Full-Duplex Terminal Timing Alignment for Uplink and Downlink

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing radio communication systems, particularly in NR specifications, lack sufficient study on full-duplex (FD) communication methods, leading to potential deterioration in system performance such as increased latency and decreased coverage.

Innovation Solution

A terminal and base station supporting full-duplex communication, with a receiving section that receives timing criteria for uplink and downlink transmissions and a control section that matches these criteria to optimize transmission and reception timing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If full-duplex communication is implemented without sufficient study on timing criteria, then resource usage efficiency can be improved, but system performance deteriorates with increased latency and decreased coverage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource usage efficiencyVSAvoidsystem performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by establishing specific timing criteria for uplink and downlink transmissions in full-duplex communication. The base station configures and notifies the terminal of timing parameters (such as timing offsets, transmission windows, and reception windows) that optimize the timing relationship between uplink and downlink signals. This resolves the contradiction by providing concrete timing parameter specifications that enable full-duplex operation to achieve resource usage efficiency improvements while maintaining system performance through controlled timing relationships.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If full-duplex communication is implemented without proper timing criteria, then communication capacity increases, but latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capacityVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by configuring adaptive timing criteria that can be adjusted based on communication conditions. The base station dynamically configures timing parameters for different terminals and different communication scenarios, allowing the timing relationship between uplink and downlink to be optimized in real-time. This enables full-duplex communication to achieve high capacity while controlling latency by adapting timing parameters to specific channel conditions and traffic patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If full-duplex communication is implemented without sufficient study, then resource usage efficiency improves, but coverage performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource usage efficiencyVSAvoidcoverage performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback mechanisms where the terminal reports reception status and channel conditions to the base station, and the base station adjusts timing criteria based on this feedback. The timing criteria are configured considering round-trip time and signal propagation characteristics, ensuring that uplink transmissions from terminals at different distances maintain proper timing alignment. This feedback-based timing adjustment enables full-duplex communication to achieve resource efficiency improvements while maintaining coverage performance across different cell radii.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20250220602A1Terminal, radio communication method, and base station
Publication Date: 2025.07.03 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • US20250220602A1 patent drawing
  • US20250220602A1 patent drawing
  • US20250220602A1 patent drawing

AI summary

A terminal according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a terminal supporting full-duplex communication, the terminal including a receiving section that receives information related to any one of a criterion for timing of an uplink transmission and a criterion for timing of a downlink reception, and a control section that matches the criterion for the timing of the uplink transmission with the criterion for the timing of the downlink reception, based on the information, to control the uplink transmission and the downlink reception. According to an aspect of the present disclosure, resource usage efficiency can be increased.