Motorola Corporation

Timothy J Groch

James K Gehrke

Jeffrey J Blanchette

Mark G Spiotta

Frank W Korinek

Steven P Shipton

Dominic Lazara

An unsynchronized base site (,) transmits a time synchronization request to a communication unit (,). A time synchronization error, or a timing offset, for the unsynchronized base site (,) is then determined and transmitted back to the unsynchronized base site (,) to enable the unsynchronized base site to synchronize itself. The time synchronization error is determined for the unsynchronized base site (,) based on the time difference of arrival of the signals received by the communication unit (,) from the base site (,) and at least one synchronized base site (,), the location of the communication unit (,), the location of the base site (,), and the location of the at least one synchronized base site (,).

Method and apparatus for performing a time synchronization of a base site

The present invention addresses the need for an apparatus and method of determining the reliability of a first signal (e.g., 116) received by a given base site (e.g., 126) without requiring the reception of additional signals (e.g., 110 and 112) by the given base site (126). The present invention provides both a method and apparatus in which another base site (e.g., 122) receives the additional signals (110 and 112) required to determine the reliability of the first signal (116). Upon determining that the first signal (116) is unreliable, the other base site (122) notifies the given base site (126) that the first signal (116) is unreliable.

Communication system and method for determining a reliability of a signal

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South Elgin, IL, United States of America

Timothy J Groch