Mirage Detector: A Reliable Multiuser Preamble Detector for 6G-NTN

GEORGANAKI, Ali; QUEROL, Jorge; VU, Thang Xuan; CHATZINOTAS, Symeon

doi:10.1109/ojcoms.2026.3679839

Download

Article (Scientific journals)

Mirage Detector: A Reliable Multiuser Preamble Detector for 6G-NTN

GEORGANAKI, Ali; QUEROL, Jorge; VU, Thang Xuan et al.

2026 • In IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, p. 1-1

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10993/68160

DOI
10.1109/ojcoms.2026.3679839

Files (1)Send to Details Statistics Bibliography Similar publications

Files

Full Text

Mirage_Detector_A_Reliable_Multiuser_Preamble_Detector_for_6G-NTN.pdf

Author postprint (7.18 MB)

Download

All documents in ORBilu are protected by a user license.

Send to

RIS BibTex APA Chicago Permalink X Linkedin

Details

Keywords :

NTN PRACH; 4G/5G support; PHY; Preamble detector; Uplink synchronizer; unified 6G

Abstract :

[en] Accessing non-terrestrial networks (NTN) via existing 4G/5G handheld devices without positioning information presents significant challenges in achieving precise synchronization between a gNodeB and hundreds of users dispersed across an NTN cell. While terrestrial communication standards limit the relative delay between the center and edge of coverage to 200 km, multilayered NTN can introduce user-specific delay variation spanning thousands of kilometers. To address this challenge, we reeingeer the receiver’s Random Access (RA) preamble detector to achieve robust detection and Transmission Arrival (TA) estimation of scattered users with unknown but deterministic differential delays. The proposed Physical layer algorithm, termed Mirage detector, aligns with current 3GPP NTN standardization efforts and is forward/backward-compatible with future/earlier releases. Mirage detector leverages a dynamic Striding mechanism for multiple hypothesis testing, making it resilient to high false alarm rates caused by signals arriving beyond their nominal duration. Mirage also efficiently supports multiuser detection, enabling rapid resynchronization during frequent handovers—approximately twice per minute per Connected UE—while minimizing computational load of the transceivers. Extensive simulations results validate the advantage of the proposed Mirage detector that enables reliable multilayer connectivity for hundreds of legacy devices within the access occasion periodicity, without requiring hardware upgrades or any self-localization capability.

Research center :

Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SnT) > SIGCOM - Signal Processing & Communications

Disciplines :

Electrical & electronics engineering

Author, co-author :

GEORGANAKI, Ali ; University of Luxembourg > Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SNT) > SigCom

QUEROL, Jorge ; University of Luxembourg

VU, Thang Xuan ; University of Luxembourg

CHATZINOTAS, Symeon ; University of Luxembourg

External co-authors :

Language :

English

Title :

Mirage Detector: A Reliable Multiuser Preamble Detector for 6G-NTN

Publication date :

01 April 2026

Journal title :

IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society

eISSN :

2644-125X

Publisher :

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Pages :

1-1

Peer reviewed :

Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi

Additional URL :

https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/11460211

FnR Project :

FNR/IPBG19/14016225/INSTRUCT
BRIDGES/2023/IS/18441334/Pre5GNR

Name of the research project :

R-AGR-3929 - IPBG19/14016225/INSTRUCT - SES - CHATZINOTAS Symeon

Funders :

FNR - Luxembourg National Research Fund

Funding text :

This work was supported in whole, or in part, by the Luxembourg National Research Fund, grant references FNR/IPBG19/14016225/INSTRUCT and BRIDGES/2023/IS/18441334/Pre5GNR. For the purpose of open access, and in fulfilment of the obligations arising from the grant agreement, the authors have applied a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) license to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.

Available on ORBilu :

since 05 April 2026

Statistics

Number of views

59 (18 by Unilu)

Number of downloads

42 (10 by Unilu)

