Timing Advance Grouping for Carrier Aggregation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In communication systems with carrier aggregation, frequent random access processes due to uncertainty over timing advance grouping lead to increased conflict probability and resource interference, affecting system performance.

Innovation Solution

A method for determining timing advance grouping, where a base station or network management center identifies TA groups based on band and repeater attributes, reducing the need for frequent random access and minimizing conflict probability by allocating appropriate TA group identifiers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the eNodeB requires random access process every time a CC is added to determine TA group, then the TA group can be accurately determined, but the random access frequency increases and conflict probability increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTA group determination accuracyVSAvoidrandom access frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining TA group information based on band attributes and repeater attributes before the random access process. The eNodeB or network management center performs preliminary classification of CCs into TA groups using preset rules, so that when a CC is added, the TA group can be directly assigned without requiring random access for determination, thus reducing random access frequency while maintaining determination accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the eNodeB requires random access process every time a CC is added to determine TA group, then the TA group can be accurately determined, but the resource interference increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTA group determination accuracyVSAvoidresource interference
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By performing preliminary TA group determination based on band and repeater attributes before random access, the patent eliminates the need for frequent random access processes. This preliminary classification approach prevents resource interference that would otherwise be generated by repeated random access attempts, while still ensuring accurate TA group assignment through the preset rules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If TA values are shared among all CCs, then the system complexity is reduced, but the uplink signal synchronization deteriorates when CCs pass through different repeaters

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTA management complexityVSAvoiduplink signal synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing CCs into different TA groups based on their band attributes and repeater attributes. Instead of treating all CCs uniformly, the system segments them into groups that share common characteristics (same band, same repeater frequency). This allows TA values to be shared within each segment while maintaining different TA values between segments, thus balancing system complexity reduction with uplink signal synchronization reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by allowing different TA management strategies for different CC groups based on their local characteristics. CCs in the same TA group (with identical band and repeater attributes) share TA values, while CCs in different groups maintain separate TA values. This localized approach ensures that each group's uplink synchronization requirements are met while avoiding unnecessary complexity in the overall system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

4Adaptability or versatility

If frequent random access is performed when adding CCs, then the TA group can be dynamically adjusted, but the conflict probability of random access process increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTA group dynamic adjustmentVSAvoidrandom access conflict probability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces random access frequency by performing preliminary TA group determination based on preset rules involving band attributes and repeater attributes. This preliminary classification maintains adaptability because the system can still dynamically adjust TA groups when actual measurements indicate the need for adjustment, but does so much less frequently, thereby reducing conflict probability while preserving necessary adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3177086B1Method, device, and system for determining timing advance grouping
Publication Date: 2021.05.26 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3177086B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3177086B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3177086B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, a device, and a system for determining timing advance grouping, and relate to the field of communications, the method, device and system for determining timing advance grouping. The solution is: adding, by a base station (eNodeB), a component carrier (CC) for a user equipment (UE); according to obtained timing advance (TA) group information or a preset rule, determining a TA group that the added CC belongs to, where the TA group is a set of CCs that can share a TA; and sending identification information that identifies the TA group to the UE. Embodiments of the present invention are used to determine TA grouping when the eNodeB adds the CC for the UE.