Maintaining timing characteristics in a radio base station

Abstract

A coordinating node, such as a positioning node and a radio base station, and a related method of maintaining timing characteristics of radio base stations connected to the coordinating node are disclosed. The method includes receiving timing information from a plurality of radio base stations, determining a respective timing characteristic of each of the plurality of radio base stations based on the received timing information, and maintaining the determined respective timing characteristics for support of network operations and services such as positioning.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method in a radio base station of a wireless communication system, of enabling maintenance of radio base station timing characteristics in a coordinating node connected to the radio base station, the method comprising:
 transmitting timing information to the coordinating node, in order for the coordinating node to maintain a timing characteristic determined based on the timing information of the radio base station and timing information of one or more other radio base stations,   wherein the timing characteristics comprise an absolute drift rate.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request for timing information from the coordinating node before transmitting timing information.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the timing information comprises absolute timing information and/or timing information relative to a timing reference. 
     
     
         4 . A radio base station configured to be used in a wireless communication system and to enable maintenance of radio base station timing characteristics in a coordinating node connectable to the radio base station, the radio base station comprising:
 a transmitter circuit configured to transmit timing information to the coordinating node, in order for the coordinating node to maintain a timing characteristic determined based on the timing information of the radio base station and timing information of one or more other radio base stations,   wherein the timing characteristics comprise an absolute drift rate.   
     
     
         5 . The radio base station according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a receiver circuit configured to receive a request for timing information from the coordinating node before transmitting timing information.   
     
     
         6 . The radio base station according to  claim 4 , wherein the timing information comprises absolute timing information and/or timing information relative to a timing reference.