Patent ID: 7813311

Claim:
A method for time synchronizing a plurality of base stations in a wireless communication system, comprising: detecting at least one of a plurality of out-of-sync base stations; measuring a plurality of cell timing signals, wherein the measuring includes sending a request for a base station time of arrival (BSTOA) value to at least one of the out-of-sync base stations, and transmitting the BSTOA value; correcting the at least one of a plurality of out-of-sync base stations, wherein the correcting includes: comparing the BSTOA value with a stored BSTOA value; generating a correction message; transmitting the correction message to the out-of-sync base station; receiving a report from the out-of-sync base station; and updating a covariant matrix database; maintaining the covariant matrix database on a radio network controller (RNC); wherein at least one out-of-sync base station or at least one user equipment (UE) is under control of at least two different RNCs, and: establishing a communications path between the at least two different RNCs; and performing base station synchronizing.