CN-122002517-A - Relaxation of gradual timing adjustment requirements for non-terrestrial networks

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to relaxation of gradual timing adjustment requirements for non-terrestrial networks. According to one aspect, an apparatus configured to perform the following is provided. The apparatus receives a plurality of timing advance, TA, commands from an access node of a non-terrestrial network, the plurality of TA commands for changing a TA command control component of a TA. The apparatus determines a total increase in a TA command control component of the TA caused by a plurality of TA commands received during a predefined sliding time window. Based at least on the total increase exceeding a predefined TA change threshold, use of an increased or unrestricted maximum aggregate adjustment rate is enabled for uplink transmission timing at the apparatus.

Inventors

• R. Medeiros De Amorim

Assignees

• 诺基亚技术有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20251107

Priority Date

20241108

Claims (10)

1. 1. An apparatus for communication, comprising: At least one processor, and At least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: Receiving a plurality of TA commands from an access node of a non-terrestrial network for changing a TA command control component of a timing advance TA; Determining a total increase in the TA command control component of the TA caused by the plurality of TA commands received during a predefined sliding time window, and Based at least on the total increase exceeding a predefined TA change threshold, use of an increased or unrestricted maximum aggregate adjustment rate is enabled for uplink transmission timing at the device.
2. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the TA applied at the apparatus corresponds to a sum of: -said TA command control component, -A fixed TA offset is provided, -A public network control component of the TA, and A TA component controllable by said means, Wherein the uplink transmission timing given in seconds is equal to the TA multiplied by a basic time unit used in the non-terrestrial network.
3. 3. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform the enabling of the use of the increased maximum aggregate adjustment rate for the uplink transmission timing at the apparatus based on the total increase exceeding the predefined TA change threshold, wherein the increased maximum aggregate adjustment rate is greater than a predefined default maximum aggregate adjustment rate.
4. 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the increased maximum aggregate adjustment rate for the uplink transmission timing is applicable to uplink transmission timing adjustment, but does not include any adjustment to the uplink transmission timing due to changes in the apparatus control component of the TA resulting from position updates of an access node serving a satellite, and any adjustment to the uplink transmission timing due to changes in the network control component of the TA, during a predefined past time interval.
5. 5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform the enabling of the use of the unrestricted maximum aggregate adjustment rate for the uplink transmission timing at the apparatus based on the total increase exceeding the predefined TA change threshold, wherein the unrestricted maximum aggregate adjustment rate is applicable at least to adjustment of the uplink transmission timing in connection with a change in location of the apparatus.
6. 6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: A configuration signal is received from an access node, the configuration signal for configuring the apparatus to enable the use of the increased or unrestricted maximum aggregate adjustment rate for the uplink transmission timing at the apparatus based on determining that the total increase in the TA command control component of the TA caused by the plurality of TA commands received during the predefined sliding time window exceeds the predefined TA change threshold.
7. 7. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform, after the enabling of the use of the increased or unrestricted maximum aggregate adjustment rate for the uplink transmission timing at the apparatus: receiving, from the access node of the NTN, a further plurality of TA commands for changing the TA command control component of the timing advance; determining whether a total increase in the TA command control component of the TA caused by the further plurality of TA commands received during the predefined sliding time window exceeds a second predefined TA change threshold, wherein the second predefined TA change threshold is equal to or lower than the first predefined TA change threshold, and The use of the increased or unrestricted maximum aggregate adjustment rate is disabled for the uplink transmission timing at the device based on the total increase in the TA command control component of TA caused by the additional plurality of TA commands received during the predefined sliding time window failing to exceed the second predefined TA change threshold.
8. 8. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: A stepwise adjustment of the uplink transmission timing is performed using the increased or unrestricted maximum aggregate adjustment rate.
9. 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform: an uplink transmission is transmitted to the access node of the non-terrestrial network, the uplink transmission applying the adjusted uplink transmission timing.
10. 10. An apparatus for communication, comprising: At least one processor, and At least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform: Transmitting a configuration signal to a terminal device, the configuration signal being for configuring the terminal device to enable use of an increased or unrestricted maximum aggregate adjustment rate for uplink transmission timing at the terminal device based on determining that a total increase in TA command control components of a TA caused by a plurality of timing advance TA commands received during a predefined sliding time window exceeds a predefined TA change threshold.

