Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for data transmission in synchronization slots. A method for use by a base station for data transmission in synchronization slots includes transmitting a synchronization signal (SS) burst, wherein different SS blocks of the burst are transmitted using different transmit beams and performing frequency division multiplexing (FDM) or time division multiplexing (TDM) to include one or more other types of signals that need to be multicast and are also transmitted using the different transmit beams

[Problem] Provided is a mechanism which is capable of improving wireless link quality regarding transmission from a terminal device on the ground to a non-ground station device. [Solution] A terminal device including a control unit configured to acquire information regarding a type of a base station device and control a transmission timing of a signal to the base station device on the basis of the information regarding the type of the base station device.

An embodiment provides a method for synchronizing a plurality of super frames to a beam switching time plan defining a plurality of dwell times, the beam switching time plan scheduling a switching between at least two beams which are transmitted using a high-altitude platform or a satellite, wherein each beam covers a respective service area so as to forward a respective data frame to the respective service area via the respective beam; wherein each super frame comprises a data frame to be forwarded by the satellite to the respective service area.

The present disclosure relates, in part, to non-terrestrial communication systems, and in some embodiments to the integration of terrestrial and non-terrestrial communication systems. Non-terrestrial communication systems can provide a more flexible communication system with extended wireless coverage range and enhanced service quality compared to conventional communication systems.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to methods and apparatus for data transmission in synchronization slots. A method for use by a base station for data transmission in synchronization slots includes transmitting a synchronization signal (SS) burst, wherein different SS blocks of the burst are transmitted using different transmit beams and performing frequency division multiplexing (FDM) or time division multiplexing (TDM) to include one or more other types of signals that need to be multicast and are also transmitted using the different transmit beams.

Various arrangements are presented for using an estimated timing advance for user equipment communications. A location of an instance of user equipment may be determined. An estimated distance between the user equipment and a communication satellite may be determined using the determined location of the user equipment and an estimated satellite location. An estimated timing offset using the calculated estimated distance may be determined. An uplink data frame may be transmitted by the user equipment to the satellite such that a timing of transmission of the uplink data frame is based on the calculated estimated timing offset.

A multiple-access transceiver handles communications with mobile stations in environments that exceed mobile station design assumptions without necessarily requiring modifications to the mobile stations. One such environment is in Earth orbit. The multiple-access transceiver is adapted to close communications with mobile stations while exceeding mobile station design assumptions, such as greater distance, greater relative motion and/or other conditions commonly found where functionality of a terrestrial transceiver is to be performed by an orbital transceiver. The orbital transceiver might include a data parser that parses a frame data structure, a signal timing module that adjusts timing based on orbit to terrestrial propagation delays, frequency shifters and a programmable radio capable of communicating from the Earth orbit that uses a multiple-access protocol such that the communication is compatible with, or appears to the terrestrial mobile station to be, communication between a terrestrial cellular base station and the terrestrial mobile station.

Various arrangements are presented for using an estimated timing advance for user equipment communications. A location of an instance of user equipment may be determined. A first estimated distance between the user equipment and a communication satellite may be determined using the determined location of the user equipment and an estimated satellite location. A second estimated distance between the communication satellite and a communication network gateway may be determined. An estimated timing offset using the calculated first estimated distance and the determined second estimated distance may be determined. An uplink data frame may be transmitted by the user equipment to the satellite such that a timing of transmission of the uplink data frame is based on the calculated estimated timing offset.

A user equipment (UE) includes one or more non-transitory computer-readable media containing computer-executable instructions embodied therein, and at least one processor coupled to the one or more non-transitory computer-readable media. The at least one processor configured to execute the computer-executable instructions to receive downlink control information (DCI) on a downlink (DL) channel of a non-terrestrial network (NTN), the DL channel reception ending in a first slot, and transmit an uplink (UL) transmission on a UL channel of the NTN in a second slot. The second slot is separate from the first slot by a timing offset, where a duration of the timing offset is dependent on a type of the UL transmission and a numerology of the UL transmission.

Devices, methods, and systems for uplink synchronization in time division multiple access (TDMA) satellite network. In one embodiment, an earth-based satellite terminal is configured to communicate with a satellite hub through a satellite using the TDMA communication protocol. The earth-based satellite terminal is configured to determine its own location, a location of the satellite, estimate a distance between the location of the terminal and the location of the satellite, determine a Coarse Timing Advance based on the distance that is estimated, and transmit data to the satellite based on the Coarse Timing Advance and the TDMA communication protocol. The Coarse Timing Advance may allow uplink TDMA communication without a preamble transmission on a random access channel, the preamble transmission being required in many conventional systems.