Apple patents signal trick to keep fast-moving phones connected
Apple describes a method for phones to stay synced with cell towers when moving quickly. The phone uses two specific reference signals to adjust for the Doppler effect, which distorts radio waves when objects move. This helps the device accurately measure time and frequency for data transmission.
In the filing’s own words
A user equipment (UE) includes a transceiver and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver. The processor is configured to receive, using the transceiver, a first Tracking Reference Signal (TRS) and a second TRS. The processor is further configured to receive, using the transceiver, at least one of a Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS) or a signal on a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH). For a parameter associated with the at least one of the DMRS or the signal on the PDSCH, the at least one of the DMRS or the signal on the PDSCH is quasi-co-located with the first TRS and the second TRS. The processor is further configured to use the first TRS and the second TRS to perform time and frequency synchronization.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A user equipment (UE), comprising: a transceiver; and a processor communicatively coupled to the transceiver and configured to: receive, using the transceiver, a first Tracking Reference Signal (TRS) and a second TRS, wherein for each of a plurality of parameters associated with a signal on a Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), the signal on the PDSCH is quasi-co-located with the first TRS and the second TRS, wherein the plurality of parameters comprises a Doppler shift value and a Doppler spread value, and wherein the signal on the PDSCH is pre-compensated using a Doppler shift pre-compensation value; and use the first TRS and the second TRS to perform time and frequency synchronization.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Tracking reference signal (TRS) enhancement with doppler shift pre-compensation
- Patent number
- US12763993B2
- Application number
- 18809649
- Filed
- Aug 20, 2024
- Granted
- Oct 13, 2026
- Inventors
- 11
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04L 25/0224 Electricity & electronicsH04B 7/01 Electricity & electronicsH04L 5/0048 Electricity & electronicsH04L 25/0222 Electricity & electronicsH04L 27/261 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Networks & wireless
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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.