Timing Advance Calculation Using Baseline Offset for Signaling Overhead Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In large transmission delay scenarios, such as satellite communications, the existing methods for calculating timing advance result in increased signaling overheads due to the excessive transmission delays, which complicates the synchronization of uplink and downlink transmissions.

Innovation Solution

A data transmission method that uses a baseline value to determine the timing advance, where the baseline value is derived from the difference between downlink and uplink frame timings, reducing the signaling overheads by calculating a timing advance with a smaller value range compared to the transmission delay value.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If timing advance is adjusted based on twice the transmission delay to maintain uplink transmission synchronization, then uplink transmission synchronization is improved, but signaling overheads increase in large transmission delay scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuplink transmission synchronizationVSAvoidsignaling overheads
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the timing advance adjustment into two parts: a baseline value that is pre-configured and common for all users in a cell, and a dynamic adjustment value that is user-specific and sent via signaling. This segmentation reduces the signaling overhead by eliminating the need to transmit the entire timing advance value for each user, while still maintaining synchronization accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation by introducing a baseline value offset mechanism. Instead of signaling the complete timing advance value, the system signals only the offset from the baseline. This parameter transformation significantly reduces the number of bits required for signaling while preserving the ability to maintain precise uplink synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If timing advance is calculated using the full transmission delay value, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but the value range becomes excessively large increasing overheads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overheads
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The timing advance value is segmented into a baseline component (common to all users) and an offset component (user-specific). The baseline captures the majority of the timing advance requirement, while the offset handles fine-tuning. This segmentation allows the system to maintain synchronization accuracy while reducing the signaling burden for individual user configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The baseline value provides a partial timing advance adjustment that is sufficient for most users in the cell. The remaining small adjustment is handled by the offset signaling. This partial action approach reduces overhead by not signaling the complete timing advance value, while still achieving the required synchronization precision through the combination of baseline and offset.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3706478B1Data transmission method and relevant apparatus
Publication Date: 2025.01.08 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3706478B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3706478B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3706478B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application discloses a data transmission method. The method includes: obtaining a baseline value, where the baseline value is used to indicate a time interval between downlink frame timing and uplink frame timing, the baseline value is used to determine a timing advance, and the timing advance is used to send uplink data; and receiving the uplink data. This application further provides a base station and user equipment. In this application, in a large transmission delay scenario, a value range of a timing advance calculated by using a baseline value is definitely smaller than a value range of a transmission delay value. Therefore, overheads of the timing advance can be effectively reduced.