Multi-TRP Timing Advance Signaling for Uplink Alignment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G/NR communication systems, UEs communicating with multiple TRPs face alignment issues due to different round trip propagation delays, leading to inter-symbol interference and loss of orthogonality, as a common UL transmission time cannot align with varying TRP reference times.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of multiple timing advance (TA) values for each TRP, facilitated through differential TA signaling and network-controlled updates, ensures aligned UL transmission times by indicating and determining TA values based on measured RTT differences and transmission configuration indications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a common UL transmission time is used for all TRPs, then the transmission timing is simple to manage, but alignment issues occur due to different round trip propagation delays causing inter-symbol interference and loss of orthogonality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the timing advance management by introducing multiple TAGs (Timing Advance Groups) to handle different TRPs separately. Each TAG can have its own TA value, allowing independent timing adjustment for each TRP group, thus resolving the alignment issue while maintaining manageable complexity through structured organization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different TA values for different TAGs associated with different TRPs. This enables localized timing adjustment specific to each TRP's propagation characteristics, ensuring proper signal alignment at each TRP while maintaining overall system coordination
2Reliability
If multiple TA values are implemented for different TRPs, then UL transmission alignment is improved, but signaling complexity and device processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by creating a unified TAG-based framework that can accommodate multiple TRPs through hierarchical grouping. The UE maintains a single TAG configuration structure that can scale to support any number of TRPs by assigning them to appropriate TAGs, reducing the complexity of managing individual TA values for each TRP
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling flexible TAG configuration where TAGs can be dynamically assigned to different TRPs or TRP groups based on network conditions. The network can reconfigure TAG associations and update TA values dynamically, allowing the system to adapt to changing propagation conditions without requiring complete reconfiguration
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for methods and apparatuses for facilitating signaling of multiple timing advance (TA) values to a user equipment (UE), facilitating the use of multiple TA values by a UE for communication with multiple transmission and reception points (TRPs), and facilitating updating of TA values in a wireless communications network. A UE comprises a transceiver and a processor operably coupled to the transceiver. The transceiver is configured to receive a first TA command that includes a first TA value and a first TA group (TAG) identifier (ID) associated with a first entity, and a second TA value and a second TAG ID associated with a second entity. The processor is configured to identify a TAG ID associated with an uplink (UL) transmission, and identify, based on the TAG ID, a TA value. The transceiver is further configured to transmit the UL transmission using the TA value.