Timing Advance Effective Time Adjustment for 5G Uplink Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining timing advance (TA) in wireless communications face challenges due to varying subcarrier spacings, leading to inconsistent TA effective times across different uplink carriers within the same timing advance group, increasing implementation complexity and compromising uplink timing synchronization between terminal devices and network devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that determine an effective moment of TA by selecting a first subcarrier spacing from multiple spacings, ensuring consistent time intervals for TA effective times across different subcarrier spacings, thereby maintaining uplink timing synchronization by adjusting the TA adjustment command and calculating the time interval based on specific durations for processing and preparing signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different subcarrier spacings are used for different uplink carriers, then the system can support diverse 5G service requirements, but the TA effective times become inconsistent across carriers in the same TAG
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the time interval parameter for TA application based on the subcarrier spacing of different carriers. Specifically, when a carrier has a larger subcarrier spacing, the time interval from receiving the TA adjustment command to applying the new TA is extended proportionally. This parameter adaptation ensures that TA effective times remain consistent across carriers with different subcarrier spacings within the same TAG, resolving the contradiction between supporting diverse services and maintaining TA consistency.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the time interval for TA application is adjusted based on subcarrier spacing, then TA effective times can be synchronized across different carriers, but the implementation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a clear parameter relationship where the time interval is directly proportional to the subcarrier spacing. This systematic parameter change provides a straightforward calculation method that, while adding some complexity, does so in a structured and manageable way. The terminal device can determine the appropriate time interval by simply referencing the subcarrier spacing of the carrier, making the implementation complexity acceptable given the benefit of synchronized TA effective times.
3Ease of manufacture
If a fixed time interval is used for TA application, then the implementation is simple, but TA effective times differ across carriers with different subcarrier spacings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a fixed time interval approach to a dynamic parameter-based approach where the time interval is determined by the subcarrier spacing. This allows the system to maintain simplicity in the sense that the determination rule is clear and based on existing carrier parameters, while simultaneously achieving consistency in TA effective times across different carriers. The terminal device uses the subcarrier spacing value it already has to calculate the appropriate time interval, avoiding the need for complex external configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a method and an apparatus for determining an effective time of a timing advance (TA). The method includes: determining a first subcarrier spacing from M subcarrier spacings, where the M subcarrier spacings are subcarrier spacings of L carriers used by a terminal device, and L≥M≥2; and determining an effective time of a timing advance (TA) of each of the L carriers based on the first subcarrier spacing.