Terminal Timing Advance Association for Candidate Cell Mobility

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Solution Overview

Problem

In future radio communication systems, controlling UL transmission during inter-cell mobility, particularly when a candidate cell is configured, is challenging due to inappropriate timing advance control, which can degrade communication quality.

Innovation Solution

A terminal equipped with a receiving section to receive information about timing advance and cell switch indication, and a control section to determine appropriate timing advance for the target cell based on this information, even when it is not included in the cell switch indication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If inter-cell mobility is implemented with candidate cells configured separately from serving cells, then communication capacity and flexibility are improved, but timing advance control becomes inappropriate and communication quality degrades

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinter-cell mobility capabilityVSAvoidtiming advance control accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring association relationships between candidate cells and timing advance groups before cell switching occurs. The terminal stores this association information in advance, so when cell switching is needed, the appropriate timing advance can be immediately retrieved and applied without delay, ensuring reliable timing control during inter-cell mobility transitions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism by establishing association relationships as mediators between candidate cells and timing advance groups. These association relationships act as connectors that enable the terminal to correctly identify and apply the appropriate timing advance parameters when switching between cells, resolving the control accuracy issue without limiting mobility capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Device complexity

If timing advance information is not included in cell switch indication information, then signaling overhead is reduced, but the terminal cannot determine appropriate timing advance for the target cell

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignaling structureVSAvoidtiming advance determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the terminal to autonomously determine the appropriate timing advance for the target cell by searching its stored association relationships. When cell switching is indicated, the terminal uses the candidate cell index to automatically retrieve the corresponding timing advance group information from its internal database, eliminating the need for explicit timing advance signaling while maintaining operational ease

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4712596A1Terminal, wireless communication method, and base station
Publication Date: 2026.03.18 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP4712596A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4712596A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4712596A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

A terminal according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a receiving section that receives information about association between a plurality of candidate cells for at least one of timing advance and a timing advance group and cell switch indication information indicating switch to a target cell; and a control section that determines timing advance to apply to the target cell, based on the information about the association between the plurality of candidate cells, when information about timing advance of the target cell is not included in the cell switch indication information.