Apple Patent reveals their work on iPhone Communication designed for High-Speed Rail Networks in China & around the Globe
According to Wikipedia, "The high-speed rail (HSR) network in the People's Republic of China (PRC) is the world's longest and most extensively used – with a total length of 42,000 kilometers (26,000 mi) by the end of 2022. The HSR network encompasses newly built rail lines with a design speed of 200–350 km/h (120–220 mph). China's HSR accounts for two-thirds of the world's total high-speed railway networks."
China's high-speed rail is years ahead of the U.S. The Biden Administration's 2021 infrastructure plan included new high-speed trains. When such a project in the U.S. will actually get off the ground is unknown. Meantime, high-speed rail networks are spreading rapidly around the globe.
While the U.S. plan is in limbo, Apple has decided to improve iPhone communication in relation to customers in China and around the world where communication on High Speed Tains is an issue and need. Yesterday, the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple titled "Technologies in Wireless Communications in Consideration of High-Speed Vehicle."
More specifically, Apple notes in their filing that High Speed Vehicle (HSV) is a deployment scenario a few operators are very interested in, especially for operators from China such as China Mobile Communications Corporation (CMCC).
HSV may be defined as any user equipment that is moving at a high rate of speed. For example, HSV may comprise a user equipment moving at 350 kilometers per hour (km/h) or higher. In some embodiments, the HSV may include high speed train (HST). HSV enhancement has been considered for release 17 (Rel-17) further enhanced multiple input multiple output (FeMIMO).
Apple's patent FIG. 1 below illustrates an example of network arrangement #100 with a HSV situation in accordance with some embodiments. The illustrated network arrangement 100 provides an example illustration of Doppler shift that may occur when a HSV situation is presented. In particular, the HSV situation may be presented when an element of a network is traveling at a high rate of speed as compared to other elements of the network with which the element is to communicate. In some embodiments, the rate of speed difference between the element and the other elements of the network may be equal to or greater than 350 km/h.
Apple's patent FIG. 15 above illustrates an example next generation NodeB (gNB).
This a highly technical patent filing reveals Apple's work on including the relevant technologies related to high-speed communication for high-speed trains. Engineers and communication specialists the could better understand the terminology discussed could review Apple's patent application 20230198723 for full details. Apple's first work on this began in 2021 and not made public.
Some of the Team Members on this Apple Project
- Ali Fakoorian: Cellular System & Standard Engineer
- Haitong Sun: Wireless System & Standard
- Chunxuan Ye: System Engineer
- Hongye He: Real-time Operation Analyst
- Wei Zeng: Wireless System Researcher
- Weidong Yang: Standards Engineer
- Yushu Zhang: R&D (Beijing)
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