Enabling use of multiple transmission and reception points during initial access in wireless networks

Abstract

Devices, methods, and computer programs for enabling use of multiple transmission and reception points during initial access in a wireless network are disclosed. At least some example embodiments can allow enabling TRP level granularity for synchronization signal block (SSB) transmission in a cell comprising one or more TRPs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates generally to communications, and more specifically, but not exclusively, to enabling the use of multiple transmitting and receiving points during initial access in a wireless network, and related devices, methods, and computer programs. Background Technology

[0002] Synchronization signals and channels (such as the physical broadcast channel (PBCH)) are used in mobile telecommunications (e.g., fifth-generation (5G) and sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks) to facilitate user equipment (UE) in performing initial access procedures (e.g., including initial system and cell search, and time and frequency synchronization).

[0003] For example, 5G wireless networks support beamforming for synchronization signals and PBCH by defining multiple time-domain locations for synchronization signals and PBCH blocks (SSBs) in a periodic manner.

[0004] However, 5G wireless networks were initially designed with a single transmit and receive point (TRP) scenario for initial access. Although subsequent versions of 5G wireless networks have been updated to support multiple TRPs, they are still only used for connected-mode UEs.

[0005] Furthermore, currently, SSBs are defined and transmitted at the cell level; that is, an SSB represents the cell's beam, not the beam of the cell's TRP. However, since there can be multiple TRPs in a cell, and each TRP can have a specific spatial aperture or sector covered by an SSB (or generally by a block that provides synchronization signals and PBCH to the UE), it may be beneficial, at least in some cases, and at least from an efficiency perspective, for the UE to enter the TRP-level granularity during the initial access phase. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The scope of protection sought by the various exemplary embodiments of the present invention is defined by the independent claims. Exemplary embodiments and features (if any) described in the specification that do not fall within the scope of the independent claims should be interpreted as examples that aid in understanding the various exemplary embodiments of the invention.

[0007] Example embodiments of the user equipment include at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the user equipment to at least: initiate an initial access procedure in a radio access network cell, the radio access network cell including one or more transport and receive points (TRPs). When executed by the at least one processor, the instructions also cause the user equipment to at least: acquire synchronization signaling information. When executed by the at least one processor, the instructions also cause the user equipment to at least: determine, based on the acquired synchronization signaling information, at least one of the following: a cell identifier of the radio access network cell, or one or more TRP indices of the one or more TRPs. When executed by the at least one processor, the instructions also cause the user equipment to at least: continue the initial access procedure for the one or more TRPs based on at least one of the determined cell identifier or the determined one or more TRP indices. The synchronization signaling information includes one or more TRP-specific synchronization signaling blocks (SSBs). Acquiring the synchronization signaling information includes: detecting one or more TRP-specific SSBs from a specific TRP within the one or more TRPs.

[0008] In the example embodiments, as an alternative or supplement to the above example embodiments, one or more TRP-specific SSBs are received in time-series bursts of synchronization signals, each burst including an SSB specific to one of the one or more TRPs.

[0009] In the example embodiment, as an alternative or supplement to the above example embodiment, each burst is included in a half frame.

[0010] In the example embodiment, as an alternative or supplement to the above example embodiment, when executed by at least one processor, the instruction also causes the user equipment to determine time-domain information based on SFN bits.

[0011] In the example embodiment, as an alternative or supplement to the above example embodiment, one or more TRP-specific SSBs are received such that each TRP-specific SSB includes the same primary synchronization signal PSS in each frequency division multiplexing (FDM) related location.

[0012] In the example embodiment, as an alternative or supplement to the above example embodiment, each TRP-specific SSB is located on the same synchronization grid.

[0013] In an example embodiment, as an alternative or supplement to the above example embodiment, when executed by at least one processor, the instruction also causes the user equipment to determine at least one of the following: the number of TRPs included in the radio access network cell, or the maximum number of TRPs for the radio access network cell (100).

[0014] In the example embodiment, as an alternative or supplement to the above example embodiment, when executed by at least one processor, the instruction also causes the user equipment to: determine one or more spatial parameters of the SSB in the radio access network cell for other TRP-specific SSBs.

[0015] In the example embodiment, as an alternative or supplement to the above example embodiment, when executed by at least one processor, the instruction also causes the user equipment to determine at least one of the following: frequency resources or time resources in the radio access network cell used for other TRP-specific SSBs.

[0016] Example embodiments of the method include: a user equipment initiating an initial access procedure in a radio access network cell, the radio access network cell including one or more transport and receive points (TRPs). The method further includes: the user equipment acquiring synchronization signaling information. The method further includes: the user equipment determining, based on the acquired synchronization signaling information, at least one of the following: a cell identifier of the radio access network cell, or one or more TRP indices of one or more TRPs. The method further includes: the user equipment continuing the initial access procedure for one or more TRPs based on at least one of the determined cell identifier or the determined one or more TRP indices. The synchronization signaling information includes one or more TRP-specific synchronization signaling blocks (SSBs). Acquiring the synchronization signaling information includes: detecting one or more TRP-specific SSBs from a specific TRP within the one or more TRPs.

