More specifically it is the instant of time when the phase of the voltage part of this signal equals zero that is used above as a reference to start and stop a measurement in the clock server C and in the nodes N x -N, i.e. as a reference to define the stable time interval during which a measurement is performed in the clock server C and in the nodes N x -N 4 .
• the invention can be applied to all kind of nodes where an exact frequency is required.
• An example is a basestation.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Power Engineering (AREA)
• Synchronisation In Digital Transmission Systems (AREA)
• Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
• Small-Scale Networks (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

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• 1998
  • 1998-05-11 SE SE9801631A patent/SE512034C2/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1999
  • 1999-04-16 WO PCT/SE1999/000613 patent/WO1999059052A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1999-04-16 JP JP2000548796A patent/JP2002514877A/ja active Pending
  • 1999-04-16 CN CN99808517.0A patent/CN1309786A/zh active Pending
  • 1999-04-16 EP EP99927008A patent/EP1078314A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1999-04-16 CA CA002331963A patent/CA2331963A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1999-04-16 AU AU44008/99A patent/AU4400899A/en not_active Abandoned

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