Lockheed Martin Corporation
Random access for LTE over satellite

Abstract:

A method for of communication in a satellite LTE network by a satellite base station includes transmitting to a terminal device in a satellite beam of the satellite base station a frame having embedded timing information. The timing information includes a lowest delay time associated with the satellite beam. An uplink acquisition message is received from the terminal device. The uplink acquisition message is received with a first timing advance (TA) value estimated by the terminal device based on the lowest delay time. An arrival time associated with the uplink acquisition message is estimated, and a second TA value is determined based on the estimated arrival time. The terminal device uses the sum of first TA and second TA to adjust its timing in subsequent transmissions.