Terminal Device Time Offset Selection for Antenna Panel Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

In cellular communication systems like LTE and NR, setting an appropriate time offset value for antenna panel and beam settings in terminal devices is challenging due to variations in time required for different combinations of receiving antenna panels and beams, leading to potential delays in user data reception.

Innovation Solution

A communication method and device that dynamically switch between multiple time offset values based on the specific reception situation, allowing the terminal device to set the appropriate time offset for user data reception by acquiring and selecting the correct value from a set of predetermined values based on control information from the base station.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single time offset value is used for all antenna panel and beam combinations, then the system complexity is reduced, but the communication reliability deteriorates due to inaccurate time offset settings for specific combinations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by configuring different time offset values for different antenna panel and beam combinations. Specifically, the base station configures a first time offset value for a first antenna panel and a second time offset value for a second antenna panel, allowing each panel to use the appropriate time offset for its specific characteristics and beamforming requirements, thereby improving communication reliability without requiring a single complex unified value

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the time offset parameter based on the antenna panel and beam combination being used. By dynamically selecting and applying different time offset values (first time offset value vs. second time offset value) depending on which antenna panel and beam combination is active, the system adapts to varying propagation conditions and hardware characteristics, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the terminal device uses a default antenna panel and beam combination, then the processing time is reduced, but the communication quality deteriorates due to suboptimal reception settings

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication qualityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the base station configure multiple time offset values and antenna panel/beam combinations in advance before actual data transmission. The terminal device receives and stores these configurations (first time offset value with first antenna panel, second time offset value with second antenna panel) so that when data arrives, it can quickly select the appropriate pre-configured combination without performing complex real-time analysis, thus improving communication quality while minimizing processing time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamics by enabling the terminal device to dynamically switch between different antenna panel and beam combinations based on which time offset value is indicated in the received data. The system transitions from static default settings to dynamic selection among multiple pre-configured options, allowing optimal communication quality while maintaining rapid response through pre-prepared configurations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3952393B1Communication apparatus, base station apparatus, communication method, and control method of base station apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.12.11 SONY GROUP CORP
  • EP3952393B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3952393B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3952393B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A communication device (200) includes a determination unit (241) and a selection unit (242). The determination unit (241) determines a plurality of time offset values for determining a combination of a receiving antenna panel and a receiving beam for user data scheduled by control information transmitted from a base station (100). The selection unit (242) selects a time offset value for determining the combination of the receiving antenna panel and the receiving beam for the user data from among the plurality of time offset values based on the control information received from the base station (100).