Patent ID: 6351463
Filing Date: 2002-02-26
Classification: H04B

Abstract:
A method of transmitting a synchronization signal from a wireless fixed base station (WFB) to a wireless terminal (WT) configured for selective communication with the WFB in a wireless communication network, the synchronization signal being communicated by the WFB as part of a time-division signal having a plurality of timeslots, said method comprising the steps of:(a) transmitting a pair of synchronization beacons from the WFB for receipt by the WT, each synchronization beacon in said pair occupying a separate timeslot position in the time-division signal communicated by the WFB, so that the timeslot occupied by one synchronization beacon in said pair is temporally spaced from a timeslot occupied by another synchronization beacon in said pair; (b) broadcasting the timeslot position for each of said two synchronization beacons by the WFB for receipt by the WT as a beacon position message; (c) in the WT, receiving and decoding said beacon position message; (d) synchronizing the WT to the WFB using one of said two synchronization beacons; and (e) if transmission of said one of said two synchronization beacons is discontinued by the WFB, synchronizing the WT to the WFB using the other one of said two synchronization beacons.