Open Loop Uplink Timing Advance for Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional timing advance procedures in wireless communication systems, particularly in millimeter wave (mmW) networks, require significant resource overhead and are not suitable for high-mobility environments, as they involve exchanging multiple timing signals and commands, leading to inefficiencies and delays.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an open-loop uplink timing advance method, where user equipment (UE) autonomously adjusts the uplink timing advance value based on distance or orientation relative to the base station, eliminating the need for a conventional timing advance procedure and reducing resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional timing advance procedure is used, then timing alignment is achieved, but resource overhead increases and delays occur
Solution Approach 1:
The base station pre-calculates and provides timing advance values to the UE based on downlink propagation delay measurements. The UE receives these pre-computed values and applies them directly without needing to engage in iterative timing advance procedures, thereby eliminating the time loss associated with conventional timing alignment protocols while maintaining accurate timing synchronization
Solution Approach 2:
The base station acts as an intermediary by measuring downlink propagation delay and computing the appropriate timing advance value. Instead of the UE and base station exchanging multiple timing signals and commands, the base station unilaterally determines and communicates the timing advance value, reducing the number of interaction steps and associated resource overhead
2Reliability
If conventional timing advance procedure is used, then timing alignment is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the timing advance calculation function from the interactive timing advance procedure and consolidates it at the base station. The complex signal exchange and mutual measurement processes are replaced by a simplified mechanism where the base station independently calculates and provides the timing advance value, reducing procedural complexity while maintaining timing alignment reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The base station performs self-service by autonomously measuring downlink propagation delay and determining the appropriate timing advance value without requiring complex bidirectional coordination with the UE. This self-determined approach simplifies the overall procedure while ensuring accurate timing alignment
3Reliability
If conventional timing advance procedure is used, then timing alignment is achieved, but resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs timing advance calculation in advance based on downlink propagation measurements and provides the result to the UE in a single communication step. This preliminary computation eliminates the need for multiple timing advance procedure exchanges, thereby reducing the energy and resource consumption associated with repeated signal transmissions and receptions
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses downlink propagation delay measurement as feedback to determine the appropriate timing advance value. This feedback mechanism allows the base station to compute the exact timing adjustment needed without requiring additional uplink timing measurement signals, reducing overall resource consumption while maintaining accurate timing alignment
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may identify that an uplink transmission to a base station is to occur in accordance with an uplink timing advance value representing an amount of time that the uplink transmission takes from transmission at the UE to reception at the base station. The UE may perform an autonomous open-loop adjustment to the uplink timing advance value. The UE may transmit the uplink transmission to the base station in accordance with the adjusted uplink timing advance value. The base station may transmit an indication of a set of uplink timing advance values for a UE to use for uplink transmissions, each of the set of uplink timing advance values representing an amount of time that an uplink transmission is expected to take from transmission at the UE to reception at the base station.