US Patent 8717972 Method for range extension in wireless communication systems

The present invention provides a method for range extension is wireless communication systems. One embodiment of the method includes determining whether a mobile unit is within a first range corresponding to a range of timing advances supported by a timing advance command. This embodiment also includes transmitting a plurality of timing advance commands to the mobile unit when the mobile unit is outside the first range so that the mobile unit can synchronize with the base station by combining information in the plurality of timing advance commands.