TIMING ADVANCE

The time-division multiplexing technique is applied to the uplink and to the downlink channel. So that the mobile stations do not have to transmit and receive at the same time, the TDMA frames from the uplink are transmitted with a delay of 3 time slots. The parameter timing advance (TA) is used by the BTS to compensate for the round-trip signal propagation delay BTS-MS-BTS. The value of the 6 bit of TA indicates to a receiving mobile how many bit durations (3.7 microsec each) it must transmit its burst earlier than as derived from the received slot tact signal to reach synchronization with the slot tact defined by the BTS.

Distance The absolute distance between mobile station and base station can be determined from the timing advance (TA) for the MS. This value is produced from the round-trip propagation delay of the burst sent by the MS relative to the time prescribed by the time slot and measured by the base station. It is calculated by the base station in multiples of the duration of a bit. The distance of the MS is calculated from the timing advance as dTA = TA *ctbit 2 = TA *3 *10(8) m/s *3.69 * 10(-6)s 2 = TA *554m c is the radio wave propagation speed, tbit is the duration of a bit in GSM; the factor 1/2 is the result of the propagation time delay having to be calculated twice, namely as the round-trip propagation delay BTS-MS-BTS. If a maximum error of +/-0.5 bits is assumed for this measurement then the overall accuracy in establishing the distance is approximately 1 km. Since microcells can have a radius of <1 km, this value is too inaccurate, and in practical terms is only useful as a means to detect that the MS has definitively left the planned cell area.

Timing Advance The information element Timing Advance (TA) contains a time displacement factor used by the MS to compensate for signal propagation delays that originate because of the distance between MS and BTS on the uplink and downlink channel. Because the BTS requires fixed synchronization between both channels (distance of three burst periods = 1.73 ms), the MS, by timely transmission, ensures that the signal propagation delays are offset.

The coding of the time displacement factor is carried out in an octet, with the value being the dimension of the bit duration (48/13 s ~3.69 s)