Terminal Device Offset Adjustment for NTN Uplink Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN), determining a time-domain resource position for uplink transmissions is challenging due to large propagation delays and the need for precise timing alignment, which existing technologies struggle to address effectively.
Innovation Solution
A communication method where a terminal device acquires a first offset increment from a network device, determines a terminal device-specific offset by combining it with a cell-level common offset, and uses this offset to determine the time-domain resource position for uplink transmissions, improving timing alignment and reducing network overhead.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a terminal device uses a fixed time-domain resource position for uplink transmission in NTN, then the network device can simplify resource allocation, but the terminal device cannot adapt to varying propagation delays and maintain precise timing alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The time-domain resource position determination is segmented into multiple components: a basic offset value configured by the network device and a terminal device-specific offset increment. The terminal device combines these segments to determine its specific time-domain resource position, enabling precise timing alignment while keeping network configuration simple.
Solution Approach 2:
Each terminal device is assigned a local offset increment specific to its propagation delay characteristics. This local customization allows each terminal to achieve precise timing alignment adapted to its specific conditions while the network device maintains a simple overall configuration approach.
2Measurement precision
If the network device configures individual time offsets for each terminal device, then timing alignment precision is improved, but signaling overhead and network device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The individual terminal device offset is extracted as a separate increment value that the terminal device adds to the basic offset. This extraction allows the network to configure only the incremental adjustment per terminal rather than transmitting complete individual offset values, reducing signaling overhead while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The offset configuration is transformed from absolute values to incremental changes. The network device configures a base offset and terminal-specific increments, changing the parameter representation to reduce the amount of information that needs to be signaled while achieving the same timing alignment precision.
3Loss of information
If the network device uses a cell-level common offset for all terminals, then signaling overhead is reduced, but terminals at different distances from the satellite cannot achieve precise timing alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The offset configuration transitions from a static cell-level common offset to a dynamic terminal-specific offset derived by adding the terminal's specific increment to the common offset. This dynamic adjustment enables precise timing alignment for terminals at different distances while maintaining efficient signaling through the common offset base.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method includes: a terminal device acquires a first offset increment configured by a network device; the terminal device determines a terminal device-specific offset according to the first offset increment and a cell-level common offset; and the terminal device determines a time-domain resource position for an uplink transmission of the terminal device according to the terminal device-specific offset.