Autonomous inter base station synchronisation via a common broadcast control channel

Studies a mutual synchronisation technique between base stations (BSs) which operates over the air. First, the different possible structures for broadcast control channels (BCCHs) are presented with their main functionalities. A structure of a common BCCH for a group of BSs sharing the same carrier with time multiplexing is proposed. This common BCCH may be used to provide synchronisation. Existing mutual synchronisation algorithms are then reviewed. For such algorithms, each BS combines measurements (estimated time offset) from neighbouring BSs to determine its own time phase. Computer simulations based on a TDMA system are used to evaluate stability and convergence speed of the algorithm