Synchronizing clock signals in wireless networks

Abstract

A communications system extends over a cellular region formed of a plurality of wireless cells where each cell covers a portion of the cellular region. Each cell has a base station clock unit that facilitates reliable and accurate synchronization with other clocks units in other cells using a master clock signal from a global positioning system (GPS) or other accurate frequency source. The clock unit in each cell includes a local clock providing a local clock signal for clocking the cell. A master clock source provides one or more master clock signals and a clock synchronizer receives the master clock signals and forms a synchronizing master clock signal for synchronizing the local clock signal. In one or more of the wireless cells of the communication system, the clock unit is a master clock unit which includes a clock distributor for distributing a distributed master clock signal to one or more other wireless cells having slave clock units.