Timing Advance Estimation via Time Domain Signal Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication systems, estimating the timing advance (TA) value is challenging, especially in single tone/subcarrier transmission scenarios where the receiver struggles to synchronize with the transmitter.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for obtaining the TA value by processing a time domain signal containing a reference signal, where the TA value is determined based on the energy of signal parts in non-overlapping groups extracted from the start and end of the time domain signal, using correlation with the reference signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the receiver uses phase difference of multiple tones/subcarriers to estimate TA value, then the TA estimation is accurate in multi-tones transmission scenarios, but the method becomes inapplicable in single tone/subcarrier transmission scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the time domain signal into multiple non-overlapping signal parts (first group from start, second group from end) and processes them separately. This segmentation allows the receiver to extract timing information from different portions of the signal, making the method applicable to single tone transmission while maintaining estimation accuracy through comparative analysis of the segmented parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the single-tone signal processing problem into a time-domain segmentation problem. By dividing the time domain signal into non-overlapping groups from different positions (start and end), the method creates additional analysis dimensions that enable TA estimation even when frequency diversity is limited to a single tone.
2Measurement precision
If the receiver extracts signal parts from the time domain signal to determine TA value, then the TA estimation becomes possible in single tone scenarios, but the processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the time domain signal into non-overlapping signal parts from the start and end portions. This segmentation strategy simplifies the processing by focusing on specific time intervals rather than the entire signal, reducing computational complexity while enabling TA estimation in single tone scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary signal parts from the time domain signal (first group from start, second group from end) for TA estimation. By taking out only the essential portions rather than processing the complete signal, the method reduces processing complexity while maintaining estimation capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and an apparatus for obtaining timing advance value. The method comprises: receiving (S101) a time domain signal, which contains at least part of a reference signal; extracting (SI 02), from the time domain signal, a first group of signal parts including at least one signal part, and a second group of signal parts including at least one signal part, wherein the first group of signal parts do not overlap the second group of signal parts; and determining (S103) a timing advance, TA, value based on an energy of a signal part in the first group of signal parts and an energy of a signal part in the second group of signal parts, wherein the energy of the signal part is based on correlation between the signal part and the reference signal. Therefore, the TA value may be obtained based on a time domain signal.