Apple patents satellite signal timing fix for moving networks
Apple describes a method for smartphones to adjust how they bundle reference signals when connecting to fast-moving satellites. The phone calculates the timing shift caused by the satellite's movement and tells the network the correct size for these signal groups. This helps the network accurately estimate the channel conditions despite the changing distance.
In the filing’s own words
Approaches are described to provide an indication of demodulation reference signal (DMRS) bundling size for use with non-terrestrial networks (e.g., satellites) in next generation wireless communication networks. These approaches address the changing timing advance (TA) due to the rapid movement of satellites. One approach describes the procedure for a dynamic indication of the DRMS bundling size. In this approach, the network receives an actual time domain window (TDW) size from the user equipment (UE), and performs joint channel estimation based on the UE-indicated TDW. In another approach, the procedure provides a semi-static indication of the DRMS bundling size based on a received UE capability report on TDW duration and an uplink segmentation duration.
What exactly they claim (claim 1)
1. A method by a user equipment (UE) for providing a dynamic indication of demodulation reference signal (DMRS) bundling size in a wireless communication network having a satellite, the method comprising: receiving, from the wireless communication network, a maximum allowed timing advance (TA) variation for DMRS bundling; reporting, to the wireless communication network, a time domain window (TDW) duration capability; receiving, from the wireless communication network, a configured grant for a PUSCH channel, the configured grant indicating the DMRS bundling size; determining an actual TDW size for physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) DMRS bundling based on an estimated TA variation compared with the maximum allowed TA variation; and reporting, to the wireless communication network, the actual TDW size for PUSCH DMRS bundling using the PUSCH channel.
Facts
- Company
- Apple (Apple Inc.)
- Official title
- DEMODULATION REFERENCE SIGNALS (DMRS) BUNDLING IN NON-TERRESTRIAL NETWORKS (NTN)
- Publication number
- US20260332360A1
- Application number
- 19113323
- Filed
- Sep 29, 2022
- Published
- Oct 22, 2026
- Inventors
- 10
- Claims
- 25
Classified under
H04L 5/0094 Electricity & electronicsH04L 5/0096 Electricity & electronicsH04W 72/0446 Electricity & electronicsH04W 72/21 Electricity & electronicsH04W 72/51 Electricity & electronicsH04W 84/06 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.