More statistics

Scopus citations^®

Scopus citations^®
without self-citations

OpenCitations

OpenAlex citations

Bibliography

Digital cellular telecommunications system (GSM); Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS); LTE; 5G; Release 16, 3GPP TR 21.916, version 16.2.0, 2022.
Study on New Radio (NR) to support non-terrestrial networks, 3GPP TR 38.811, version 15.4.0, 2020.
A. Guidotti, A. Vanelli-Coralli, G. Gallinaro, G. Giambene, M. Berioli, and F. Davoli, “The path to 5G-Advanced and 6G Non-Terrestrial Network systems,” Proc. 11th ASMS/SPSC, 2022, doi: 10.1109/ASMS/SPSC55670.2022.9914764.
Solutions for NR to support non-terrestrial networks (NTN), Release 16, 3GPP TS 38.821, 2023-03.
Feature lead Summary on enhancements on UL synchronization for NR NTN, 3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 Meeting #102-e, 2020-08.
C. A. Hofmann and A. Knopp, “Ultranarrowband Waveform for IoT Direct Random Multiple Access to GEO Satellites,” IEEE Internet of Things Journal, 2019, doi: 10.1109/JIOT.2019.2935909.
5G; NR; Base Station (BS) conformance testing Part 1: Conducted conformance testing, Release 18, 3GPP TS 38.141-1 version 18.6.0, 2024-08.
T. A. Khan and X. Lin, “Random Access Preamble Design for 3GPP Non-terrestrial Networks,” in Proc. 2021 IEEE Globecom Workshops (GC Wkshps), 2021, doi: 10.1109/GCWkshps52748.2021.9681944.
PRACH design for NTN scenario, 3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 #98bis Meeting, R1-1909983, 2019.
H.–M. Chen, P. Wang, S. Li, S. Lin, Z. Wang, and C. Fang, “A Novel Preamble Design for 5G Enabled LEO Non-Terrestrial Networks,” in Proc. GLOBECOM 2022 - IEEE Global Communications Conference, 2022.
Z. Li, T. Sun, G. Lu, K. Yu, and R. Ding, “Preamble Design and Detection for 5G Enabled Satellite Random Access,” IEEE Access, 2020, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2020.2979871.
Y. Song, L. Yin, Y. Liu, and H. Yang, “Design of A Novel NTN PRACH Format Combining Zadoff-Chu and Golden Sequences,” in Proc. 2024 IEEE Wireless Communications and Networking Conference (WCNC), 2024.
J. Zhu, Y. Sun, and M. Peng, “TA Estimation in Low Earth Orbit Satellite Networks,” IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology, 2024.
M. Caus, A. I. Pérez-Neira, J. Bas, and L. Blanco, “New Satellite Random Access Preamble Design Based on Pruned DFT-Spread FBMC,” IEEE Transactions on Communications, 2020.
E. Paolini, C. Stefanovic, G. Liva, and P. Popovski, “Coded Random Access: Applying Codes on Graphs to Design Random Access Protocols,” IEEE Communications Magazine, 2015, doi: 10.1109/MCOM.2015.7120031.
M. S. Hassan, C. Saha, J. Lianghai, A. R. Alvarino, J. Ma, L. Liu, and Q. Wu,“NTN: from 5G NR to 6G,” Proc. IEEE Int. Conf. Wireless for Space and Extreme Environments (WiSEE), pp. 173–178, 2023, doi: 10.1109/WiSEE58383.2023.10289427.
A. Z. K. Matloob, M. Aksoy, A. K. M. Al-Qurabat, et al., “A comprehensive analysis of non-terrestrial networks impact on 5G NR random access,” Telecommunication Systems, 88, 59 (2025), doi: 10.1007/s11235-025-01294-y.
R. Tuninato and R. Garello, “5G NTN Primary Synchronization Signal: An Improved Detector for Handheld Devices,” IEEE Open Journal of the Communications Society, vol. 5, pp. 3792–3803, 2024, doi: 10.1109/OJCOMS.2024.3416554.
R. Stuhlfauth, “5G NTN Takes Flight: Technical Overview of 5G Non-Terrestrial Networks,” Rohde & Schwarz, 2022.
S. Yoneda, M. Sawahashi, and S. Nagata, “Physical Cell ID Detection Probability in the Presence of CFO Including Doppler Shift for NR TN and NTN,” in Proc. 2023 VTS Asia Pacific Wireless Communications Symposium (APWCS), 2023.
Discussion on UL synchronization for NR-NTN, 3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 #107-e, R1-2111659, 2021-11.
R. Frank, S. Zadoff, and R. Heimiller, “Phase Shift Pulse Codes with Good Periodic Correlation Properties,” IRE Transactions on Information Theory, 1962, doi: 10.1109/TIT.1962.1057786.
D. Chu, “Polyphase Codes with Good Periodic Correlation Properties (Corresp.),” IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, 1972, doi: 10.1109/TIT.1972.1054840.
5G; NR; Physical channels and modulation, Release 18, 3GPP TS 38.211 version 18.5.0, 2025-01.
S. Sesia, I. Toufik, and M. Baker, LTE, The UMTS Long Term Evolution: From Theory to Practice, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2011, ISBN: 978-0-470-66025-6.
LTE; Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Physical channels and modulation, Release 18, 3GPP TS 36.211, version 18.0.1, 2024-05.
M. Proakis and J. Salehi, Digital Communications, 5th Edition, McGraw-Hill, 2008, ISBN: 978-0072957167.
Z. Zheng, D. Wang, L. Liu, B. Wang, and C. Sun, “Robust Random Access Preamble Detection Scheme for 5G Integrated LEO Satellite Communication Systems,” in Proc. 2022 IEEE 22nd International Conference on Communication Technology (ICCT), 2022, doi: 10.1109/ICCT56141.2022.10073105.
M. Caus, X. Artiga, M. Shaat, and A. Guidotti, “GNSS Independent Random Access Schemes for Beam Hopping Satellite Systems,” European Wireless Conference, 2024, ISBN: 978-3-8007-6496-9.
Z. Wu, C. Gong, and D. Liu, “Computational Complexity Analysis of FEC Decoding on SDR Platforms,” Journal of Signal Processing Systems, 2017, doi: 10.1007/s11265-016-1184-8.