Preconfigured Uplink Resources for Cell-Wide TA Validity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 3GPP technologies face challenges in configuring timing advance (TA) validity for user equipment (UE) devices, particularly in scenarios where preconfigured uplink resources (PUR) are used, as current methods require complex validation mechanisms that increase signaling overhead and eNB complexity.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where TA is implicitly considered valid in an entire cell when no TA validation mechanisms are configured, and using a PUR Time Alignment Timer set to infinity to disable other validation methods, thereby simplifying configuration and reducing signaling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex TA validation mechanisms are configured, then TA validity can be precisely controlled, but signaling overhead and eNB complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTA validity controlVSAvoidvalidation mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the complex TA validation mechanisms from the configuration. When no validation mechanisms are configured, the system assumes TA is valid throughout the cell, thereby eliminating the complexity of validation while maintaining reliable operation under simplified conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of configuring complex validation mechanisms to ensure TA validity, the patent inverts the approach by assuming TA is valid by default and only requiring validation when explicitly configured. This inversion simplifies the system while maintaining reliability through explicit configuration rather than implicit complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If TA validation mechanisms are configured, then transmission reliability is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes unnecessary TA validation signaling from the system. By extracting the validation mechanisms entirely, the system reduces signaling overhead while maintaining transmission reliability through the simplified assumption that TA is valid when no validation is configured.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial validation only when needed. Instead of always configuring validation mechanisms, the system applies validation partially - only when explicitly configured by the network. This partial action reduces overall signaling overhead while maintaining reliability where required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If multiple TA validation criteria are applied, then TA validity is more accurately determined, but UE processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTA validity determinationVSAvoidUE processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies TA validation partially - only when explicitly configured by the network. The UE processes validation criteria only when needed, rather than continuously evaluating multiple criteria. This partial processing reduces UE complexity while maintaining precise TA validity determination when validation is active.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of the UE continuously processing multiple validation criteria, the patent inverts the approach by having the network explicitly configure validation when needed. The UE then processes a single clear instruction rather than multiple complex criteria, reducing processing complexity while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP3949561B1Preconfigured uplink resources - configuration for ta validity in entire cell
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3949561B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3949561B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3949561B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems and methods for determining timing advance (TA) validity are disclosed. In some embodiments, systems and methods are disclosed herein in which a wireless device implicitly considers a TA to be valid in a full cell when no TA validation mechanisms are explicitly configured. In other embodiments, systems and methods are disclosed herein in which a timer serves a dual purpose. If the timer is set to infinity, awireless device will always consider a TA to be valid within a given cell, and at the same time will disable other TA validation mechanisms. Otherwise, the wireless device will interpret the timer as indicating for how long the TA value that the wireless device possesses is considered to be valid. Benefits of the solutions described herein include reducing signaling bits in the configuration and avoiding the possibility of conflicting configurations.