Uplink Timing Advance Handling for Overlapped Multi-TRP Transmissions
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Solution Overview
Problem
In New Radio (NR) systems, time-overlapped uplink transmissions to multiple Transmission and Reception Points (TRPs) can cause interference and demodulation difficulties due to different propagation delays, necessitating separate timing advances for each TRP, which current methods struggle to handle effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a user equipment (UE) receives multiple timing advances and adjusts uplink transmissions by dropping part of one transmission to avoid overlap, prioritizing channels based on priority levels, or coordinating with the network to adjust scheduling to prevent collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If separate timing advances are applied for each TRP to handle different propagation delays, then uplink transmission alignment to each TRP is improved, but time overlap between uplink transmissions to different TRPs occurs causing interference and demodulation difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the handling of uplink transmissions to different TRPs by introducing separate timing advance groups (TAGs), where each TAG is associated with a specific TRP. This allows independent timing adjustment for each TRP while managing overlaps through priority-based dropping mechanisms within each segment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the timing advance parameter separately for different TRPs by assigning different TAGs, each with its own timing advance value. This enables precise control of transmission timing to compensate for different propagation delays while managing collisions through priority-based transmission selection.
2Productivity
If uplink transmissions to multiple TRPs are scheduled simultaneously, then communication efficiency with multiple TRPs is improved, but transmission collisions occur due to time overlap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing timing advance groups and associated timing relationships before uplink transmissions are scheduled. The UE is pre-configured with multiple TAGs and their corresponding timing advances, enabling it to predict and handle potential transmission overlaps before they occur by applying appropriate dropping rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network receives timing difference information from the UE about potential overlaps, and adjusts scheduling decisions based on this feedback. The UE reports timing differences between transmissions to different TRPs, allowing the network to coordinate and avoid collisions while maintaining high communication efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If timing advance differences between TRPs are not coordinated, then independent TRP operation is maintained, but uplink slot alignment between TRPs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension of organization by creating timing advance groups that associate multiple TRPs with common timing relationships. This hierarchical structure allows independent TRP operation within each TAG while maintaining overall slot alignment across TRPs through the TAG-based timing coordination mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed that relate to handling of time-overlapped uplink transmissions in a cellular communications system. In one embodiment, a method performed by a user equipment (UE) comprises receiving a first timing advance and a second timing advance, receiving a request for a first uplink transmission according to the first timing advance, and receiving a request for a second uplink transmission according to the second timing advance, wherein the first uplink transmission and the second uplink transmission at least partially overlap in time. The method further comprises dropping at least part of the first uplink transmission or at least part of the second uplink transmission. In this manner, the possibility of collision of uplink transmissions (e.g., to multiple Transmission and Reception Points (TRPs)) may be reduced and thus the uplink resource utilization may be improved.