Timing Advance Management in Multi-Panel Communication Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In multiple transmission point or panel configurations for communication networks, managing time alignment for user equipment (UE) across non-serving cells is challenging due to varying propagation delays, leading to potential interference and reduced performance, as existing methods rely on random access procedures that increase resource usage, latency, and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A method for a communication device to manage time alignment by receiving information from a network node, including transmission configuration indicators and quasi collocation sources, allowing it to determine the validity of time alignment without relying on random access to non-serving cells, thereby reducing resource usage, latency, and power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If random access procedure is used for time alignment in non-serving cells, then time alignment can be established, but resource usage increases, latency increases, and power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring TCI states with QCL information for non-serving cells before the UE actually needs to access them. The network node provides TCI state configurations that include QCL type D information indicating the spatial receive parameter for downlink transmissions from non-serving cells, allowing the UE to prepare time alignment parameters in advance without performing random access procedures when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses TCI states as an intermediary mechanism to transfer time alignment information between the network node and UE for non-serving cells. Instead of directly establishing time alignment through random access, the TCI state configuration acts as an intermediary that carries QCL information, enabling indirect time alignment setup that reduces latency and resource consumption.
2Reliability
If random access procedure is used for time alignment in non-serving cells, then time alignment can be established, but resource usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network node performs preliminary action by pre-configuring TCI states with QCL information for non-serving cells before the UE actually needs to access them. The network node provides TCI state configurations that include QCL type D information indicating the spatial receive parameter for downlink transmissions from non-serving cells, allowing the UE to prepare time alignment parameters in advance without performing random access procedures when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses TCI states as an intermediary mechanism to transfer time alignment information between the network node and UE for non-serving cells. Instead of directly establishing time alignment through random access, the TCI state configuration acts as an intermediary that carries QCL information, enabling indirect time alignment setup that reduces latency and resource consumption.
3Reliability
If random access procedure is used for time alignment in non-serving cells, then time alignment can be established, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network node performs preliminary action by pre-configuring TCI states with QCL information for non-serving cells before the UE actually needs to access them. The network node provides TCI state configurations that include QCL type D information indicating the spatial receive parameter for downlink transmissions from non-serving cells, allowing the UE to prepare time alignment parameters in advance without performing random access procedures when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses TCI states as an intermediary mechanism to transfer time alignment information between the network node and UE for non-serving cells. Instead of directly establishing time alignment through random access, the TCI state configuration acts as an intermediary that carries QCL information, enabling indirect time alignment setup that reduces latency and resource consumption.
4Loss of time
If Layer 1/Layer 2 centric mobility is implemented without random access, then latency is reduced and resource usage is optimized, but time alignment management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The network node performs preliminary action by pre-configuring TCI states with QCL information for non-serving cells before the UE actually needs to access them. The network node provides TCI state configurations that include QCL type D information indicating the spatial receive parameter for downlink transmissions from non-serving cells, allowing the UE to prepare time alignment parameters in advance without performing random access procedures when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses TCI states as an intermediary mechanism to transfer time alignment information between the network node and UE for non-serving cells. Instead of directly establishing time alignment through random access, the TCI state configuration acts as an intermediary that carries QCL information, enabling indirect time alignment setup that reduces latency and resource consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed by a communication device is provided. The communication device is configured with a plurality of transmission configurations associated with one or more cells, each cell associated with one or more physical cell identities, PCIs. The method includes receiving a signal for lower layer mobility. The signal including an indication of a transmission configuration to be activated from the plurality of transmission configurations; and, in response to the indicated transmission configuration, determining if a timing advance, TA, is valid or invalid.