NTN D2D Synchronization Using Timing Advance Pre-Compensation Status
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) scenarios, the large transmission delay between satellite base stations and terrestrial UEs leads to timing advance (TA) issues, where UEs without positioning capabilities cannot perform TA pre-compensation, causing ambiguity in selecting a synchronization reference source, and existing solutions do not address this effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the transmission of specific information to indicate whether TA pre-compensation has been made, allowing UEs to choose an appropriate synchronization reference source by indicating time windows and synchronization status, thereby reducing signaling overhead and ensuring accurate synchronization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If TA pre-compensation is applied for UEs with positioning capability in NTN, then timing accuracy is improved, but UE complexity increases and cannot be applied to UEs without positioning capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the UE population into two categories: UEs with positioning capability that can perform TA pre-compensation, and UEs without positioning capability that cannot. This segmentation allows different handling strategies for different UE types, resolving the contradiction by applying complexity only where necessary while maintaining functionality for all UEs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network-side intermediary mechanism (network indication information) that mediates between the UE's synchronization needs and the network's TA pre-compensation capability. This intermediary allows the network to signal whether TA pre-compensation is applied, enabling UEs to adjust their synchronization behavior accordingly without requiring the UE to determine this itself.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple candidate synchronization reference sources coexist with different TA pre-compensation statuses, then synchronization flexibility is improved, but selection ambiguity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the network provides indication information to UEs about whether TA pre-compensation is applied for each synchronization reference source. This feedback allows UEs to accurately identify which reference sources have TA pre-compensation and which do not, eliminating selection ambiguity while maintaining the flexibility to choose from multiple candidates.
Solution Approach 2:
The network acts as an intermediary that provides clarification information about the TA pre-compensation status of synchronization reference sources. This intermediary information bridge resolves the ambiguity by explicitly telling UEs which reference sources have undergone TA pre-compensation, enabling informed selection without reducing flexibility.
3Measurement precision
If TA pre-compensation is made for all UEs, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases due to need to indicate pre-compensation status
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by providing TA pre-compensation only to UEs with positioning capability rather than all UEs. This partial application reduces the signaling overhead required to indicate pre-compensation status while still achieving high synchronization accuracy for the subset of UEs that can benefit from it.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by tailoring the TA pre-compensation approach to specific UE characteristics (positioning capability) rather than applying it uniformly. This allows different treatment for different UE types, reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining accuracy where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A first node receives first information and transmits second and third information. The first information indicates a first time window, the second information indicates a second time window, and the third information indicates whether the second time window is synchronous with the first time window. In scenarios involving long-distance communication between a user equipment (UE) and a base station, particularly in non-terrestrial networks (NTN), pre-compensation can be made for a timing advance. When an NTN UE engages in device-to-device (D2D) networking with other UEs, an indication of whether there is pre-compensation for timing advance can serve as a reference for the synchronization reference source selection. With other conditions still unchanged, an NTN-aided D2D UE which has pre-compensated for the timing advance is preferentially selected as a synchronization reference source.