Relative Timing Advance Reporting for Non-Terrestrial Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Non-Terrestrial Networks, the large propagation delay caused by communicating with satellites results in significant challenges for timing advance reporting, leading to inefficient use of communication resources due to the need for a large number of bits to convey the timing advance corresponding to the entire communication link.
Innovation Solution
A method where a terminal determines and reports a relative timing advance based on the relationship between its distance to a non-terrestrial network device and the network device's distance to an earth reference point, rather than the full propagation delay, reducing the number of bits required for communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the terminal reports the full timing advance corresponding to the entire communication link, then the timing accuracy is improved, but the number of bits required for reporting increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the timing advance reporting into two parts: a common timing advance value that is broadcast to all terminals, and a differential timing advance value that each terminal reports individually. This segmentation allows the majority of the timing information to be shared efficiently while only the variable portion needs individual reporting, thus reducing the number of bits required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the common timing advance component from the full timing advance value and handles it separately through broadcast. This extraction leaves only the terminal-specific differential component to be reported by each terminal, significantly reducing the reporting overhead while maintaining full timing accuracy.
2Area of stationary object
If the satellite is used for communication coverage, then the coverage area is improved, but the propagation delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the base station calculate and broadcast the common timing advance value in advance, before individual terminal reporting is needed. This preliminary provision of timing information reduces the overall time loss by eliminating the need for terminals to calculate full timing advance values from scratch.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the base station acts as a mediator that calculates the common timing advance based on satellite position and broadcasts it to terminals. This intermediary approach allows efficient handling of the propagation delay without requiring each terminal to independently manage the complex timing calculations.
3Reliability
If the terminal calculates and reports full timing advance, then the timing synchronization is improved, but the communication resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the timing advance information into common and differential components, allowing the bulk of the synchronization information to be efficiently broadcast while minimizing individual terminal reporting requirements. This maintains timing synchronization reliability while reducing communication resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The common timing advance broadcast serves a universal function for all terminals simultaneously, providing timing synchronization information that applies to the entire cell. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for each terminal to independently request and receive full timing advance calculations, reducing overall communication resource consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A timing advance sending method and a timing advance sending apparatus that improves the efficiency of a communication network. The efficiency of the communication network is improved by sending relative timing advance to a base station, where the relative timing advance is determined based on a relationship between a distance between the terminal and a non-terrestrial network device and a distance from the network device to an earth reference point. The determined relative timing advance is relatively small in comparison with a propagation delay corresponding to all communication links between the terminal and the base station, so that a number of bits that requires to be occupied is relatively small and thus a number of bits that requires to be occupied by the terminal to report the relative timing advance is relatively small, which helps to save communication resources.