UE Uplink Timing Across Segmented Cell Groups

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in managing multiple channels or cells, leading to issues with communication capacity, speed, and quality due to varying propagation environments and the need for synchronized uplink transmission timing across different cells.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a user equipment (UE) and base station configuration that allows for multiple groups of cells, with a primary cell (PCell) and one or more non-primary cells (non-PCell), where each group has synchronized uplink transmission timing, using radio resource control (RRC) signaling to designate a primary secondary cell (PSCell) and adjust timing as needed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple channels or cells are used to improve communication capacity and speed, then communication capacity and speed are improved, but managing synchronized uplink transmission timing across different cells becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capacityVSAvoidtiming management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides multiple cells into multiple groups (first group and second group), where each group shares a common uplink transmission timing. This segmentation allows the system to manage timing at the group level rather than individually for each cell, reducing complexity while maintaining the ability to support multiple cells for improved communication capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Speed

If multiple channels or cells are used to improve communication speed, then communication speed is improved, but managing synchronized uplink transmission timing across different cells becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication speedVSAvoidtiming management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting cells into groups with common timing references, the system enables faster communication through multiple cells while managing timing complexity at the group level. Each group can be independently timed, simplifying the overall timing management structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If multiple channels or cells are used to improve communication quality, then communication quality is improved, but managing synchronized uplink transmission timing across different cells becomes more complex

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

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments cells into timing groups where cells within each group share common uplink timing. This allows the system to leverage multiple cells for improved communication quality and reliability while managing timing synchronization at the group level, reducing overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Measurement precision

If uplink transmission timing is adjusted for each cell individually, then timing accuracy for each cell is improved, but the complexity of timing management increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetiming accuracyVSAvoidtiming management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the timing management of multiple cells by establishing common uplink transmission timing within groups of cells. Instead of adjusting timing individually for each cell, the system combines timing management at the group level, maintaining timing accuracy while reducing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4274366B1User equipment, base station, method performed by a user equipment and method performed by a base station
Publication Date: 2025.10.22 SHARP KK
  • EP4274366B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4274366B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4274366B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A User Equipment (UE) configured for multi-group communications is described. The UE includes a processor and instructions stored in memory that is in electronic communication with the processor. The UE detects a plurality of cells. The UE also uses multiple groups of one or more cells. The UE further adjusts uplink transmission timing of one or more cells of each group such as each group has the same timing. The multiple groups consist of a primary cell (PCell) group including PCell and one or more non-primary (non-PCell) groups not including PCell.