NTN Scheduling Offset Signaling for Timing Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless communication systems, particularly non-terrestrial networks (NTNs), face challenges in managing scheduling offsets due to larger propagation delays, which affect the timing of uplink transmissions and can lead to signal misalignment and increased power consumption in user equipment (UE) updates.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves signaling the scheduling offset in multiple parts, with a first part associated with a common timing advance (TA) and a second part associated with the service link delay, allowing for a coarser granularity conversion and less frequent updates, thereby reducing the risk of misalignment and conserving UE power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the scheduling offset is updated frequently to maintain timing accuracy in NTNs, then the timing alignment is improved, but the power consumption in UE increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scheduling offset is divided into two separate parts: a first part associated with common timing advance and a second part associated with service link delay. This segmentation allows each part to be updated independently at different frequencies, enabling the system to maintain timing accuracy while reducing the overall update frequency and thus lowering power consumption.
2Measurement precision
If the scheduling offset is signaled with fine granularity, then the timing precision is improved, but the frequency of updates increases leading to higher power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the scheduling offset into common TA and service link delay components, the system can signal each component at an appropriate granularity level. The common TA part can use coarser granularity since it changes less frequently, while maintaining overall timing precision through the combination of both parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by separating the scheduling offset into distinct components with different update characteristics. This allows the system to adjust the update frequency and granularity of each parameter independently, optimizing the balance between timing precision and update overhead.
3Device complexity
If a single scheduling offset value is used to cover both common TA and service link delay, then the signaling is simplified, but the risk of misalignment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The scheduling offset is segmented into two distinct parts that are signaled separately. This segmentation reduces misalignment risk because each part can be independently managed and updated according to its specific requirements, while the overall structure remains relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary structure where the first part (common TA) and second part (service link delay) act as separate mediators for different timing components. This intermediary approach allows each part to be handled independently, reducing the risk of misalignment while maintaining manageable signaling complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain aspects of the present disclosure provide techniques for signaling a scheduling offset for non-terrestrial networks (NTNs). In one aspect, a method for wireless communications by a user equipment (UE) includes receiving first signaling indicating a first part of a scheduling offset associated with a common timing advance (TA); receiving second signaling indicating a second part of the scheduling offset; and transmitting an uplink transmission based on the first and second parts of the scheduling offset.