Timing Advance Group Configurations for Wireless Uplink Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multicarrier communication systems face challenges in efficiently managing signal timing and resource allocation across multiple carriers, particularly in scenarios involving carrier aggregation and dual connectivity, which can lead to increased PUCCH load on primary cells and synchronization issues in unlicensed spectrum utilization.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of advanced timing advance group configurations and listen-before-talk mechanisms, along with adaptive energy detection thresholds, enables efficient signal timing alignment and resource management across multiple carriers, including the use of licensed and unlicensed bands, to optimize network performance and reduce synchronization errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If carrier aggregation is implemented to increase data rates, then network capacity is improved, but PUCCH load on primary cells increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the PUCCH transmission by introducing secondary PUCCH cells that are separate from the primary PCell. This allows control information to be distributed across multiple cells rather than concentrated on a single primary cell, reducing its load while maintaining the benefits of carrier aggregation for high data rates.
2Measurement precision
If multiple timing advance groups are configured to manage synchronization, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the timing advance configuration into multiple independent TAGs, each managing synchronization for specific cell groups. This segmentation allows precise synchronization control for different carriers while managing complexity through standardized configurations for each TAG.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces flexible parameters such as `tag-Id` and `sCell-Id` mappings that allow dynamic configuration of which cells belong to which timing advance group. This parameter-based configuration enables adaptation to different network scenarios without requiring complex hardware changes.
3Productivity
If listen-before-talk mechanism is implemented for unlicensed spectrum, then spectrum utilization is improved, but transmission delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic listen-before-talk procedures where the device periodically senses the channel before transmission. This periodic sensing allows efficient spectrum utilization in unlicensed bands while managing delay through configured sensing intervals that balance detection accuracy with transmission speed.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless device receives configuration parameters of cells grouped into timing advance groups (TAGs). The cells comprise: downlink-uplink cells, each of the downlink-uplink cells having a configured uplink and a configured downlink; and at least one downlink-only cell, each of the at least one downlink-only cell having a configured downlink with no configured uplink. A TAG is configurable to consist of one or more downlink-only cells in response to the wireless device having a first capability, otherwise each TAG comprises one or more downlink-uplink cells in the downlink-uplink cells. At least one timing advance command (TAC) for a first TAG is received. The TAC is applied to uplink transmission timing of at least one downlink-uplink cell in the first TAG.