Timing Advance Compensation for NTN Signaling Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current timing advance (TA) compensation methods in wireless communication, particularly in non-terrestrial networks (NTN), face challenges with large propagation delays and dynamic satellite movement, leading to inefficient TA alignment and significant signaling overhead.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the transmission of configuration information indicating a reference power to estimate and compensate the timing advance (TA) between a user equipment (UE) and a base station (BS), allowing for efficient TA compensation during random access procedures, even in scenarios with large propagation delays and dynamic satellite movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If current TA compensation methods are used in NTN, then TA alignment can be achieved, but the method cannot fully compensate for large propagation delays and requires significant signaling overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The network pre-calculates and provides reference power values to the UE before the random access procedure. The UE uses these reference power values to estimate TA in advance, avoiding the need for extensive TA adjustment signaling after connection establishment.
Solution Approach 2:
Reference power values serve as an intermediary parameter that indirectly conveys TA information. Instead of directly signaling TA values, the network provides reference power values from which the UE derives TA estimates, reducing signaling overhead while maintaining compensation accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If TA is compensated via TAC MAC CE in NTN, then TA compensation is achieved, but it requires significant signaling overhead
Solution Approach 1:
TA compensation information is prepared and transmitted in advance through reference power values in system information or RRC configuration, rather than requiring continuous TAC MAC CE signaling during connection maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential TA compensation function from the complex TAC MAC CE signaling mechanism and implements it through simpler reference power value transmissions, separating the pre-compensation function from ongoing connection management signaling.
3Reliability
If frequent TA updates are performed to handle satellite movement, then timing alignment is maintained, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
Reference power values are provided in advance and can be updated less frequently than TA values would need to be updated. The UE uses these reference values to estimate TA dynamically, reducing the frequency of network signaling while maintaining timing alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE autonomously estimates TA based on received reference power values and satellite ephemeris data, performing self-service TA compensation without requiring frequent network-initiated TAC MAC CE updates, thus reducing signaling overhead while maintaining alignment reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present application relate to a method and apparatus for timing advance (TA) compensation. An exemplary method includes: receiving configuration information indicating a reference power; estimating a first TA between the UE and a first BS based on the reference power, and compensating a TA based on the estimated first TA when initiating a random assess procedure to the first BS. Embodiments of the present application can efficiently compensate the TA in scenarios (e.g., NTN) with large propagation delay.