Sidelink And PUCCH Start Timing for NTN Propagation Delays

The terminal device determines the starting time unit for SL and PUCCH transmissions in advance before actual transmission occurs. This preliminary timing determination accounts for large propagation delays in NTN systems, ensuring that transmissions are properly aligned with network resources before they begin, thereby improving reliability without adding complex real-time adjustments

The patent introduces a timing advance mechanism that compensates for propagation delays before transmissions occur. By calculating and applying the appropriate time offset in advance based on the distance to the satellite or relay node, the system cushions against the expected timing misalignment that would otherwise occur due to large propagation delays in NTN environments

The starting time unit is determined in advance during resource allocation or connection setup phases, rather than being calculated in real-time for each transmission. This preliminary determination reuses previously calculated timing parameters and propagation delay values, reducing the time cost at the moment of transmission while maintaining reliability

The patent reuses timing advance values and starting time unit calculations across multiple transmissions and resource allocations. Once the timing parameters are determined for a given connection or resource pool, they are copied and applied to subsequent transmissions, avoiding redundant calculations and reducing processing time while ensuring consistent timing alignment