Base Station Timing Accuracy for Wireless Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in providing accurate time synchronization to user equipment (UE) due to propagation delays and errors in the distribution chain, which vary based on the capabilities of base stations and user devices, leading to inconsistent timing accuracy that does not meet the diverse needs of different services.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a method where base stations estimate the timing accuracy at the UE and initiate improvement mechanisms, such as reducing propagation errors, enhancing beamforming, and adjusting transmission power and bandwidth, to ensure the timing accuracy meets the requested threshold, allowing for tailored synchronization services based on individual UE needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If strict base station timing is implemented to improve timing accuracy, then timing accuracy is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements different timing accuracy levels for different UEs based on their specific service requirements. Instead of providing strict timing to all UEs uniformly, the system identifies UEs that actually need high timing accuracy (e.g., for positioning or critical communications) and provides enhanced timing services only to those specific UEs, while other UEs receive standard timing services.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts timing accuracy parameters based on UE requirements and network conditions. The base station can modify timing synchronization parameters, reference signal configurations, and measurement opportunities according to the specific needs of each UE, thereby optimizing timing accuracy where needed while reducing overhead elsewhere.
2Measurement precision
If timing accuracy is improved for all UEs, then timing accuracy is improved, but network resources are wasted on UEs that do not require such accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies differentiated timing service quality based on individual UE requirements. The base station identifies which UEs need high timing accuracy for their specific applications (such as positioning services or critical communications) and provides enhanced timing synchronization only to those UEs, while standard UEs receive basic timing services, thereby avoiding unnecessary resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing full timing accuracy enhancement to all UEs, the system applies partial enhancement only where necessary. The base station selectively activates advanced timing synchronization mechanisms for specific UEs that have explicit requirements, rather than deploying these resource-intensive mechanisms network-wide.
3Measurement precision
If propagation delays are compensated to improve timing accuracy, then timing accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the base station as an intermediary that performs propagation delay compensation calculations and provides corrected timing information to UEs. Instead of requiring complex compensation mechanisms at multiple points in the distribution chain, the base station acts as a centralized mediator that handles the complexity of delay estimation and compensation, simplifying the overall system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the base station receives timing measurement reports from UEs and uses this information to adjust and refine propagation delay estimates. This feedback loop enables continuous improvement of timing accuracy while keeping the compensation mechanisms relatively simple, as the system learns from actual measurements rather than relying on complex theoretical models.
Data Source
AI summary
According to certain embodiments, a method in a network node for delivering a time synchronization service comprises obtaining a timing accuracy threshold for a time synchronization service provided to a wireless device; determining, based on a first timing accuracy error at the network node and a second timing accuracy error between the network node and the wireless device, that a timing accuracy of the time synchronization service is equal or superior to the timing accuracy threshold, and transmitting the time synchronization service to the wireless device with a timing accuracy equal or superior to the timing accuracy threshold. The method further comprises, in response to determining that the timing accuracy of the time synchronization service is inferior to the timing accuracy threshold, reconfiguring the network node to improve the timing accuracy of the time synchronization service.