Terminal Uplink Synchronization via Downlink Reference Signal
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Solution Overview
Problem
High-frequency transmission systems face limitations in uplink coverage area due to terminal cost and capability constraints, resulting in shorter transmission distances compared to downlink distances, especially when using omnidirectional antennas and beamforming technologies.
Innovation Solution
A terminal uses a downlink reference from a second base station's downlink carrier to synchronize and determine uplink data transceiving frequencies and times with the first base station, allowing it to send uplink data using a low-frequency signal, thereby increasing the uplink coverage area by coordinating uplink carrier resources through time or frequency division multiplexing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If beamforming technology is used in downlink direction, then transmission distance is extended, but uplink coverage area becomes smaller than downlink coverage area due to terminal capability limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a downlink reference signal from a second base station as an intermediary resource. The terminal uses this reference signal to determine uplink time-frequency resources for transmitting uplink data to the first base station. This intermediary mechanism enables the terminal to achieve extended uplink transmission distance without requiring complex terminal beamforming capabilities, thereby resolving the coverage area discrepancy between uplink and downlink.
2Productivity
If high-frequency band is used for data transmission, then high-speed data transmission requirements are met, but signal attenuation increases rapidly in propagation process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the frequency parameter of uplink transmission by having the terminal transmit uplink data on frequency resources of a downlink carrier (which operates at a lower frequency than the first base station's downlink carrier). This parameter change reduces signal attenuation in the uplink direction while maintaining high-speed data transmission capability, as lower frequency signals experience less attenuation during propagation.
3Area of stationary object
If omnidirectional antenna is used, then coverage area is provided, but transmission distance becomes very limited in high-frequency band
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the coverage and transmission distance requirements into different functional components: the first base station provides downlink coverage using omnidirectional or broad beams, while the uplink transmission distance is extended through the intermediary reference signal mechanism from the second base station. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both adequate coverage area and extended transmission distance without relying on terminal beamforming.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of this application disclose a data processing method, a terminal, and a base station, to increase an uplink coverage area of a high-frequency transmission system. The method in the embodiments of this application includes: obtaining, by a terminal, a downlink reference for uplink transmission in a first cell of a first base station, where the downlink reference is information about a downlink carrier of a second cell of a second base station, the downlink reference is used to synchronize, in the first cell, uplink data transceiving frequencies and/or uplink data transceiving times between the terminal and the first base station, the downlink reference is used to determine frequency information of an uplink carrier of the first cell, and a frequency of a downlink carrier of the first cell is higher than a frequency of the downlink carrier of the second cell; obtaining, by the terminal, uplink grant information in the first cell of the first base station, where the uplink grant information includes information about an uplink time-frequency resource on the uplink carrier of the first cell; and sending, by the terminal, uplink data to the first base station on the uplink time-frequency resource by using the downlink reference.