Multi-TRP Uplink Timing Advance Grouping for Precise Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in managing multiple timing advances for uplink transmissions to multiple transmission reception points, particularly in determining appropriate timing advance values and reference timings for efficient communication.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of timing advance groups (TAGs) for uplink communications with multiple transmission reception points, utilizing intra-frequency TAGs with distinct timing advance values and shared or separate HARQ buffers, along with methods for associating TAGs with UL transmissions based on TCI states and CORESET pools, to manage timing alignment and resource allocation efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple timing advance values are used for multiple TRPs, then uplink transmission timing accuracy to each TRP is improved, but system complexity for managing multiple timing advances increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments timing advance management by introducing Timing Advance Groups (TAGs), where each TAG is associated with a specific TRP and maintains its own timing advance value. This allows independent timing management for each TRP while organizing the complexity into manageable groups rather than handling each TRP individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces TAGs as intermediary structures that mediate between the UE and multiple TRPs. Each TAG acts as a container that groups timing advance-related parameters and associations, simplifying the management interface while enabling precise timing control for multiple TRPs through the TAG-TRP association mechanism.
2Reliability
If separate HARQ buffers are used for different TAGs, then reliability of uplink transmissions to different TRPs is improved, but memory resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments HARQ buffer resources by TAG, allowing separate HARQ buffer management for different timing advance groups. This segmentation ensures that transmission failures in one TAG do not affect other TAGs, improving overall reliability while organizing memory resources into dedicated segments for each TAG.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies local quality by allowing flexible HARQ buffer configuration per TAG. The network can configure whether HARQ buffers are shared or separate based on specific service requirements, enabling high-reliability scenarios to use separate buffers while other scenarios can share buffers to conserve memory resources.
3Reliability
If multiple TAT timers are configured for multiple TAGs, then timing alignment management for multiple TRPs is improved, but signaling overhead and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal timeAlignmentTimer mechanism that can function at both TAG level and cell level. The timer can be configured as common across multiple TAGs or specific to individual TAGs, providing multi-functionality that reduces signaling overhead while maintaining precise timing alignment management for multiple TRPs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates equipotentiality in timing alignment management by allowing the network to configure TAT timers such that multiple TAGs can share the same timing alignment state when appropriate. This reduces the complexity differential between TAGs, enabling simplified timer management while maintaining the capability for independent timing control when needed.
4Measurement precision
If TAG associations with UL transmissions are based on multiple criteria (TCI states, CORESET pools), then accuracy of timing advance application is improved, but determination complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the TAG association determination process into multiple independent criteria: TCI state-based association, CORESET pool-based association, and RNTI-based association. Each criterion operates independently and can be applied based on the specific transmission scenario, reducing the complexity of any single determination while maintaining high accuracy through multiple association paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic TAG association where the association method can change based on transmission conditions. The UE can dynamically determine which association criterion to apply based on the current transmission's TCI states, CORESET pool, and RNTI, enabling adaptive and accurate timing advance application without requiring complex predetermined rules for all scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and apparatuses for enabling multiple timing advances (TAs) for multiple transmission reception points (TRPs) are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a UE may perform timing advance group (TAG) association for different uplink (UL) transmissions for mTRP use, where a pair of inter-frequency TAGs respectively corresponding to a pair of TRPs is used by the UE for determining TAs for UL transmissions to each TRP. In embodiments, a UE performs downlink (DL) reference timing determinations for two TAs for mTRP use, with such determinations being based on one or more aspects of one or more active transmission 2024/060217 configuration indicators (TCI) usable for UL at the UE. In embodiments, a LIE handles cases of overlapped UL transmissions on two respective UL panels due to the use of two TAs corresponding to a pair of TRPs. Network behavior and signaling corresponding to these aspects is also discussed.