Random Access Timing Advance for Non-Terrestrial Network Service Continuity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in supporting explosive data traffic, high transmission rates, numerous connected devices, low latency, and energy efficiency, particularly in ensuring seamless service continuity between non-terrestrial and terrestrial networks during random access procedures.
Innovation Solution
The method involves receiving configuration information from a terrestrial network for accessing a non-terrestrial network, including satellite-based systems, and transmitting random access messages based on terminal-specific and common timing advance values to ensure efficient network operation and priority access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a terminal performs random access procedure in NTN without proper configuration information, then the terminal can initiate access, but the transmission timing will be incorrect causing service disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The TN base station acts as an intermediary that receives NTN system information from the NTN base station and forwards it to the terminal. This mediator ensures the terminal obtains correct configuration information for NTN random access without requiring direct communication between terminal and NTN base station, thereby maintaining service continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The TN base station performs preliminary action by proactively obtaining NTN system information and configuring access priority information before the terminal needs to perform random access. This preliminary configuration ensures the terminal has all necessary information ready, preventing access failures and maintaining service continuity.
2Device complexity
If the terminal transmits random access message without considering access priority, then the transmission procedure is simple, but the network cannot efficiently manage multiple NTN base stations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different access priorities to different NTN base stations based on their specific characteristics and network conditions. Each NTN base station receives customized priority configuration, allowing the network to optimize resource allocation while maintaining manageable complexity in the transmission procedure.
3Device complexity
If the terminal uses fixed TA value for NTN access, then the configuration is simple, but the timing accuracy deteriorates due to varying satellite distances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by transitioning from fixed TA values to dynamic TA values that are calculated based on the terminal's specific location and the satellite's position. The network obtains location information and calculates appropriate TA values dynamically, ensuring timing accuracy while managing complexity through network-assisted calculation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for performing a random access procedure in a wireless communication system are disclosed. A method of performing a random access procedure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include receiving, from a base station, configuration information for providing information needed for the terminal to access the wireless communication system via a non-terrestrial network (NTN) including a satellite, wherein the configuration information includes first information for adjusting an orbit of the satellite and second information on common timing advance (TA); and determining a terminal-specific TA value for the terminal based on a location of the terminal and the configuration information; and transmitting, to the base station, a first message for the random access procedure at a timing determined based on the terminal-specific TA value and a common TA value derived from the second information.