Apple patents satellite signal tricks to keep phone connections stable
Apple has filed a patent describing how to send control signals to phones connected via satellite. The method splits these signals into smaller pieces or repeats them to help the phone receive the data despite the long distance and weak signal strength.
In the filing’s own words
This disclosure relates to Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) coverage enhancements for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN). In particular, techniques involving the use of segmented PDCCH messages and/or repeated PDCCH messages are disclosed to improve link budget for non-terrestrial communications, especially when long signal propagation distances (e.g., between Earth and a satellite) lead to signal pathloss and greater signal transmission power requirements. In some embodiments described herein, a PDCCH message may be divided into two or more segments for transmission, wherein a first segment of the two or more segments comprises a first portion of Downlink Control Information (DCI) and pointer information, wherein the pointer information identifies a location of a second segment of the two or more segments, and wherein the second segment comprises a second portion of the DCI. In other embodiments, the PDCCH message may be repeated two or more times within a configured slot and/or slot monitoring period.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method of transmitting an enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) message from a network device, the method comprising: configuring a control resource set (CORESET) and a search space for the enhanced PDCCH message, wherein the CORESET comprises at least: frequency domain resources; and a maximum duration; dividing the enhanced PDCCH message into two or more segments, wherein: (a) a first segment of the two or more segments comprises: a first portion of Downlink Control Information (DCI); and first pointer information, (b) the first pointer information identifies a location in a frequency domain and a time domain of a second segment of the two or more segments, and (c) the second segment comprises a second portion of the DCI; and transmitting each of the two or more segments within the CORESET, wherein the first segment and second segment are non-contiguous in the time domain.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) Coverage Enhancements for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN)
- Publication number
- US20260313660A1
- Application number
- 19482367
- Filed
- Apr 29, 2024
- Published
- Oct 8, 2026
- Inventors
- 4
- Claims
- 21
Classified under
H04W 72/232 Electricity & electronicsH04L 5/0053 Electricity & electronicsH04L 5/0094 Electricity & electronicsH04W 84/06 Electricity & electronicsMore from Apple in Networks & wireless
- Apple patents interface for sending messages via satellite Sep 29, 2026
- Apple patents way for phones to switch from ground towers to satellites Sep 17, 2026
- Apple patents moving phone plans between devices via Bluetooth Sep 1, 2026
- Apple patents sharing Wi-Fi channel data to speed up device connections Sep 1, 2026
- Apple patents smart surface that helps phones find signal faster Sep 8, 2026
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.