UE Timing Advance Control for Inter-Cell Mobility

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Solution Overview

Problem

In future radio communication systems, the control of uplink transmission timing advance during inter-cell mobility, particularly when using UE-based timing advance measurement, is unclear, especially regarding the validity and handling of acquired timing advance values.

Innovation Solution

A terminal equipped with a receiving section for UE-based timing advance measurement information, a control section for performing the measurement, and a transmitting section for managing timing advance-related signals, enabling appropriate control of communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If UE based timing advance measurement is supported for inter-cell mobility, then measurement flexibility and speed are improved, but clarity and reliability of timing advance handling become problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetiming advance measurement speedVSAvoidtiming advance validity determination
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network pre-configures the UE with timing advance measurement configurations including measurement objects, reporting configurations, and triggering conditions before the UE performs measurements. This preliminary setup ensures that the UE has clear guidelines on what to measure, how to report, and when to trigger measurements, thereby maintaining measurement speed while ensuring reliability through pre-established protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE performs timing advance measurements and provides feedback reports to the network based on pre-configured reporting rules. The network uses this feedback to determine timing advance validity and make handover decisions. This feedback mechanism ensures that measurements are systematically collected and evaluated, maintaining both speed through automated reporting and reliability through network-side validation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If inter-cell mobility with multiple candidate cells is implemented, then mobility flexibility is improved, but complexity of timing advance control increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemobility flexibilityVSAvoidtiming advance control complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments timing advance control by associating each candidate cell with a specific timing advance group (TAG) and configuring separate measurement and reporting parameters for each cell. This segmentation allows the UE to handle multiple candidate cells independently with cell-specific timing advance values, maintaining mobility flexibility while reducing overall control complexity through modular organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universal timing advance measurement configurations that can be applied across multiple candidate cells with different parameters. The same measurement framework and reporting mechanisms are reused for each cell, allowing the system to handle multiple cells efficiently without creating separate complex control logic for each one, thereby maintaining flexibility while managing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4723758A1Terminal, wireless communication method, and base station
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 NTT DOCOMO INC
  • EP4723758A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4723758A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4723758A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

To appropriately control communication even when UE based timing advance measurement is supported. A terminal according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a receiving section that receives at least one of first information related to a candidate cell configured with UE based timing advance measurement and second information for triggering the UE based timing advance measurement; a control section that performs the UE based timing advance measurement for the candidate cell, based on at least one of the first information and the second information; and a transmitting section that transmits at least one of information related to timing advance obtained by the UE based timing advance measurement, a transmission confirmation signal or another signal for the second information, and a signal for requesting start or stop of a timer associated with timing advance obtained by the UE based timing advance measurement.