D2C Cell Identification Using NTN System Information
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing UEs face challenges in identifying direct-to-cell (D2C) cells, which are cells operating in terrestrial spectrum bands associated with non-terrestrial network nodes, leading to performance degradation and unnecessary power consumption due to inaccurate Doppler effect compensation and timing drift at the edge of satellite beams.
Innovation Solution
Repurpose system information associated with satellite parameters in NTN cells to indicate the presence of D2C cells, enabling UEs to perform adjustments for optimized communication performance without unnecessary power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UEs perform Doppler effect compensation and timing drift adjustments assuming all cells are terrestrial, then communication with terrestrial cells works normally, but communication performance degrades at the edge of satellite beams due to inaccurate compensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter being monitored from generic cell presence to specific D2C cell presence by repurposing existing system information parameters (satellite orbital parameters) to indicate D2C cell operation. This allows UEs to adjust their Doppler compensation and timing drift parameters dynamically based on whether they are in a D2C cell, resolving the contradiction between maintaining simple UE operation and achieving reliable communication performance.
2Reliability
If UEs continuously adjust operations to optimize communication performance, then communication reliability improves, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power-consuming continuous adjustment operation and replaces it with a discrete, event-driven approach. By repurposing system information to indicate D2C cell presence, the UE only performs optimization adjustments when specifically indicated to do so, rather than continuously. This extraction of the unnecessary continuous operation reduces power consumption while maintaining communication reliability when needed.
3Productivity
If system information is used to indicate D2C cell presence, then UE can optimize measurements and reduce power consumption, but system information complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by making existing system information parameters serve dual purposes: their original function for satellite communication and an additional function to indicate D2C cell presence. By repurposing satellite orbital parameters to also signal D2C cell operation, the patent avoids adding new information elements, thereby improving measurement efficiency without significantly increasing system information complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive system information indicating a presence of a cell operating in a terrestrial spectrum band and associated with a non-terrestrial network node. The UE may communicate via the cell based at least in part on the system information. Numerous other aspects are described.