Timing Reference Quality Signaling for Multi-Hop Wireless Synchronization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly 5G NR, face challenges in achieving accurate synchronization among nodes due to timing misalignments, which can lead to intercell interference and reduced performance, especially in time division duplex (TDD) networks.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for wireless communication that involves a node receiving timing references from multiple sources, determining their quality, adjusting them, and broadcasting this quality to other nodes, allowing for improved synchronization accuracy by weighting timing estimates and providing reliability measures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If nodes in wireless communication systems use multiple timing reference sources for synchronization, then synchronization coverage and reliability are improved, but timing accuracy and synchronization precision deteriorate due to difficulty in selecting the best timing reference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of timing reference quality assessment by introducing a quality indicator that evaluates multiple timing references based on signal strength, synchronization accuracy, and other parameters. This allows the system to dynamically select or weight timing references according to their quality metrics, thereby maintaining timing accuracy while utilizing multiple sources for improved reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where nodes continuously monitor and report the quality of timing references they receive from parent nodes. This feedback loop enables the network to adaptively adjust timing reference selection and weighting, ensuring that the most accurate timing sources are prioritized while maintaining synchronization reliability across the network.
2Reliability
If nodes broadcast timing reference quality information to multiple children nodes, then synchronization reliability across the network is improved, but communication overhead and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the timing reference quality indication mechanism universal by designing it to work across all types of nodes in the IAB network, regardless of their specific functions or positions. The same quality indication protocol is used for both timing reference transmission and quality reporting, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining comprehensive synchronization reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a standardized quality indication message as an intermediary that carries timing reference quality information between parent and child nodes. This intermediary structure simplifies communication by providing a uniform interface for quality information exchange, reducing the complexity of direct peer-to-peer quality assessments between all node pairs.
3Measurement precision
If nodes adjust and weight timing estimates from multiple sources, then timing accuracy is improved, but processing complexity and computational requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent simplifies the weighting process by changing the parameters used for timing reference evaluation to a standardized quality indicator system. Instead of complex multi-parameter optimization, nodes use pre-defined quality metrics (signal strength, synchronization accuracy) to determine weights, significantly reducing computational complexity while maintaining timing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs lightweight, simple weighting algorithms that require minimal computational resources. The quality indication messages and timing adjustments use simplified mathematical operations rather than complex optimization algorithms, making the system suitable for deployment on resource-constrained IAB nodes while still achieving improved timing accuracy.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to methods and apparatus for wireless communication of a first node. The apparatus can receive a first signal from a second node of one or more additional nodes, the first signal including at least one first timing reference. The apparatus can also determine a second timing reference quality of a second timing reference. The apparatus can also transmit a second signal to at least one node of the one or more additional nodes, the second signal including a second timing reference. Additionally, the apparatus can broadcast, to the one or more additional nodes, an indication of a second timing reference quality of the second timing reference. The apparatus can also receive an indication of a first timing reference quality. Moreover, the apparatus can adjust the indication of the quality of the at least one timing first reference from the second node.