URLLC Timing Advance for Precise Propagation Delay Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 5G communication systems face challenges in accurately measuring and applying delay between user equipment (UE) and base stations, particularly in ultra-reliable low latency (URLLC) services, which require precise time synchronization and compensation for propagation delays to meet quality of service requirements.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for supporting URLLC services by transmitting accurate time information and compensating for propagation delays with finer granularity, using enhanced random access procedures and extended timing advance commands to ensure precise time synchronization between base stations and UEs, enabling accurate time information transmission and propagation delay measurement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional timing advance procedures are used, then basic time synchronization is achieved, but propagation delay measurement precision is insufficient for URLLC services

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepropagation delay measurement precisionVSAvoidrandom access procedure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the timing advance command into multiple components: a coarse timing advance for basic synchronization and a fine timing advance for precise propagation delay measurement. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high measurement precision for URLLC services while keeping the overall procedure manageable by dividing the adjustment into discrete levels.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary coarse timing alignment before fine propagation delay measurement. The coarse timing advance is applied first to establish basic synchronization, then fine timing adjustments are made to achieve precise propagation delay compensation. This preliminary action reduces the search space and complexity of the subsequent fine measurement process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If finer propagation delay compensation is implemented, then time synchronization accuracy for URLLC is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime synchronization accuracyVSAvoidtiming advance command structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The timing advance command is segmented into coarse and fine components, where the coarse part handles large timing adjustments and the fine part provides precise propagation delay compensation. This segmentation improves time synchronization accuracy for URLLC while managing system complexity by organizing the command structure into distinct functional parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a fine timing adjustment dimension to the conventional coarse timing advance mechanism. This dimensional extension allows the system to achieve higher time synchronization accuracy without completely redesigning the existing timing advance framework, thereby managing complexity through incremental enhancement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Measurement precision

If extended timing advance commands are used, then propagation delay measurement accuracy is enhanced, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepropagation delay measurement accuracyVSAvoidsignaling overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The extended timing advance command is segmented into mandatory coarse components and optional fine components. The fine timing adjustment fields are only transmitted when high precision is required, such as for URLLC services. This segmentation reduces average signaling overhead while maintaining the capability for high-accuracy propagation delay measurement when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial transmission of timing advance information by only including fine timing adjustment fields when necessary for URLLC services. This partial action approach provides enhanced measurement accuracy only when required, reducing overall signaling overhead compared to always transmitting complete extended commands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4192136B1Method and device for supporting urllc service
Publication Date: 2026.03.11 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4192136B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4192136B1 patent drawingFigure 1C
  • EP4192136B1 patent drawingFigure 1D

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a method, performed by a user equipment (UE), of determining a propagation delay value, the method including requesting a propagation delay from a base station, transmitting a time measurement signal on a time measurement resource allocated by the base station, receiving, from the base station, a response including an extended timing advance (TA) command, and based on the received response, applying time information and starting a timer. The present disclosure provides a method, performed by a UE, of performing communication in an unlicensed spectrum, the method including determining whether to transmit data via a configured grant (CG), comparing priorities of the CG and an uplink resource, and changing the priority of the CG, based on a listen before talk (LBT) failure.