Optimized Propagation Delay Compensation for an Improved 5G RAN Synchronization

Synchronization is a major aspect in converged wired and wireless time-sensitive networks. Heterogeneous synchronization mechanisms are involved. From an end-to-end perspective, the synchronization of the 5G radio access network between base station and user equipment, is the major source of inaccuracy due to uncertain transmission characteristics. It uses a propagation delay compensation based on a timing advance measurement. We propose a novel propagation delay compensation which uses multiple timing advance measurements to estimate the user equipment position and in that way it is able to achieve a more accurate propagation delay compensation. We compare our proposal with ongoing discussions of improving the propagation delay compensation by enhancing the timing advance granularity.