Uplink TA Reporting via UCI to Cut 5G NTN UE Power Use

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for reporting timing advance (TA) in 5G non-terrestrial networks result in high power consumption due to frequent random access and the need for uplink buffer occupancy, which is inefficient and drains UE power.

Innovation Solution

Transmitting timing advance information through uplink control information (UCI) using physical uplink control channels (PUCCH) or physical uplink shared channels (PUSCH), optimizing transmission priorities and encoding methods to reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If TA is reported through RACH access or RRC message or MAC CE, then the base station can obtain TA information, but uplink resources are occupied and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTA information transmission reliabilityVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines TA information with UCI (Uplink Control Information) and transmits them together through the PUCCH or PUSCH channel. This merging approach allows TA reporting to share the same transmission channel with other control information, eliminating the need for separate random access procedures or dedicated RRC messages, thereby reducing uplink resource occupation and UE power consumption while ensuring reliable TA delivery to the base station

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If TA is transmitted through PUSCH with RRC message or MAC CE, then TA can be delivered to base station, but uplink buffer is required and additional SR transmission is needed

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTA information deliveryVSAvoiduplink buffer and scheduling request mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges TA information with UCI transmission, allowing TA to be carried in the same uplink control channel resources already allocated for other control information. This eliminates the need for separate uplink buffer management and scheduling request procedures, simplifying the device complexity while ensuring reliable TA delivery to the base station

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If frequent random access is triggered for TA updates, then TA can be frequently updated, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveTA update frequencyVSAvoidUE power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines TA reporting with regular UCI transmission opportunities, allowing TA updates to occur during scheduled control information transmissions rather than requiring separate random access procedures. This approach maintains frequent TA updates for productivity while utilizing existing uplink resources, thereby significantly reducing UE power consumption compared to frequent standalone random access triggering

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12574931B2Information transmission method and apparatus, terminal and network device

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 DATANG MOBILE COMM EQUIP CO LTD

AI summary

Provided are an information transmission method and apparatus, a terminal and a network device. The information transmission method comprises: transmitting, to a network device, uplink control information (UCI) carrying timing advance (TA) information.