Synchronization at multiframe level of a mobile terminal of a radiocommunications system

1. Method for allowing the synchronization at a multiframe level of a mobile terminal of a radiocommunications system on a traffic downlink having a multiframe structure with a given number L of useful data frames, comprising:

sending signalling frames by a base station of the system, which signalling frames are respectively associated with each useful data frame of the traffic downlink and which each contain a signalling code, wherein:

a number N of distinct synchronization values of the signalling codes, which are usable by the mobile terminal to recover the synchronization at the multiframe level, that is less than L; and

apportioning said N synchronization values over the associated signalling frames in such a way that there exist integers P and Q, which are not both equal to unity, such that the P×Q synchronization values respectively contained in P sequences of associated signalling frames each comprising Q signalling frames respectively associated with any Q consecutive useful data frames of a multiframe, form a unique word.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the associated signalling frames are multiplexed with the useful data frames on a carrier frequency allocated to the traffic downlink.

3. Method according to claim 2 , wherein the radiocommunications system is a TDMA system of order 2 or higher, and the associated signalling frames are sent during time slots that correspond to the rise time and/or to the fall time of radio bursts corresponding to useful data frames sent on a traffic uplink associated with the traffic downlink.

4. Method according to claim 1 , wherein, denotes a number of distinct values of the signalling codes:

a) N is strictly less than M;

b) N−1 distinct determined values of the signalling codes form respectively N−1 first values out of the N distinct synchronization values; and

c) M−N+1 other values of the signalling codes collectively form the N-th of the N distinct synchronization values.

5. Method according to claim 1 , wherein L is equal to 72 and N is equal to 9, and wherein:

signalling codes having a first synchronization value are transmitted in the frames numbered 2 , 6 , 9 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 20 , and 48 ;

signalling codes having a second synchronization value are transmitted in the frames numbered 12 , 38 , 42 , 45 , 49 , 51 , 52 and 56 ;

signalling codes having a third synchronization value are transmitted in the frames numbered 8 , 24 , 41 , 59 , 70 and 71 ;

signalling codes having a fourth synchronization value are transmitted in the frames numbered 5 , 23 , 34 , 35 , 44 and 60 ;

signalling codes having a fifth synchronization value are transmitted in the frames numbered 1 , 11 , 27 , 69 and 72 ;

signalling codes having a sixth synchronization value are transmitted in the frames numbered 33 , 36 , 37 , 47 and 63 ;

signalling codes having a seventh synchronization value are transmitted in the frames numbered 4 , 26 , 29 , 31 , 32 , 55 and 58 ;

signalling codes having an eighth synchronization value are transmitted in the frames numbered 19 , 22 , 40 , 62 , 65 , 67 and 68 ; and

signalling codes having a ninth and last synchronization value are transmitted in the frames numbered 3 , 7 , 10 , 14 , 17 , 18 , 21 , 25 , 28 , 30 , 39 , 43 , 46 , 50 , 53 , 54 , 57 , 61 , 64 and 66 .

6. Method according to claim 4 , wherein M is equal to 16.

7. Method of synchronization at a multiframe level of a mobile terminal of a radiocommunications system on a traffic downlink having a multiframe structure with a given number L of useful data frames, comprising the steps of:

a) the mobile terminal monitoring at least P determined monitoring windows so as to detect signalling frames received from a base station of the system while being respectively associated with each useful data frame of the traffic downlink, wherein:

a number N of distinct synchronization values of the signalling codes that is less than L;

said N synchronization values are apportioned over the associated signalling frames in such a way that there exist integers P and Q, which are not both equal to unity, such that the P×Q synchronization values respectively contained in P sequences of associated signalling frames each comprising Q signalling frames respectively associated with any Q consecutive useful data frames of a multiframe, form a unique word;

b) the mobile terminal receiving, in each of the monitoring windows, at least Q signalling frames respectively associated with any Q consecutive useful data frames of the traffic downlink;

c) the mobile terminal recovering the synchronization at the multiframe level on the basis of a word formed of the P×Q synchronization values respectively contained in the P×Q associated signalling frame received at step b).

8. Method according to claim 7 , wherein, the associated signalling frames being multiplexed with the useful data frames on a carrier frequency allocated to the traffic downlink, the mobile terminal, in step a), monitors said carrier frequency.

9. Signal intended to be sent by a base station of a radiocommunications system, on a determined carrier frequency allocated to a traffic downlink having a multiframe structure with a determined number L of useful data frames, comprising:

signalling frames respectively associated with each useful data frame and each containing a signalling code, and wherein:

a number N of distinct synchronization values of the signalling codes, which are usable by the mobile terminal to recover the synchronization at a multiframe level, that is less than L; and

said N synchronization values are apportioned over the associated signalling frames in such a way that there exist integers P and Q, which are not both equal to unity, such that the P×Q synchronization values respectively contained in P sequences of associated signalling frames each comprising Q signalling frames respectively associated with any Q consecutive useful data frames of a multiframe, form a unique word.

10. Signal according to claim 9 , wherein, the radiocommunications system is a TDMA system of order 2 or higher, the associated signalling frames are provided for so as to be sent during time slots that correspond to the rise time and/or to the fall time of radio bursts corresponding to useful data frames sent on a traffic uplink associated with the traffic downlink.

11. Signal according to claim 9 , wherein M denotes a number of distinct values of the signalling codes;

a) N is strictly less than M;

b) N−1 distinct determined values of the signalling codes form respectively N−1 first values out of the N distinct synchronization values; and

c) M−N+1 other values of the signalling codes collectively form the N-th of the N distinct synchronization values.

12. Signal according to claim 9 , wherein L is equal to 72 and N is equal to 9, and wherein:

signalling codes having a first synchronization value are provided for in the frames numbered 2 , 6 , 9 , 13 , 15 , 16 , 20 , and 48 ;

signalling codes having a second synchronization value are provided for in the frames numbered 12 , 38 , 42 , 45 , 49 , 51 , 52 and 56 ;

signalling codes having a third synchronization value are provided for in the frames numbered 8 , 24 , 41 , 59 , 70 and 71 ;

signalling codes having a fourth synchronization value are provided for in the frames numbered 5 , 23 , 34 , 35 , 44 and 60 ;

signalling codes having a fifth synchronization value are provided for in the frames numbered 1 , 11 , 27 , 69 and 72 ;

signalling codes having a sixth synchronization value are provided for in the frames numbered 33 , 36 , 37 , 47 and 63 ;

signalling codes having a seventh synchronization value are provided for in the frames numbered 4 , 26 , 29 , 31 , 32 , 55 and 58 ;

signalling codes having an eighth synchronization value are provided for in the frames numbered 19 , 22 , 40 , 62 , 65 , 67 and 68 ; and

signalling codes having a ninth and last synchronization value are provided for in the frames numbered 3 , 7 , 10 , 14 , 17 , 18 , 21 , 25 , 28 , 30 , 39 , 43 , 46 , 50 , 53 , 54 , 57 , 61 , 64 and 66 .

13. Signal according to claim 11 , wherein M is equal to 16.