Zone Timing Advance for NTN Uplink Path Switch
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in efficiently offloading uplink traffic from terrestrial networks to non-terrestrial networks due to the time-consuming process of determining uplink timing advances, which results in significant delays and congestion.
Innovation Solution
A method where a terrestrial network node determines and broadcasts a zone timing advance value associated with a non-terrestrial geographic zone, allowing user equipment to prospectively configure for non-terrestrial uplink path switching without the need for individual timing advance measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If individual timing advance measurements are performed for uplink path switching to non-terrestrial networks, then timing accuracy is improved, but switching delay increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the network entity pre-determine and broadcast zone timing advance values for different non-terrestrial geographic zones before path switching is needed. User equipment can directly use these pre-calculated values when switching paths, eliminating the need for individual measurements at switching time and thus reducing delay while maintaining timing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using network-determined zone timing advance values as a mediator between the user equipment and non-terrestrial network nodes. Instead of direct measurement between UE and NTN node, the network entity acts as an intermediary that calculates and provides appropriate timing advance values based on zone information, simplifying the switching process.
2Speed
If zone timing advance values are pre-determined and broadcast for non-terrestrial zones, then path switching speed is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the non-terrestrial coverage area into multiple geographic zones, each with its own predetermined timing advance value. This allows the network to manage timing advances in a structured way, where the network entity only needs to maintain timing advance information for different zones rather than individual UEs, reducing overall complexity while enabling fast switching.
3Measurement precision
If individual timing advance determination is performed for each user equipment, then timing accuracy is improved, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by creating zone timing advance values that can be universally applied to multiple user equipments within the same geographic zone. Instead of determining individual timing advances for each UE, the network entity determines zone-level timing advance values that serve multiple UEs simultaneously, reducing processing overhead while maintaining sufficient timing accuracy for all UEs in the zone.
Data Source
AI summary
A zone timing advance value corresponding to a zone associated with a non-terrestrial network node may be determined. A terrestrial network node facilitating delivery of traffic with respect to a user equipment may determine to offload a portion of the traffic for delivery via the non-terrestrial network node. The terrestrial node may request the zone timing advance value, from a core network or from the non-terrestrial node, and may transmit a path switch request message comprising the zone timing advance value to the user equipment. The path switch request message may indicate traffic flows for which traffic is to be offloaded to the non-terrestrial node and may comprise indication of uplink resources corresponding to the non-terrestrial node to be usable by the user equipment to transmit the offloaded uplink traffic to the non-terrestrial node.