UE SPS Configuration Switching for Timing Drifts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communications face challenges due to timing drifts between wireless networks and user equipment (UE), leading to undesired 'holes' in communication, especially in URLLC applications where synchronization is critical.

Innovation Solution

The UE employs a jitter determiner to assess the delay between data packet arrival and transmission, allowing it to dynamically switch between active configurations to ensure timely data transmission, thereby mitigating the effects of timing drifts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If SPS is used with fixed scheduling, then resource allocation is simplified, but timing drifts cause data packets to be transmitted too late creating communication holes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvescheduling complexityVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by enabling the UE to dynamically switch between multiple active SPS configurations based on timing drift conditions. Instead of being fixed to a single configuration, the UE can transition between configurations with different time offsets to accommodate timing variations and ensure timely packet transmission.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of active configuration selection based on timing drift measurements. The UE monitors timing differences and selects appropriate SPS configurations with different time offsets (e.g., first time offset, second time offset) to compensate for drift and maintain reliable communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If multiple active configurations are introduced to handle timing drifts, then communication reliability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidconfiguration management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the SPS configuration into multiple active configurations, each with specific time offsets. This segmentation allows the system to handle different timing scenarios separately, improving reliability while managing complexity through structured organization of configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the UE monitors timing drifts and uses this information to select appropriate active configurations. The feedback loop ensures that the system adapts to timing variations and maintains reliable communication by choosing configurations that compensate for observed drift conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If timing synchronization is strictly enforced, then communication precision is maintained, but timing drifts cause data packets to be lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetiming precisionVSAvoiddata packet loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies beforehand cushioning by pre-configuring multiple SPS configurations with different time offsets to compensate for anticipated timing drifts. This preparation ensures that when timing drift occurs, the system already has alternative configurations ready to prevent packet loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses time offset adjustments as an intermediary mechanism between strict timing synchronization and timing drift compensation. By introducing configurable time offsets as an intermediate parameter, the system can bridge the gap between maintaining precision and accommodating drift without losing packets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3857944B1Enhancements for urllc SPS to cope with timing drifts between a wireless network and a UE-side application
Publication Date: 2025.04.09 FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV
  • EP3857944B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3857944B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3857944B1 patent drawingFigure 2.1.1~2.1.2

AI summary

There are disclosed methods, systems and devices for communications. For example, a user equipment, UE, (100) may: receive data packets (122, 126); transmit the data packets (142) according to a scheduling which allocates transmission resources in a determined time period; determine a delay or jitter information (146) between the reception of a data packet (122, 126) in the buffer (102) and the transmission of the data packet; and modify the transmission configuration to switch from a first active configuration to a second active configuration.