Apple patents method to sync phone timing with 5G network groups
Apple describes a way for phones to manage the precise timing of data sent to cell towers. The system assigns transmissions to specific timing groups to ensure signals arrive at the network at the correct moment.
In the filing’s own words
A user equipment (UE) is configured to determine to send an uplink (UL) transmission to a network, determinw a timing advance group (TAG) associated with the UL transmission and transmit the UL transmission based on at least parameters associated with the TAG. A UE is also configured to receive a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) configuration for a candidate cell comprising whether the candidate cell supports random access response (RAR) skipping in response to a PRACH, receive a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) downlink control information (DCI) order (PDCCH-order DCI) for the UE to trigger a PRACH transmission to the candidate cell and perform a PRACH procedure with the candidate cell according to the PRACH configuration, wherein the PRACH procedure comprises transmitting the PRACH to the candidate cell.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method performed by a user equipment (UE), comprising: determining to send an uplink (UL) transmission to a network; determining a timing advance group (TAG) associated with the UL transmission; and transmitting the UL transmission based on at least parameters associated with the TAG.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Timing Advance Management in Wireless Communications
- Publication number
- US20260292886A1
- Application number
- 19471783
- Filed
- Apr 4, 2023
- Published
- Sep 24, 2026
- Inventors
- 6
- Claims
- 20
Classified under
H04W 74/0833 Electricity & electronicsH04W 52/50 Electricity & electronicsH04W 56/0045 Electricity & electronicsH04W 72/231 Electricity & electronicsH04W 72/232 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.