Description

Relaxation of gradual timing adjustment requirements for non-terrestrial networks Technical Field Various example embodiments relate to wireless communications. Background A non-terrestrial network (NTN) is a wireless communication network that utilizes an antenna-based or on-board access node to provide connectivity for terminal devices (rather than relying solely on a terrestrial access node). The space-based or airborne access nodes may include, for example, satellites and/or High Altitude Platforms (HAPs) on various orbits, such as balloons, airships, and drones. Like many other wireless communication networks, terminal devices in NTNs employ so-called Timing Advances (TAs) in order to synchronize their transmissions to the access node and thereby avoid interference. That is, the TA applied at the terminal device is used to adjust the transmission time of the terminal device. However, implementing timing advance functionality in NTN is challenging due to the long distance between the terminal device and the access node, particularly the faster speed of satellite-based access nodes. Disclosure of Invention According to one aspect, the subject matter of the independent claims is provided. Embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. According to a first aspect, there is provided a method comprising: Receiving a timing advance command from an access node of a non-terrestrial network; determining whether the speed of the device meets a predefined condition for high speed, and The use of an increased or unrestricted maximum aggregate adjustment rate is enabled for uplink transmission timing at the apparatus based at least on the speed of the apparatus meeting predefined conditions for high speed. According to a first embodiment of the first aspect, determining whether the speed of the device meets a predefined condition for high speed comprises: It is determined whether the speed of the device exceeds a predefined speed threshold for a predefined amount of time. According to a second embodiment of the first aspect, determining whether the speed of the device meets a predefined condition for high speed comprises: it is determined whether the speed of the device averaged over a predefined amount of time exceeds a predefined average speed threshold. According to a third embodiment of the first aspect, the method further comprises performing, after the enabling of the use of the increased or unrestricted maximum aggregate adjustment rate, Determining whether the speed of the device meets a predefined condition for a reduced speed (lowered speed); the use of an increased or unrestricted maximum aggregate adjustment rate is disabled for uplink transmission timing at the apparatus based on the speed of the apparatus meeting a predefined condition for reduced speed. According to a fourth embodiment of the first aspect, determining whether the speed of the device meets a predefined condition for high speed comprises: determining whether the speed of the device exceeds a first predefined speed threshold for a predefined amount of time, an Wherein determining whether the speed of the device meets the predefined condition for reduced speed comprises: determining whether the speed of the device fails to exceed a second predefined speed threshold for a predefined amount of time, wherein the second predefined speed threshold is equal to or lower than the first predefined speed threshold, or It is determined whether the speed of the device is below a second predefined speed threshold for a predefined amount of time, wherein the second predefined speed threshold is equal to or below the first predefined speed threshold. According to a fifth embodiment of the first aspect, determining whether the speed of the device meets a predefined condition for high speed comprises: determining whether the speed of the device averaged over a predefined amount of time exceeds a first predefined average speed threshold, and Wherein determining whether the speed of the device meets the predefined condition for reduced speed comprises: A determination is made as to whether the speed of the device averaged over a predefined amount of time is below a second predefined average speed threshold, wherein the second predefined average speed threshold is equal to or below the first predefined average speed threshold. According to a sixth embodiment of the first aspect, the method comprises performing, based on the speed of the apparatus satisfying a predefined condition for high speed, enabling use of an increased maximum aggregate adjustment rate for uplink transmission timing at the apparatus, wherein the increased maximum aggregate adjustment rate is greater than a predefined default maximum aggregate adjustment rate. According to a seventh embodiment further defining the first aspect of the sixth embodiment, each of the increased maximum aggregate adjustment rate for uplink transmission timing and the predefined default maximum aggregate adju