Methods and arrangements for estimating timing offset differences in a cellular network
A method in a first network node ( 105 ) for estimating a first timing offset difference between a first timing offset of a first base station and a second timing offset of a second base station, is provided. The first network node ( 105 ) receives Uplink Time Difference Of Arrival, UTDOA, measurements. The UTDOA measurements relate to a first UTDOA time difference. The first network node ( 105 ) further receives Observed Time Difference Of Arrival, OTDOA, measurements. The OTDOA measurements relate to a first measured OTDOA time difference. The first network node estimates a first timing offset difference between a first timing offset of the first base station and a second timing offset of the second base station based on the first UTDOA time difference and the first measured OTDOA time difference.
1. A method in a first network node for estimating a first timing offset difference between a first timing offset of a first base station and a second timing offset of a second base station, wherein the first network node, first base station, and second base station are comprised in a cellular network, and wherein the method comprises:
receiving Uplink Time Difference Of Arrival, UTDOA, measurements from a second network node, which UTDOA measurements relate to a first UTDOA time difference between a first measured receiving time when an uplink signal from a user equipment is received at the first base station, and a second measured receiving time when the uplink signal from the user equipment is received at the second base station;
receiving Observed Time Difference Of Arrival, OTDOA measurements from a third network node, which OTDOA measurements relate to a first measured OTDOA time difference between a third receiving time when a downlink signal from the first base station is received at the user equipment and a fourth receiving time when a downlink signal from the second base station is received at the user equipment; and
estimating a first timing offset difference between a first timing offset of the first base station and a second timing offset of the second base station, based on the first UTDOA time difference and the first measured OTDOA time difference.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first timing offset difference is estimated as one half of the difference between the first measured OTDOA time difference and the first UTDOA time difference.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the UTDOA measurements further relate to a second UTDOA time difference between a fifth measured receiving time when the uplink signal from the user equipment is received at a third base station and the first measured receiving time when the uplink signal from the user equipment is received at the first base station, wherein the OTDOA measurements further relate to a second measured OTDOA time difference between a sixth receiving time when a downlink signal from the third base station is received at the user equipment, and the third receiving time when the downlink signal from the first base station is received at the user equipment, and wherein the estimating further comprises estimating a second timing offset difference between the first timing offset of the first base station and a third timing offset of the third base station, and wherein the estimation of the second timing offset difference is based on the second UTDOA time difference and the second measured OTDOA time difference.
4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the second timing offset difference is estimated as one half of the difference between the second measured OTDOA time difference and the second UTDOA time difference.
5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising estimating a position of the user equipment based on at least one of the estimated first timing offset difference and the estimated second timing offset difference.
6. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising synchronizing at least two of the first base station, the second base station, and the third base station, based on at least one of the estimated first timing offset difference and the estimated second timing offset difference.
7. A first network node configured for operation in a cellular network and further configured for estimating a first timing offset difference between a first timing offset of a first base station in the network and a second timing offset of a second base station in the network, wherein the network node comprises:
a receiver configured to receive Uplink Time Difference Of Arrival, UTDOA, measurements from a second network node, which UTDOA measurements relate to a first UTDOA time difference between a first measured receiving time when an uplink signal from a user equipment is received at the first base station and a second measured receiving time when the uplink signal from the user equipment is received at the second base station, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive Observed Time Difference Of Arrival, OTDOA, measurements from a third network node, wherein the OTDOA measurements relate to a measured OTDOA time difference between a third receiving time that a downlink signal from the first base station is received at the user equipment and a fourth receiving time that a downlink signal from the second base station is received at the user equipment; and
an estimation unit configured to estimate a first timing offset difference between a first timing offset of the first base station and a second timing offset of the second base station, based on the first UTDOA time difference and the first measured OTDOA time difference.
8. The first network node according to claim 7 , wherein the estimation unit is further configured to estimate the first timing offset difference as one half of the difference between the first measured OTDOA time difference and the first UTDOA time difference.
9. The first network node according to claim 7 , wherein the UTDOA measurements further relate to a second UTDOA time difference between a fifth measured receiving time that the uplink signal from the user equipment is received a third base station and the first measured receiving time that the uplink signal from the user equipment is received at the first base station, wherein the OTDOA measurements further relate to a second measured OTDOA time difference between a sixth receiving time that a downlink signal from the third base station is received at the user equipment and the third receiving time that the downlink signal from the first base station is received at the user equipment, and wherein the estimation unit is further configured to estimate a second timing offset difference between the first timing offset of the first base station and a third timing offset of the third base station, and wherein the estimation of the second timing offset difference is based on the second UTDOA time difference and the second measured OTDOA time difference.
10. The first network node according to claim 9 , wherein the estimation unit is further configured to estimate the second timing offset difference as one half of the difference between the second measured OTDOA time difference and the second UTDOA time difference.
11. The first network node according to claim 7 , further comprising a positioning unit, configured to estimate a position of the user equipment based on at least one of the estimated first timing offset difference and the estimated second timing offset difference.
12. The first network node according to claim 7 , further comprising a synchronization unit, configured to synchronize at least two of the first base station, the second base station, and the third base station, based on at least one of the estimated first timing offset difference and the estimated second timing offset difference.