[0017] Example embodiments of the apparatus include components for performing a method according to any of the example embodiments described above.

[0018] Example embodiments of a computer program include instructions for causing the user equipment to perform at least the following: initiating an initial access procedure in a radio access network cell, the radio access network cell including one or more transport and receive points (TRPs); acquiring synchronization signaling information; determining, based on the acquired synchronization signaling information, at least one of the following: a cell identifier of the radio access network cell, or one or more TRP indices of one or more TRPs; and continuing the initial access procedure for one or more TRPs based on at least one of the determined cell identifier or the determined one or more TRP indices. The synchronization signaling information includes one or more TRP-specific synchronization signaling blocks (SSBs). Acquiring the synchronization signaling information includes detecting one or more TRP-specific SSBs from a specific TRP within the one or more TRPs.

[0019] An example embodiment of the network node device includes at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network node device to at least: transmit synchronization signaling information to a user equipment. The synchronization signaling information includes at least one of: a cell identifier of a radio access network cell, or one or more TRP indices of one or more Transmit and Receive Points (TRPs) in the radio access network cell. When executed by the at least one processor, the instructions also cause the network node device to at least: receive signals for one or more TRPs from the user equipment based on the cell identifier or at least one of the one or more TRP indices. The synchronization signaling information includes one or more TRP-specific Synchronization Signal Blocks (SSBs). Transmitting the synchronization signaling information includes: transmitting one or more TRP-specific SSBs from a specific TRP within one or more TRPs.

[0020] An example embodiment of the method includes: sending synchronization signaling information from a network node device to a user equipment. The synchronization signaling information includes at least one of the following: a cell identifier of a radio access network cell, or one or more TRP indices of one or more transport and receive points (TRPs) in the radio access network cell. The method further includes: at the network node device, receiving signals for one or more TRPs from the user equipment based on the cell identifier or at least one of the one or more TRP indices. The synchronization signaling information includes one or more TRP-specific synchronization signal blocks (SSBs). Sending the synchronization signaling information includes: sending one or more TRP-specific SSBs from a specific TRP within one or more TRPs.

[0021] Example embodiments of the apparatus include components for performing a method according to any of the example embodiments described above.

[0022] Example embodiments of the computer program include instructions for causing a network node device to perform at least the following: sending synchronization signaling information to a user equipment, the synchronization signaling information including: a cell identifier of a radio access network cell, or at least one of one or more TRP indices of one or more transport and receive points (TRPs) in the radio access network cell; and receiving signals for one or more TRPs from the user equipment based on the cell identifier or at least one of the one or more TRP indices. The synchronization signaling information includes one or more TRP-specific synchronization signal blocks (SSBs). Sending the synchronization signaling information includes sending one or more TRP-specific SSBs from a specific TRP within one or more TRPs. Attached Figure Description

[0023] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the embodiments and form part of this specification. These drawings illustrate the embodiments and, together with the description, help to explain the principles of the embodiments. In the drawings:

[0024] Figure 1 Example embodiments of the subject matter described herein are illustrated, showing example systems in which various embodiments of this disclosure can be implemented;

[0025] Figure 2A An example embodiment of the subject matter described herein is illustrated, which is a user equipment.

[0026] Figure 2B An example embodiment of the subject matter described herein is illustrated, showing a network node device;

[0027] Figure 3A Example embodiments of the subject matter described herein are illustrated, illustrating methods for user equipment;

[0028] Figure 3B Example embodiments of the subject matter described herein are shown, illustrating methods for network node devices;

[0029] Figure 4 An example embodiment of the subject matter described herein is shown, illustrating the disclosed SSB;

[0030] Figure 5 Example embodiments of the subject matter described herein are shown, illustrating the transmission of SSBs for different TRPs in a spatially multiplexed manner; and

[0031] Figure 6 An example embodiment of the subject matter described herein is shown, illustrating the transmission as an unscrambled TRP index.

[0032] The same reference numerals are used to designate the same parts in the figures. Detailed Implementation

[0033] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The detailed description provided below, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, is intended as a description of the present example and not as representing the only form in which the present example can be constructed or utilized. This description clarifies the function of the example and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the example. However, the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different examples.

[0034] Figure 1An example system 100 is illustrated, in which various embodiments of this disclosure can be implemented. System 100 may include a radio access network cell 110 of a fifth-generation (5G) new radio (NR) network or a network beyond 5G wireless networks. An example representation of system 100 is shown, depicting user equipment 200, network node equipment 220, and transmit and receive points (TRPs) 210A, 210B. In at least some embodiments, the network of radio access network cell 110 may be included in massive machine-to-machine (M2M) networks, massive machine-type communication (mMTC) networks, Internet of Things (IoT) networks, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) networks, enhanced mobile broadband (eMMB) networks, ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) networks, etc. In other words, the network of radio access network cell 110 may be configured to serve diverse service types and / or use cases, and logically may be considered to include one or more networks.

