NTN Payload Stream Synchronization Using Timing Offset Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accurate time synchronization between non-terrestrial network payloads is challenging due to large and variable distances, leading to difficulties in maintaining high power performance and data rates in non-terrestrial networks (NTNs).
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that receives and stores antenna streams from multiple non-terrestrial network payloads, calculates timing advances and offsets, and compensates for timing differences to synchronize the streams, using processors and memory to manage buffer storage and processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If timing synchronization is attempted in non-terrestrial networks with large and variable distances, then time synchronization accuracy is improved, but device complexity and processing requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary timing offset estimation and compensation before main signal processing. The access node calculates timing offsets based on timing advance values from different NTN payloads and pre-compensates antenna streams, simplifying subsequent synchronization operations and reducing real-time processing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary timing offset compensation mechanism that mediates between signals from different NTN payloads. The access node acts as an intermediary that receives signals from multiple payloads, estimates timing offsets, and compensates differences before combining signals, thereby resolving synchronization issues without requiring direct coordination between payloads
2Productivity
If antenna streams from multiple non-terrestrial payloads are combined, then data rates are improved, but timing synchronization difficulty worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary timing offset estimation and compensation before main signal processing. The access node calculates timing offsets based on timing advance values from different NTN payloads and pre-compensates antenna streams, simplifying subsequent synchronization operations and reducing real-time processing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from timing advance measurements to continuously adjust and compensate for timing offsets. The access node monitors timing advance values from different NTN payloads and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust compensation parameters, maintaining synchronization accuracy as conditions change
3Measurement precision
If timing offset compensation is performed, then time synchronization is improved, but processing time and complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary timing offset estimation and compensation before main signal processing. The access node calculates timing offsets based on timing advance values from different NTN payloads and pre-compensates antenna streams, simplifying subsequent synchronization operations and reducing real-time processing complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes receiving a first antenna stream from a first feeder link to a first non-terrestrial network payload, wherein the first antenna stream includes signals transmitted by terminal devices that are synchronized in time, receiving a second antenna stream from a second feeder link to a second non-terrestrial network payload, wherein the second antenna stream includes signals transmitted by the terminal devices that are not synchronized in time, storing the first and second antenna streams in buffers, obtaining a first timing advance, obtaining a second timing advance, obtaining an estimation of timing offset based on the timing advances, obtaining the second antenna stream from a second one of the buffers and performing timing offset compensation to the second antenna stream based on the estimation of the timing offset, and obtaining the first antenna stream from a first one of the buffers synchronized with the second antenna stream.