Terminal Data Inactivity Timer for Non-Terrestrial Network Delay Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-terrestrial networks (NTNs) face significant challenges due to long propagation delays, which disrupt the timing relationship between uplink and downlink communications, necessitating a method to compensate for these delays.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for a terminal and base station in a non-terrestrial network that involves transmitting data, starting a data inactivity timer, and determining a round trip time (RTT) based on various link RTTs. The terminal monitors for data reception during an extended time period, transitioning to an idle state if data is not received, and restarting the timer upon successful data reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a data inactivity timer is used to manage terminal states in NTN, then power consumption can be reduced by transitioning to idle state, but the long propagation delay causes the timer to expire before data is received, leading to unnecessary state transitions and communication failures
Solution Approach 1:
The base station performs preliminary action by determining the RTT between terminal and base station, and uses this information to calculate an extended time period that compensates for propagation delay. This extended time period is then provided to the terminal before the data inactivity timer expires, allowing the terminal to maintain active state long enough to receive the data despite the long propagation delay in NTN
2Reliability
If the data inactivity timer time period is extended to accommodate propagation delay, then communication reliability improves, but terminal power consumption increases due to prolonged active monitoring state
Solution Approach 1:
The base station provides feedback to the terminal by determining the RTT and calculating the extended time period based on actual propagation delay measurements. This feedback mechanism allows the system to dynamically adjust the monitoring period to the minimum necessary duration, avoiding excessive power consumption while ensuring reliable data reception
3Device complexity
If conventional timing relationships in terrestrial networks are applied to NTN, then protocol complexity remains low, but timing synchronization fails due to large propagation delays and satellite movement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the time parameter by extending the data inactivity timer period based on RTT compensation. This parameter adjustment allows the existing terrestrial network protocol to function in NTN environment by simply modifying the time duration, without requiring fundamental protocol changes or increased complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for compensating for a long propagation delay in a non-terrestrial network. A method of a terminal may comprise: transmitting first data to a base station through a satellite; starting a data inactivity timer that expires after a first time period elapses from a time of transmitting the first data; and determining a first round trip time (RTT) between the terminal and the base station before the first time period elapses, wherein the data inactivity timer is configured in the terminal so that an operating state of the terminal transitions to an idle state.