LEO Satellite TDD Frame Offsetting for Guard Period Reuse

The system segments UEs into different sets (first UE set and second UE set) and assigns different TDD frame structures to each set. This segmentation allows the satellite-borne base station to perform frame header offsetting, enabling it to communicate with UEs in the first set during downlink slots while simultaneously communicating with UEs in the second set during what would traditionally be guard periods, thereby reducing wasted time and improving resource utilization.

The patent introduces a time-dimension offset between different UE sets by applying frame header offsetting. Instead of all UEs using the same synchronized frame structure, the system creates multiple time dimensions where different UE sets experience different frame timings. This allows the satellite to overlap downlink transmissions for one UE set with uplink receptions for another UE set, effectively utilizing what would otherwise be guard period time.

The patent makes the satellite-borne base station universal by enabling it to simultaneously perform multiple communication functions during the same time period. By using frame header offsetting with different UE sets, the base station can conduct downlink communications with one UE set while simultaneously conducting uplink communications with another UE set during the same physical time slot, making the base station capable of handling multiple communication tasks in parallel rather than sequentially.

The system eliminates idle guard periods by ensuring continuous useful communication action. Through frame header offsetting, the satellite-borne base station maintains continuous communication with different UE sets without interruption. What would traditionally be guard periods (useless time) are converted into productive communication slots for different UE sets, achieving continuity of useful action across the entire time domain.