Narrowband Random Access Preambles for NTN Doppler Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

In non-terrestrial networks with high altitude platforms or satellites, signal strength is low, round-trip delay is long, and large Doppler shifts occur due to node movement, leading to inefficiencies and inter-carrier interference in wireless communications.

Innovation Solution

Designing narrowband random access preambles with specific parameters for non-terrestrial networks, including different starting subcarriers, frequency hopping patterns, and repetition units to reduce inter-carrier interference and support uplink synchronization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If random access preambles are transmitted using adjacent available frequency resources in NTN, then frequency resource utilization is improved, but inter-carrier interference increases due to large Doppler shifts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefrequency resource utilizationVSAvoidinter-carrier interference
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by configuring different random access preamble parameters for different frequency resources in NTN. Specifically, certain frequency resources are configured with preambles that have parameters optimized for NTN conditions (larger cyclic prefix, different subcarrier spacing), while other resources use different parameters. This allows adjacent frequency resources to be utilized efficiently while preventing ICI by ensuring that preambles on resources susceptible to Doppler shifts have appropriate local characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes physical parameters of random access preambles specifically for NTN operations. Key parameter changes include: increasing cyclic prefix length to accommodate larger delay spreads, adjusting subcarrier spacing to handle Doppler frequency shifts, and modifying preamble formats. These parameter changes enable preambles to maintain orthogonality and reduce ICI even when transmitted on adjacent frequency resources in the challenging NTN environment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If standard terrestrial random access preambles are used in NTN, then device complexity is reduced, but communication reliability deteriorates due to large Doppler shifts and long propagation delays

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepreamble configuration complexityVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by creating a unified random access preamble framework that can operate in both terrestrial and NTN environments. The base preamble structure remains compatible with existing terrestrial systems, but NTN-specific parameters can be activated when needed. This allows the same preamble mechanism to serve multiple functions: standard terrestrial operations and NTN operations with large Doppler shifts, without requiring entirely separate systems.

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

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamics by making random access preamble parameters adaptable to different network conditions. The system can dynamically select between terrestrial and NTN optimized preamble configurations based on the operating environment. Parameters such as cyclic prefix length, subcarrier spacing, and frequency offset compensation are made dynamic rather than fixed, allowing the system to adjust to varying Doppler shifts and propagation delays in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If frequency resources are allocated without considering Doppler shift effects, then resource allocation simplicity is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inter-carrier interference

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation simplicityVSAvoidfrequency offset measurement precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring frequency resources with appropriate preamble parameters before random access transmissions occur. The network预先 identifies which frequency resources are suitable for NTN operations and configures them with appropriate parameters (larger cyclic prefix, specific subcarrier spacing) in advance. This preliminary configuration prevents ICI issues before they occur, maintaining measurement precision while keeping resource allocation simple, as devices simply follow the pre-configured parameters without complex real-time calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances communication efficiency and reliability in non-terrestrial networks by reducing inter-carrier interference and supporting higher mobility and reduced latency for user equipment.

Implementation Method 1

communications in such situations may experience relatively large amounts of Doppler shift due to relatively fast movement of nodes relative to one another

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDoppler shift: Doppler Effect

Data Source

PatentEP4179833B1Narrowband random access preambles for non-terrestrial network communications
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4179833B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4179833B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4179833B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described in which random access preambles may be designed to provide for relatively low inter-carrier interference (ICI) of adjacent available frequency resources in a non-terrestrial network (NTN). Random access preambles for NTN random access requests may be selected from a first set of random access preambles that are different from a second set of random access preambles for terrestrial random access requests. The first set of random access preambles may be a subset of the second set of random access preambles. The first set of random access preambles may be provided for contention-based random access (CBRA) and contention-free random access (CFRA) preambles may be configured by a base station from random access preambles that correspond to or are different from the second set of random access preambles.