Timing Advance Comparison for Wireless Response Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communications, especially in Non-Terrestrial Networks, devices face contention issues due to unclear identification of response signals, leading to unnecessary replies and delays, particularly in scenarios with multiple devices transmitting requests simultaneously.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus determines a timing advance for request signals to ensure synchronization between uplink and downlink frames by comparing the calculated timing advance with the timing advance indication in the response, allowing devices to accurately identify whether a response is directed to them, thereby reducing contention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple devices transmit requests simultaneously, then the quantity of requests increases and system activity improves, but response identification becomes unclear and contention increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem activityVSAvoidresponse identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the timing parameter of request transmission by applying different timing advances to different devices. Each device calculates its timing advance based on propagation delay to the destination, causing requests to arrive at different times even if transmitted simultaneously. This timing differentiation allows the destination to clearly identify which request a response is for, resolving the contention problem while maintaining high system activity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If timing advance is applied to synchronize signal arrival, then transmission synchronization improves, but the complexity of determining and applying timing advance increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission synchronizationVSAvoidtiming advance determination
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by having each device independently calculate its own timing advance based on its known propagation delay to the destination. The destination node also independently determines the timing advance from the received signal characteristics. This self-determination approach achieves synchronization without requiring complex centralized control or additional signaling overhead, thus improving synchronization while limiting complexity growth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If devices reply to all received responses, then response coverage increases, but unnecessary replies increase contention and waste energy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse coverageVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by having devices compare the timing advance in the received response with their own calculated timing advance. Only devices whose timing advances match (within a threshold) will reply to the response. This feedback mechanism ensures that responses are covered reliably by the intended recipient while preventing unnecessary replies from other devices, thus reducing contention and energy waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP4161170A1Reducing contention by improving the identification of the target of a response signal
Publication Date: 2023.04.05 NOKIA TECHNOLOGIES OY
  • EP4161170A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4161170A1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4161170A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An apparatus, method and computer program for aiding identification of a target of a response to a request. The apparatus comprises means for generating the request. Means for determining a timing advance to be applied to a predetermined time of transmission of the request in order for the request to reach a destination at the predetermined time. Means for transmitting the request signal towards the destination. Means for receiving a response, the response comprising a timing advance indication, the timing advance indication indicating a difference in time between receipt of the request signal and the predetermined time. Means for determining from the timing advance indication and the determined timing advance whether the received response is a response to the request.