Methods and systems for estimating frequency synchronization accuracy

1. A method of determining handover of a mobile device between base stations in a mobile telephone network, the method including the steps of:

monitoring, in the mobile device, the signal strengths of base stations within communication range of the mobile device and periodically communicating those signal strengths to the mobile network; and

when the signal strength of the base station that the mobile device is communicating with falls below a predetermined level, initiating a handover process to determine if a suitable alternative base station is available to transfer the mobile device to, wherein

said handover process includes the steps of:

determining one or more quality metrics for each base station within communication range of the mobile device, the quality metrics including the accuracy of frequency synchronization of a local clock in the base station compared to a master clock; and

only transferring the mobile device to communicate with an alternative base station if the quality metrics for that base station reach a predetermined level.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further including the step of determining, in the mobile device, the reported strength of the signals from the base stations within communication range of the mobile device.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the handover process further includes the steps of:

checking for the availability of a channel on each base station within communication range of the mobile device; and

if a channel is available on a particular one of said base stations, reserving a channel for the mobile device.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the handover process further includes the steps of:

if the quality metrics for an alternative base station reach said predetermined level, sending from the base station that the mobile device is currently communicating with to the mobile device, information on the reserved channel on said alternative base station;

sending a message from the mobile device to said alternative base station and checking for receipt of said message at said alternative base station.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein if said message is successfully sent and received, stopping communication between the mobile device and the base station that the mobile device was previously communicating with.

6. A base station in a mobile telephone network, the base station including a local clock and a processor, wherein the processor is arranged to:

on receipt, from the network, of an instruction to initiate a handover process, determine one or more quality metrics for the base station, the quality metrics including the accuracy of frequency synchronization of a local clock in the base station compared to a master clock connected to the network; and

communicate the determined quality metrics to the network for use in determining whether handover of a mobile device between base stations should take place.

7. The base station method according to claim 6 wherein the processor is further arranged to:

check for the availability of a channel on the base station for communication with the mobile device; and

if a channel is available, reserve said channel for the mobile device.

8. The base station according to claim 6 wherein the processor is further arranged to:

when the handover process is initiated, check for receipt a message from the mobile device to the base station; and

on receipt of said message, communicate to the network that communication has been successfully established between the base station and the mobile device.

9. A mobile telephone network having a plurality of base stations, the network having a first processor handling handover of mobile devices between base stations, wherein:

each base station includes a local clock and a local processor;

the first processor is arranged to, on receipt, from a mobile device connected to a base station in the network, of a request to initiate a handover process, request from one or more base stations within range of the mobile device one or more quality metrics for the base station, the quality metrics including the accuracy of frequency synchronization of the local clock in the base station compared to a master clock connected to the network, and determine from said quality metrics whether handover of a mobile device between base stations should take place; and

the local processor is arranged to, on receipt of the request from the first processor, determine the quality metrics and communicate the determined quality metrics to the first processor.

10. The mobile telephone network according to claim 9 wherein the local processor is further arranged to:

check for the availability of a channel on the base station for communication with the mobile device; and

if a channel is available, reserve said channel for the mobile device.

11. The mobile telephone network according to claim 9 wherein:

if the quality metrics for an alternative base station reach said predetermined level, said first processor is arranged to cause information on the reserved channel on said alternative base station to be sent to the mobile device;

said local processor in said alternative base station is arranged to checking for receipt of a message from the mobile device and, on receipt of said message, communicate to the first processor that communication has been successfully established between the alternatively base station and the mobile device.

12. The mobile telephone network according to claim 11 wherein when said first processor receives information that said message is successfully received, it is arranged to cause communication between the mobile device and the base station that the mobile device was previously communicating with to stop.