Method and apparatus for synchronizing base stations

1. 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.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting at least one of a plurality of out-of-sync base stations comprises:

updating a covariant matrix database; and

determining at least one out-of-sync base station from the plurality of cell timing signals.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein measuring a plurality of cell timing signals further comprises:

sending a request for the BSTOA value to at least one of a plurality of user equipments (UEs) to measure the out-of-sync base stations; and

transmitting the BSTOA value.

4. A method for time synchronizing a plurality of base stations in a wireless communication system, comprising:

scheduling a plurality of cell timing measurements of at least one of a plurality of base stations;

making the cell timing measurements, wherein the making of the cell timing measurements includes:

blanking a downlink physical synchronization channel in the plurality of base stations;

receiving a burst signal in one of a plurality of base stations; and

measuring the burst signal at the one of the plurality of base stations;

developing a plurality of time drift factor values for the at least one of the plurality of base stations; and

scheduling periodic time update transmissions to the at least one of the plurality of base stations.

5. A base station (BS) for a wireless digital system with the ability to time synchronize to at least one of a plurality of other base stations, comprising:

circuitry configured to detect at least one of a plurality of out-of-sync base stations;

circuitry configured to measure a plurality of cell timing signal values;

circuitry configured to receive a measured and sent base station time of arrival (BSTOA) value from the out-of-sync base station;

circuitry configured to correct the at least one of out-of-sync base stations, wherein the circuitry configured to correct includes circuitry configured to compare the at least one out-of-sync base station's BSTOA value with a stored BSTOA value found in a covariant matrix database;

circuitry configured to transmit a correction message and receive a report; and

circuitry configured to update the covariant matrix database from data from the report.

6. The base station of claim 5 wherein the circuitry configured to detect includes:

updating a covariant matrix database with the plurality of cell timing signal values; and further circuitry configured to determine an out-of-sync base station from at least one of plurality cell timing signals.

7. A base station (BS) for a wireless digital system with the ability to time synchronize a plurality of other base stations, comprising:

circuitry configured to schedule a plurality of time sync measurements from at least one of a plurality of other base stations;

circuitry configured to develop a time sync drift pattern for the at least one of the plurality of other base stations and;

circuitry configured to schedule periodic update transmissions to the at least one of the plurality of other base stations;

circuitry configured to blank a plurality of downlink physical synchronization channels in a plurality of base stations; and

circuitry configured to send a burst signal to at least one of the plurality of base stations to measure a BSTOA value from at least one of the plurality of base stations.

8. A base station (BS) for a wireless digital system with the ability to time synchronize a plurality of other base stations and which minimizes service interruption needed to time synchronize, comprising:

circuitry configured to schedule a plurality of time sync measurements from at least one of a plurality of other base stations;

circuitry configured to develop a time sync drift pattern for the at least one of the plurality of other base stations;

circuitry configured to schedule periodic frequency update transmissions to the at least one of the plurality of other base stations;

circuitry configured to blank a plurality of downlink physical synchronization channels in a plurality of base stations; and

circuitry configured to send a burst signal to at least one of a plurality of base stations to measure a BSTOA value from at least one of a plurality of base stations.