Timing Advance Acquisition for Multi-Cell 5G NR Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless networking technologies face challenges in efficiently managing timing advance during and after handover procedures in 5G NR networks, particularly in scenarios involving dual connectivity and carrier aggregation, leading to inefficiencies and potential connectivity issues.
Innovation Solution
Implementing coordinated timing advance management across network nodes, including gNB-CU and gNB-DU, through methods such as random access procedures and non-random access methods, to ensure timely uplink transmission alignment during handovers and cell changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If timing advance is managed separately for each cell during handover, then handover reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines timing advance management for multiple cells into a unified process. The gNB-CU coordinates timing advance acquisition across serving and candidate target cells simultaneously, rather than managing each cell independently. This merging approach maintains handover reliability while reducing the complexity burden on individual cells and user equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary timing advance acquisition for candidate target cells before the actual handover execution. By acquiring timing advance information in advance for multiple cells, the system prepares everything needed for smooth handover transition, ensuring reliability without increasing operational complexity during the handover event itself.
2Reliability
If timing advance is acquired for multiple candidate cells, then connectivity reliability is improved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs timing advance acquisition for multiple candidate cells in advance, during the cell selection and preparation phase. By completing these acquisitions beforehand, the actual handover execution becomes faster and more efficient, as the timing advance values are already ready for immediate application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains continuous timing advance acquisition processes across multiple cells simultaneously rather than sequentially. The gNB-CU coordinates parallel acquisition operations for serving cells and candidate target cells, ensuring that time is not lost during handover transitions while maintaining high connectivity reliability.
3Manufacturing precision
If coordinated timing advance management is implemented across gNB-CU and gNB-DU, then uplink transmission alignment is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments timing advance management functions between gNB-CU and gNB-DU components. The gNB-CU handles high-level coordination and acquisition decisions, while gNB-DU executes specific timing alignment operations. This segmentation allows precise uplink transmission alignment to be achieved through distributed intelligence rather than centralized complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where gNB-DU reports timing advance status and uplink alignment information back to gNB-CU. This feedback loop enables continuous optimization of timing alignment precision while distributing the complexity management - the gNB-CU adjusts coordination strategies based on real-time feedback from gNB-DU operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a user equipment apparatus (UE) that includes processor(s) and memory storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the processor(s), cause the UE at least to, establish a connection with a control network node via a serving cell, where the control network node supports at least one of control unit-control plane functionality or a layer 3 protocol of a radio access network; receive, from the control network node, an RRC message that includes: configuration information for preparing the UE for candidate target cell(s) with which the UE may connect, and further configuration information for preparing the UE to acquire timing advance (TA) for other cell(s) with which the UE may connect and/or perform cell detection/measurement, where the further configuration information is received prior to the UE connecting with any of the other cell(s); and implement a configuration based on the configuration information and the further configuration information.