Non-Terrestrial Network DRX Timer Adjustment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in supporting communication over non-terrestrial networks due to the long round trip delay, which affects the performance of MAC procedures such as random access, HARQ, and DRX operations.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves transmitting reference round trip delay offset information from the network node to the user equipment, allowing the UE to adjust timers and control operations such as random access and DRX based on this information, thereby accommodating the increased delay in non-terrestrial networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If non-terrestrial network is used to provide wider coverage, then coverage area is improved, but round trip delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidround trip delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network node transmits reference round trip delay offset information to the UE in advance before actual communication begins. This preliminary action allows the UE to pre-configure its timers and DRX operations with appropriate delay compensation, ensuring that MAC procedures can function correctly despite the long propagation delays inherent in non-terrestrial networks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If standard MAC procedures are used in non-terrestrial network, then protocol compatibility is maintained, but communication reliability deteriorates due to long delay

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol compatibilityVSAvoidcommunication reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies critical timer parameters (such as drx-HARQ-RTT-Timer, drx-RetransmissionTimer, and random access response window) by adding reference round trip delay offset information to their values. This parameter change enables the UE to adjust its timing expectations to match the actual long delays in non-terrestrial networks, maintaining protocol compatibility while improving communication reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Use of energy by moving object

If DRX operation is optimized for terrestrial network, then power saving is improved, but performance deteriorates in non-terrestrial network due to long propagation delay

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower savingVSAvoidcommunication efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the DRX parameters dynamic by introducing reference round trip delay offset information that can be configured based on the specific non-terrestrial network conditions. This allows the DRX operation to adapt its timing characteristics to the actual propagation delays, maintaining both power saving benefits and communication efficiency in non-terrestrial environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11910468B2Method for performing communication by using non-terrestrial network and apparatus thereof

Publication Date: 2024.02.20 KT CORP

AI summary

Provided are a terminal and a network node and method thereof for performing communication in a non-terrestrial network. The method includes receiving system information including reference round trip delay offset information of a non-terrestrial network cell, performing a random access procedure in the non-terrestrial network cell; receiving configuration information for performing communication using the non-terrestrial network cell, and controlling a discontinuous reception (DRX) operation on the basis of the configuration information.