Terminal Signal Reception Delay Reduction via Enhanced Downlink Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In LTE MTC systems, terminals face long delays in receiving signals due to weak signal coverage, as they need to perform multiple receptions to successfully receive synchronization signals, leading to prolonged synchronization times.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves enhanced downlink signal transmission methods, such as repeating synchronization signals in a short time and extending their bandwidth, allowing terminals to receive signals more quickly if both the network device and terminal support enhanced signal transmission. This is achieved through the exchange of indication information between network devices and terminals to determine support for enhanced signal transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the base station repeatedly sends synchronization signals to enhance coverage, then the signal receiving success rate is improved, but the time required for the terminal to obtain the signal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the synchronization signal transmission adaptive rather than static. The base station dynamically adjusts transmission parameters based on terminal feedback and channel conditions. Specifically, the system uses repeated transmissions with varying parameters (time, frequency, or content) and selects the optimal repetition strategy based on terminal capability indicators and channel quality, thereby improving reliability without unnecessarily extending acquisition time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying synchronization signal characteristics across repeated transmissions. Different repetitions use different time slots, frequency resources, or signal sequences. The terminal can early terminate the reception process once successful detection occurs, meaning that under good channel conditions, the terminal acquires the signal quickly (reducing time loss), while under poor conditions, multiple repetitions ensure reliable reception.
2Reliability
If the terminal performs multiple continuous receptions to receive signals in weak coverage, then the signal reception reliability is improved, but the synchronization time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the skipping principle by enabling the terminal to bypass unnecessary repeated receptions through early termination. When the terminal successfully detects the synchronization signal in an early repetition, it immediately stops receiving and processing subsequent repetitions. This skipping of redundant reception operations significantly reduces synchronization time while maintaining reliable signal acquisition, directly addressing the contradiction between reliability and duration.
3Productivity
If enhanced signal transmission is implemented, then the signal transmission efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases due to capability indication mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the capability indication function into a separate, dedicated mechanism. Instead of embedding capability information throughout multiple message exchanges, the system uses specific uplink signaling (such as random access preamble selection or dedicated uplink messages) to convey terminal capability indicators. This extraction simplifies the overall system by isolating the complexity into a manageable, standardized capability exchange procedure, making the enhanced transmission mechanism easier to implement and maintain.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication method and an apparatus are disclosed, and the method includes: receiving, by a terminal, first indication information sent by a first network device; determining, based on the first indication information, whether a second network device supports enhanced signal transmission; and if the second network device supports the enhanced signal transmission, receiving, by the terminal based on the enhanced signal transmission, an enhanced downlink signal sent by the second network device, where the second network device is a neighboring network device of the first network device. In other words, the terminal can determine, by receiving the first indication information sent by the first network device, whether the neighboring network device of the first network device supports the enhanced signal transmission, and the terminal may receive the enhanced downlink signal if the neighboring network device supports the enhanced signal transmission, thereby effectively reducing a delay caused when the terminal receives a downlink signal sent by a network device. This avoids a technical problem that a delay is relatively long because the terminal still receives a downlink signal in an existing manner when the terminal cannot accurately obtain whether the second network device supports the enhanced signal transmission.