D2D Communication Timing Advance Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In Device-to-Device (D2D) communication, timing offsets between user equipment (UEs) cause interference among symbols, as existing solutions designed for base station to UE communication are not applicable, leading to delays and misalignment in data frame timing.

Innovation Solution

A method where UE acquires a reference time and determines a timing advance to adjust the timing of receiving and sending subframes, using timing offsets between UEs and their serving base stations to align data frames accurately, thereby avoiding symbol interference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If D2D communication is implemented without timing advance adjustment, then direct communication between UEs is enabled, but timing offset causes interference among symbols

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveD2D communication capabilityVSAvoidsymbol interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent adjusts the timing advance parameter for D2D communication based on the timing offset between UEs. By dynamically changing the timing advance value to compensate for transmission delays, the system maintains proper symbol alignment without requiring guard periods, thereby eliminating symbol interference while preserving D2D communication functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs timing advance adjustment in advance before D2D data transmission begins. The source UE calculates the timing offset with the target UE and pre-configures the timing advance value, ensuring that symbols are properly aligned from the start of communication and preventing interference before it can occur.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Object-affected harmful factors

If guard period is extended to accommodate timing offset, then symbol interference is avoided, but resource utilization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesymbol interference avoidanceVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of increasing the guard period duration, the patent changes the timing advance parameter to dynamically compensate for timing offsets. This approach maintains the original guard period length while achieving symbol alignment, thereby preserving resource utilization efficiency without sacrificing interference avoidance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If timing advance is adjusted for D2D communication, then symbol alignment is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata frame timing accuracyVSAvoidtiming synchronization complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the source UE measures the timing offset with the target UE during D2D communication setup, calculates the required timing advance adjustment, and applies it to align data frame timing. This feedback-based approach achieves precise symbol alignment while keeping the system relatively simple by using existing measurement and calculation capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3001742B1Method and apparatus for device-to-device communication
Publication Date: 2020.11.11 HUAWEI DEVICE CO LTD
  • EP3001742B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3001742B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3001742B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

In embodiments of the present invention, first user equipment acquires reference time, a first timing advance, and a data frame configuration, where the first timing advance represents a timing advance for the first user equipment to receive a first receiving subframe that is in the data frame configuration, and the first receiving subframe is sent by second user equipment; and the first user equipment determines, according to the reference time, the first timing advance, and the data frame configuration, time for receiving the first receiving subframe. Therefore, time when first UE receives a first receiving subframe sent by second UE is adjusted by using a first timing advance, so that the first UE has more accurate timing of a data frame, and interference among symbols can be avoided.