Propagation Delay Compensation for Accurate Network Time Synchronization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication standards do not guarantee time synchronization accuracy in different service scenarios, leading to unreliable data transmission.

Innovation Solution

The terminal device and network device determine the propagation delay compensation mode through signaling interaction, ensuring accurate time synchronization by supporting multiple modes such as TA-based and RTT-based compensation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If terminal devices autonomously decide whether to perform propagation delay compensation operation based on current communication standards, then device autonomy and operational flexibility are maintained, but time synchronization accuracy cannot be guaranteed across different service scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime synchronization accuracyVSAvoidservice scenario adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic propagation delay compensation by enabling terminal devices to adaptively select between TA-based and RTT-based compensation modes based on service scenario requirements. The system dynamically adjusts the compensation mechanism rather than using a fixed autonomous decision approach, allowing terminal devices to switch between different compensation strategies depending on whether the service requires high synchronization accuracy or operates in scenarios where compensation is not needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of propagation delay compensation by introducing multiple compensation modes (TA-based and RTT-based) that can be selected based on service requirements. This parameter change approach allows the system to adjust the compensation mechanism's behavior to match different service scenarios, thereby achieving both high synchronization accuracy when needed and flexibility when not required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If a fixed propagation delay compensation mode is used for all terminal devices, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but reliability requirements of data transmission in different service scenarios cannot be met

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidsynchronization mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves this contradiction by making the propagation delay compensation mechanism dynamic rather than fixed. Terminal devices can adaptively select between TA-based and RTT-based compensation modes based on service scenario requirements, ensuring high reliability when needed while avoiding unnecessary complexity in scenarios where simple operation suffices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies universality by designing a propagation delay compensation mechanism that can serve multiple service scenarios through different compensation modes. The same terminal device can operate in both TA-based and RTT-based modes depending on requirements, making the system universally applicable across diverse services while maintaining reliability through appropriate mode selection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4340473B1Method for time synchronization, and terminal device and network device
Publication Date: 2026.02.11 GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP LTD
  • EP4340473B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4340473B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4340473B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

Disclosed in the embodiments of the present application are a method for time synchronization, and a terminal device and a network device. The method comprises: sending first information to a network device, wherein the first information is used to indicate propagation delay compensation manners that are supported by a terminal device; receiving second information from the network device; and performing propagation delay compensation according to a target propagation delay compensation manner related to the second information, wherein the target propagation delay compensation manner is one of the propagation delay compensation manners that are supported by the terminal device, or the target propagation delay compensation manner is a propagation delay compensation manner that is decided by the terminal device itself. By using the method of the embodiments of the present application, a propagation delay compensation manner to be used can be determined on the basis of signaling interaction between the terminal device and the network device, so as to guarantee the requirements of different service scenarios for the time synchronization accuracy, thereby meeting the requirements of different service scenarios for the reliability of data transmission.