Communication system

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and means for creating a cellular radio communication system ( 100 ) out of a number of local radio networks ( 109, 110 ), e.g. piconets. The local radio networks ( 109,110 ) are unsynchronised with each other and uses a radio interface that has no broadcast channel, e.g. the Bluetooth radio interface. A control unit ( 108 ) is connected to each local radio network to provide the basic means and methods for a cellular radio communication system ( 100 ). Radio units ( 101 - 103 ) can attach and retain a connection to the control unit ( 108 ) via their respective radio node ( 104 - 107 ). The radio units ( 101 - 103 ) can also perform roaming, handover, measurments and fast connection set-ups in the system ( 100 ).

1 - 13 . (Canceled)  
   
   
       14 . A method for calculating the realtime clock of a first radio node in a second radio node in a cellular radio communication system comprising a number of local radio networks utilizing radio interfaces which, between said local radio networks are unsynchronized with each other, where each of said local radio networks comprises a radio node arranged to communicate with a plurality of radio units comprising: 
 establishing a link between a first radio unit and both of said first and second radio nodes:    generating a first BRFP realtime clock difference between the realtime clocks of said first radio node and said second radio node in a control node associated with said radio nodes;    transmitting said first BRFP realtime clock difference to said second radio node; and    calculating the real time clock of said first radio node in said second radio node by adding said first BRFP realtime clock difference to the realtime clock of said second radio node.    
   
   
       15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said step of generating a first BRFP realtime clock difference comprises the steps of: 
 calculating a first realtime clock difference between said first radio unit and said first radio node in said first radio node;    transmitting said first realtime clock difference to said control node;    calculating a second realtime clock difference between said first radio unit and said second radio node in said second radio node;    transmitting said second realtime clock difference to said control node;    calculating said first BRFP realtime clock difference in said control unit from said first and second realtime clock difference.    
   
   
       16 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said step of calculating the realtime clock of said first radio node in said second radio node is followed by the step of: 
 paging a second radio unit from said second radio node, where said second radio unit has established a link to said first radio node.    
   
   
       17 . A method for co-ordinating the use of time slots in different local radio networks in a cellular radio communication system comprising a number of local radio networks utilizing radio interfaces which, between said local radio networks, are unsynchronized with each other and having at least three timeslots, and where each of said local radio networks comprises a radio node arranged to communicate with a plurality of radio units the method comprising: 
 generating a BRFP realtime clock difference between all the realtime clocks of said radio nodes in said system in a control node associated with said radio nodes;    selecting the realtime clock of a first one of said radio nodes as a reference clock for all radio nodes in said system;    ordering all radio nodes in said system to use timeslots co-ordinated with said reference clock of said first radio node for signalling and payload by using said BRFP realtime clock differences.    
   
   
       18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said step of generating a BRFP realtime clock difference between all the realtime clocks of said radio nodes comprises the steps of: 
 calculating realtime clock differences in all radio nodes between their own realtime clocks and said radio units which they are connected too;    transmitting said realtime clock differences to said control node;    calculating said BRFP realtime clock difference from said calculated realtime clock difference in said control node.    
   
   
       19 - 24 . (Canceled)  
   
   
       25 . A control node in a cellular radio communication system comprising a number of local radio networks utilizing radio interfaces which, between said local radio networks are unsynchronized with each other, and where each of said local radio networks comprises a radio node arranged to communicate with a plurality of radio units, characterised in that said control node is connected to at least one radio node in each local radio network in said system so as to create a cellular radio communication system out of said local radio networks, and where said control node is arranged to control the communication in each of said local radio networks.  
   
   
       26 . The control node as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said control node comprises means for establishing a connection from each one of said radio nodes to said control-node.  
   
   
       27 . The control node as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said control node comprises means for identifying, authenticating and registrating each one of said radio units so that said control node can direct calls to and from said radio units.  
   
   
       28 . The control node as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said control node comprises means for roaming links to radio units between said radio nodes in said system.  
   
   
       29 . The control node as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said control node comprises means for performing handovers of connections to said radio units between said radio nodes in said system.  
   
   
       30 . The control node as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said control node comprises means for generating a BRFP realtime clock difference between all the realtime clocks of said radio nodes in said system.  
   
   
       31 . The control node as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said control node comprises: 
 means for selecting the realtime clock of a first one of said radio nodes as a reference clock for all radio nodes in the system; and    means for ordering all radio nodes in said system to use timeslots coordinated with said reference clock of said first radio node for signalling and payload.    
   
   
       32 . The control node as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein said control node comprises: 
 means for creating a neighbouring list by registrating said radio nodes from which said first radio unit can detect a signal as neighbours to said first radio node.    
   
   
       33 . A control node, comprising: 
 a processor,    a memory in communication with the processor, wherein the memory includes instructions for calculating the realtime clock of a first radio node in a second radio node in a cellular radio communication system comprising a number of local radio networks utilizing radio interfaces which, between said local radio networks, are unsynchronized with each other, where each of said local radio networks comprises a radio node arranged to communicate with a plurality of radio units,    wherein the calculating instructions comprise instructions for: 
 establishing a link between a first radio unit and both of said first and second radio nodes:  
 generating a first BRFP realtime clock difference between the realtime clocks of said first radio node and said second radio node in a control node associated with said radio nodes;  
 transmitting said first BRFP realtime clock difference to said second radio node; and  
 calculating the real time clock of said first radio node in said second radio node by adding said first BRFP realtime clock difference to the realtime clock of said second radio node.  
   
   
   
       34 . The node of  claim 33 , wherein the instructions for generating a first BRFP realtime clock difference further comprises instructions for: 
 calculating a first realtime clock difference between said first radio unit and said first radio node in said first radio node;    transmitting said first realtime clock difference to said control node;    calculating a second realtime clock difference between said first radio unit and said second radio node in said second radio node;    transmitting said second realtime clock difference to said control node; and    calculating said first BRFP realtime clock difference in said control unit from said first and second realtime clock difference.    
   
   
       35 . The node of  claim 33 , wherein the instructions for calculating the realtime clock of said first radio node in said second radio node also contains instructions for paging a second radio unit from said second radio node, where said second radio unit has established a link to said first radio node.  
   
   
       36 . A control node comprising: 
 a processor,    a memory in communication with the processor, wherein the memory includes instructions coordinating the use of time slots in different local radio networks in a cellular radio communication system comprising a number of local radio networks utilizing radio interfaces which, between said local radio networks, are unsynchronized with each other and having at least three timeslots, and where each of said local radio networks comprises a radio node arranged to communicate with a plurality of radio units, wherein the instructions for coordinating comprise instructions for:    generating a BRFP realtime clock difference between all the realtime clocks of said radio nodes in said system in a control node associated with said radio nodes;    selecting the realtime clock of a first one of said radio nodes as a reference clock for all radio nodes in said system; and    ordering all radio nodes in said system to use timeslots coordinated with said reference clock of said first radio node for signaling and payload by using said BRFP realtime clock differences.    
   
   
       37 . The node of  claim 36 , wherein the instructions for generating a BRFP realtime clock difference between all the realtime clocks of said radio nodes comprises instructions for: 
 calculating realtime clock differences in all radio nodes between their own realtime clocks and said radio units which they are connected too;    transmitting said realtime clock differences to said control node; and    calculating said BRFP realtime clock difference from said calculated realtime clock difference in said control node.