NTN Communications Device In-Coverage Period Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) face challenges in maintaining connectivity due to the short time communications devices spend in coverage areas, high propagation delays, and rapid cell changes caused by the movement of aerial vehicles.

Innovation Solution

A method for operating communications devices to adapt transmission and reception of uplink and downlink data to include parts of subsequent in-coverage periods, based on the length of time required for data transmission or reception and the start time relative to the end of the initial in-coverage period.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data transmission is scheduled within a single in-coverage period, then transmission timing is simple to manage, but transmission may be interrupted due to short coverage duration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network side determines in advance whether a transmission will span across in-coverage period boundaries and proactively configures appropriate parameters (such as setting the number of repetitions or adjusting timing) to ensure continuous transmission, rather than reacting to interruptions after they occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts transmission parameters based on the actual coverage period duration and device movement patterns, modifying the number of repetitions, transmission timing, and resource allocation to optimize for varying coverage conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the number of repetitions is increased to ensure complete transmission, then transmission reliability improves, but uplink coverage loss increases due to delayed subsequent transmissions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission completion reliabilityVSAvoiduplink coverage loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes transmission parameters (number of repetitions, subframe allocation, resource block assignment) based on the determined transmission type and coverage period characteristics, optimizing the balance between completion reliability and time loss for each specific transmission scenario

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Duration of action of stationary object

If transmissions are scheduled to span across in-coverage period boundaries, then continuous communication is enabled, but timing synchronization becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication continuity durationVSAvoidtiming management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network side acts as an intermediary that centrally manages and coordinates transmissions spanning multiple coverage periods, determining the configuration and notifying both the aerial vehicle and ground device, thereby simplifying the timing management burden on individual devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4315656B1Methods, communications device and infrastructure equipment for a non-terrestrial network

Publication Date: 2025.04.23 SONY GROUP CORP

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AI summary

There is provided a method of operating a communications device to transmit or to receive via a wireless communications network including non-terrestrial, NTN, infrastructure equipment. The communications device identifies a first in-coverage period during which the communications device can transmit signals to or receive signals from a first NTN infrastructure equipment, the first NTN infrastructure equipment being either carried by a first aerial vehicle or relayed via the first aerial vehicle to or from the first NTN infrastructure equipment as the aerial vehicle passes over the communications device. The communications device identifies a second in-coverage period during which the communications device can transmit signals to or receive signals from either the first NTN infrastructure equipment or a second NTN infrastructure equipment, the second NTN infrastructure equipment being either carried by a second aerial vehicle or the transmitted or the received signal are relayed via the second aerial vehicle to or from the second NTN infrastructure equipment as the second aerial vehicle passes over the communications device. The communications device transmits uplink data to the wireless communications network by adapting a transmission of the uplink data to include at least part of the second in-coverage period, based on a length of time required to transmit the uplink data and a start time at which the uplink data can be transmitted in the first in-coverage period with respect to an end of the first in-coverage period, or alternatively, the communications device receives downlink data from the wireless communications network by adapting a reception of the downlink data to include at least part of the second in-coverage period, having been transmitted at least partly in the second in-coverage period, based on a length of time required to receive the downlink data and a start time at which the downlink data can be received in the first in-coverage period with respect to an end of the first in-coverage period.