EP-4008123-B1 - TIME OF ARRIVAL BASED METHOD FOR EXTENDED CONNECTION RANGE

Inventors

• WIACEK, Fabian

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20200724

Claims (2)

1. A method, comprising: determining, by a user equipment, a timing advance-limited cell maximum range based on a requested preamble format broadcasted by a network node; and in response to the user equipment being outside of the timing advance-limited cell maximum range, sending a random access channel preamble with an initial uplink channel timing adjustment to fit in an indicated subframe dedicated for a hearing window, the method characterised by comprising calculating a time of arrival-based index value for the initial uplink channel timing adjustment for an extended connection range, wherein the time of arrival-based index value, TA d ( T S ) , is given by: TA d T S = int D T S 1 T A where D(T S ) represents a signal propagation delay distance, 1TA represents 78 m, minimal step, in which D(T S ) is given by: D T S = c ∗ T 1 T S − T 0 T S where T o represents a reference signal physical transmission time by the network node, T 1 represents a reference signal reception time by the user equipment, c represents the speed of light, T s represents a basic time unit and which measurement defines accuracy, wherein if the timing advance-limited cell maximum range is less than the time of arrival-based index value, the method further comprising: determining that the user equipment is outside a cell timing advance-based maximum range; and sending the random access channel preamble with the time of arrival-based index value to the network node, or with a time of arrival-based correction index value.
2. An apparatus, comprising: means for determining a timing advance-limited cell maximum range based on a requested preamble format broadcasted by a network node; and in response to the apparatus being outside of the timing advance-limited cell maximum range, means for sending a random access channel preamble with an initial uplink channel timing adjustment to fit in an indicated subframe dedicated for a hearing window, the apparatus characterised by comprising: means for calculating a time of arrival-based index value for the initial uplink channel timing adjustment for an extended connection range, wherein the time of arrival-based index value, TA d (T S ), is given by: TA d T S = int D T S 1 T A where D(T S ) represents a signal propagation delay distance, 1TA represents 78 m, minimal step, in which D(T S ) is given by: D T S = c ∗ T 1 T S − T 0 T S where T o represents a reference signal physical transmission time by the network node, T 1 represents a reference signal reception time by the user equipment, c represents the speed of light, T s represents a basic time unit and which measurement defines accuracy, wherein if the timing advance-limited cell maximum range is less than the time of arrival-based index value, the apparatus further comprising: means for determining that the apparatus is outside a cell timing advance-based maximum range; and means for sending the random access channel preamble with the time of arrival-based index value to the network node, or with a time of arrival-based correction index value.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS: This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application no. 62/898,122 filed on September 10, 2019. FIELD: Some example embodiments may generally relate to mobile or wireless telecommunication systems, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) or fifth generation (5G) radio access technology or new radio (NR) access technology, or other communications systems. Embodiments relate to an apparatus and a method for a time of arrival (TOA) based method for an extended connection range. An example of prior art is disclosed in EP 3 328 134. SUMMARY: The invention is defined by the appended claims. BACKGROUND: Examples of mobile or wireless telecommunication systems may include the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), Long Term Evolution (LTE) Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN), LTE-Advanced (LTE-A), MulteFire, LTE-A Pro, and/or fifth generation (5G) radio access technology or new radio (NR) access technology. Fifth generation (5G) wireless systems refer to the next generation (NG) of radio systems and network architecture. 5G is mostly built on a new radio (NR), but the 5G (or NG) network can also build on E-UTRAN radio. It is estimated that NR will provide bitrates on the order of 10-20 Gbit/s or higher, and will support at least enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) and ultra-reliable low-latency-communication (URLLC) as well as massive machine type communication (mMTC). NR is expected to deliver extreme broadband and ultra-robust, low latency connectivity and massive networking to support the Internet of Things (IoT). With IoT and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication becoming more widespread, there will be a growing need for networks that meet the needs of lower power, low data rate, and long battery life. It is noted that, in 5G, the nodes that can provide radio access functionality to a user equipment (i.e., similar to Node B in UTRAN or eNB in LTE) are named gNB when built on NR radio and named NG-eNB when built on E-UTRAN radio. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: For proper understanding of example embodiments, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 illustrates example random access preamble parameters described in 3GPP TS 36.211.FIG. 2 illustrates a frame structure type 1 random access configuration for preamble formats 0-3, as described in 3GPP TS 36.211.FIG. 3 illustrates multiple possible scenarios for non-terrestrial networks deployment with respect to a cell maximum range and coverage.FIG. 4 illustrates three user equipments that may be able to receive eNB packet-switched streaming service or secondary synchronization signal transmissions.FIG. 5 illustrates an example physical random access channel.FIG. 6 illustrates an initial user equipment distance to an eNB calculation scheme.FIG. 7 illustrates a legacy timing advance calculation and application mechanism described in 3GPP 36.214.FIG. 8 illustrates an uplink to downlink timing adjustment principle.FIG. 9 illustrates a scenario in which the only cell range limitation may be related to power budget or deployment issues such as obstacles, according to an example embodiment.FIG. 10(a) illustrates a practical application of NTA,TAd(TS) for uplink channel timing adjustment for random access channel preamble for an extended connection range, according to an example embodiment.FIG. 10(b) illustrates a practical application of NTA,TOAEXT(TS) with a time of arrival-based correction for uplink channel timing adjustment for random access channel preamble for an extended connection range, according to an example embodiment.FIG. 11(a) illustrates an activity diagram for time of arrival-based uplink channel timing adjustment for an extended connection range, according to an example embodiment.FIG. 11(b) illustrates an activity diagram for time of arrival-based correction added to the uplink channel timing adjustment, according to an example embodiment.FIG. 12(a) illustrates a signaling diagram for an application of extended range connection during an eNB unaware state, according to an example embodiment.FIG. 12(b) illustrates another signaling diagram for an application of extended range connection during an eNB unaware state, according to another example embodiment.FIG. 13(a) illustrates a signaling diagram for an application of extended range connection during an eNB aware state, according to an example embodiment.FIG. 13(b) illustrates another signaling diagram for an application of extended range connection during an eNB aware state, according to another example embodiment.FIG. 14 illustrates a flow diagram of a method, according to an example embodiment.FIG. 15 illustrates a flow diagram of another method, according to an example embodiment.FIG. 16(a) illustrates an apparatus, according to an example embodiment.FIG. 16(b) illustrates another apparatus, according to an example embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION: It will be readily underst