5G Non-Terrestrial Timing Advance Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G next-generation non-terrestrial connections, uplink requests from different user equipment can cause interference, as existing time control and synchronization methods are inadequate for long distances.
Innovation Solution
A Time Management System that regulates the timing advance value by allowing user equipment to create and share timing advance information, with base stations calculating precise timing advance values to prevent interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional time control and synchronization methods are used in non-terrestrial networks, then the system can maintain compatibility with existing 5G NR terrestrial networks, but uplink signals from different user equipment cause interference due to long distances
Solution Approach 1:
The timing advance value is segmented into two independent components: a shared timing advance value common to all user equipment in a beam, and a user-specific timing advance value. This segmentation allows the system to handle long-distance propagation delays effectively by providing a common reference while accommodating individual user variations, thereby preventing uplink interference without requiring complete redesign of the synchronization mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station performs preliminary calculation of the shared timing advance value based on beam-specific propagation characteristics before user equipment transmits uplink signals. This preliminary action establishes a common time reference that pre-compensates for long-distance delays, enabling user equipment to synchronize their transmissions and avoid interference at the base station.
2Measurement precision
If user equipment automatically creates and shares timing advance information, then the system achieves accurate timing synchronization for long-distance connections, but the protocol requires significant changes from existing 5G NR standards
Solution Approach 1:
User equipment automatically creates and shares their timing advance information with the base station without requiring complex centralized coordination. Each user equipment independently determines its timing advance based on shared beam-level information and adjusts its own transmission timing, enabling accurate synchronization while keeping the protocol relatively simple through decentralized self-configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The protocol merges the shared timing advance information (broadcast by base station) with user-specific timing adjustments (determined by each user equipment) to achieve precise synchronization. This combination allows accurate timing management for long-distance non-terrestrial connections while reusing existing 5G NR protocol elements, minimizing the need for entirely new protocols.
3Reliability
If the base station calculates precise timing advance values for each user equipment, then uplink interference is prevented, but the computational load and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The timing advance calculation is segmented into a shared component calculated once per beam by the base station, and user-specific components derived by each user equipment independently. This segmentation dramatically reduces the base station's computational load and processing time while maintaining precise timing synchronization for each user, as the bulk of the calculation is performed once rather than individually for each user.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station performs preliminary calculation of the shared timing advance value based on beam characteristics before users need to transmit. This preliminary action pre-establishes the common time reference, allowing user equipment to quickly determine their individual timing adjustments without requiring the base station to perform complex real-time calculations for each user, thereby reducing processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a system which enables to regulate the timing advance value for preventing uplink requests of signals of different user equipments from causing interference in 5G next generation non-terrestrial connections.