Timing Advance Configuration for Multi-TRP Wireless Uplink Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, user equipment (UE) faces challenges in synchronizing uplink communications with multiple transmission reception points due to different propagation delays, leading to timing misalignment and reduced reliability.
Innovation Solution
The UE configures different timing advance values for different uplink channels or transmission reception points by receiving control messages containing timing advance indicators, group identifiers, and commands, allowing it to determine and apply specific timing advance values for each transmission reception point.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single timing advance value is used for all transmission reception points, then device complexity is reduced, but timing alignment reliability deteriorates due to different propagation delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the timing advance configuration by introducing timing advance groups (TAGs) that associate different transmission reception points with different timing advance values. This allows the system to divide the previously unified timing advance parameter into multiple group-specific parameters, resolving the contradiction by maintaining separate timing advances for different TRPs while organizing them in a structured group-based framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by enabling different timing advance values to be configured for different transmission reception points based on their specific propagation delay characteristics. Each TRP or group of TRPs can have locally optimized timing advance parameters rather than using a single global value, thereby improving timing alignment reliability for each specific TRP while maintaining overall system manageability.
2Reliability
If different timing advance values are configured for different transmission reception points, then timing alignment reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a universal timing advance group identifier that can be used across multiple transmission reception points and uplink channels. This multi-functional identifier system allows the same TAG ID to represent different groups in different contexts, providing a unified framework that manages multiple timing advance values without requiring completely separate configuration mechanisms for each TRP, thereby controlling device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring timing advance groups and their associations with transmission reception points before actual uplink transmissions occur. The network entity establishes the TAG mappings and timing advance values in advance, allowing the UE to simply apply the pre-determined timing advance for each TAG without performing complex real-time calculations, thus reducing operational complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Measurement precision
If timing advance values are updated frequently for each transmission reception point, then timing alignment accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple timing advance indications into a single unified MAC control element by incorporating the timing advance group identifier within the same MAC CE structure. This combining approach allows the network to update timing advance information for multiple TRPs simultaneously through a single signaling message, reducing the overall signaling overhead compared to sending separate indications for each TRP while maintaining accurate timing updates.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication at a user equipment (UE) are described. A UE may establish communication with a set of transmission reception points including a first transmission reception point and a second transmission reception point. The UE may receive a single control message including one or more respective timing advance indications for uplink channel transmissions to one or more respective transmission reception points. In some examples, each timing advance indication may identify a respective transmission reception point using a respective timing advance value. The UE may determine a first timing advance value for the uplink channel transmissions based on the one or more respective timing advance indications identifying a respective transmission reception point. The UE may then transmit, to the first transmission reception point, an uplink channel transmission over an uplink channel using the first timing advance value determined for the first transmission reception point.