Uplink Carrier Aggregation Timing Advance Group Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems supporting uplink carrier aggregation, existing technologies face challenges in managing timing advance groups effectively, particularly when the maximum transmission timing difference between secondary timing advance groups exceeds the capabilities of user equipment, leading to inefficient use of resources and potential signal degradation.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves determining which secondary timing advance groups (sTAGs) to remove from uplink carrier aggregation based on the maximum transmission timing difference, allowing the user equipment (UE) or network node to assess which combination of TAGs and associated serving cells maximize performance objectives, and deciding whether serving cells can still be used for downlink carrier aggregation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple timing advance groups are configured for uplink carrier aggregation, then the system can support larger bandwidths and higher data rates, but the transmission timing difference between groups may exceed UE capabilities causing signal degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the set of active timing advance groups based on the UE's capability to handle transmission timing differences. When the timing difference exceeds UE capability, the system automatically removes affected sTAGs from uplink carrier aggregation, maintaining optimal performance within device limits.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operational parameters of the timing advance groups by removing sTAGs that cause excessive timing differences. This parameter adjustment ensures that the remaining configuration stays within the UE's processing capabilities while maximizing resource utilization.
2Reliability
If sTAGs are removed from uplink carrier aggregation to maintain timing synchronization, then signal quality is preserved, but resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of removing all sTAGs or maintaining configurations that exceed UE capability, the system applies partial action by selectively removing only those sTAGs that cause timing conflicts. This allows the maximum number of timing advance groups to remain active while staying within device capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from UE capability information to determine which sTAGs to remove. By continuously monitoring the timing difference against UE capability thresholds, the system makes informed decisions about configuration adjustments to optimize both synchronization and resource utilization.
3Area of stationary object
If the system maintains all configured timing advance groups, then bandwidth utilization is maximized, but the UE cannot handle the transmission timing difference
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the timing advance groups into two categories: those that can be maintained within UE capability and those that must be removed. This segmentation allows the system to preserve bandwidth utilization from compatible groups while eliminating problematic configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The active set of timing advance groups is dynamically adjusted based on real-time assessment of timing differences against UE capability. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maximize bandwidth utilization while ensuring the configuration remains operationally feasible for the specific device.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques and apparatus for handling timing alignment for a wireless device capable of aggregating carriers for uplink transmissions. In an example method, embodiments of which can be carried out in the wireless device or in a network node, a time difference between uplink transmission timings for a pair of timing advance groups (TAGs) for the wireless device is monitored, where each TAG comprises at least one serving cell. The method further includes determining whether the wireless device is able to support the time difference and, in response to determining that the wireless device is not able to support the time difference, excluding serving cells associated with one of the TAGS in the pair from uplink carrier aggregation.