[0035] User equipment 200 may include, for example, a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet computer, smartwatch, or any handheld, portable, and / or wearable device. User equipment 200 may also be referred to as user equipment (UE). Network node equipment 220 may include, for example, a base station. The base station may include, for example, any device adapted to provide an air interface for user equipment to connect to a wireless network via wireless transmission.

[0036] In at least some embodiments, TRPs 210A, 210B may include geographically co-located sets of antennas (e.g., antenna arrays with one or more antenna elements) that support transmit processing and / or receive processing functions. An example scenario is an apartment with multiple rooms, each with a transmitter. When user equipment 200 moves within the cell, it can switch between beams on the same TRP and between beams on different TRPs to maintain connectivity. The TRP may be transparent to user equipment 200, as user equipment 200 can only see the mobility between beams. In outdoor scenarios, radio access network cell 110 may also include multiple TRPs, such as TRPs located on lampposts.

[0037] Various example embodiments will be discussed below. At least some of the example embodiments described herein can allow multiple transmitting and receiving points to be enabled during initial access in a wireless network.

[0038] Furthermore, at least some of the example embodiments described herein may allow TRP-level granularity to be enabled for synchronization signal block (SSB) transmission in a cell that includes one or more TRPs.

[0039] Furthermore, at least some of the example embodiments described herein can allow the establishment of multiple TRP connections already in the initial access phase, thereby reducing the required configuration signaling (from UE-specific to cell-specific) and associated latency.

[0040] Furthermore, at least some of the example embodiments described herein may allow time and frequency offset tracking to be enabled at the TRP level during the initial access phase, thereby facilitating the use of different multi-TRP operations.

[0041] Furthermore, at least some of the example embodiments described herein may allow a user equipment to identify an SSB that is already at the TRP level, and / or to identify a reference signal associated with that SSB at the TRP level.

[0042] Furthermore, at least some of the example embodiments described herein can enable the use of multiple transmit and receive points during initial access in a wireless network in such a way that narrow bandwidth can be used to reduce searcher complexity and power consumption.

[0043] Figure 2A This is a block diagram of user equipment 200 according to an example embodiment.

[0044] User equipment 200 includes one or more processors 202 and one or more memories 204, the one or more memories 204 including computer program code. User equipment 200 may also include other elements, such as a transceiver 206 configured to enable user equipment 200 to send information to and / or receive information from other devices, and Figure 2A Other elements not shown. In one example, user equipment 200 may use transceiver 206 to send or receive signaling information and data according to at least one cellular communication protocol. Transceiver 206 may be configured to provide at least one radio connection, such as a 3GPP mobile broadband connection (e.g., 5G or 6G). Transceiver 206 may include or be configured to be coupled to at least one antenna to send and / or receive radio frequency signals.

[0045] Although user equipment 200 is depicted as including only one processor 202, user equipment 200 may include multiple processors. In one embodiment, memory 204 is capable of storing instructions, such as an operating system and / or various applications. Furthermore, memory 204 may include a storage device that can be used to store at least some of the information and data used, for example, in the disclosed embodiments.

[0046] Furthermore, processor 202 is capable of executing stored instructions. In one embodiment, processor 202 may be embodied as a multi-core processor, a single-core processor, or a combination of one or more multi-core processors and one or more single-core processors. For example, processor 202 may be embodied as one or more of a variety of processing devices, such as a coprocessor, microprocessor, controller, digital signal processor (DSP), processing circuitry system with or without an accompanying DSP, or various other processing devices including integrated circuits, such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), microcontroller units (MCUs), hardware accelerators, dedicated computer chips, neural network (NN) chips, artificial intelligence (AI) accelerators, tensor processing units (TPUs), neural processing units (NPUs), etc. In one embodiment, processor 202 may be configured to perform hard-coded functions. In one embodiment, processor 202 is embodied as an executor of software instructions, wherein the instructions may specifically configure processor 202 to perform the algorithms and / or operations described herein when the instructions are executed.

[0047] The memory 204 may be embodied as one or more volatile memory devices, one or more non-volatile memory devices, and / or a combination of one or more volatile memory devices and non-volatile memory devices. For example, the memory 204 may be embodied as a semiconductor memory (such as a mask ROM, PROM (programmable ROM), EPROM (erasable PROM), flash ROM, RAM (random access memory), etc.).

[0048] User equipment 200 may include various types of devices, such as user equipment (UE), that are directly used by end-user entities and capable of communicating in a wireless network. Such devices include, but are not limited to, smartphones, tablet computers, smartwatches, laptop computers, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, large-scale machine-to-machine (M2M) devices, large-scale machine-type communication (mMTC) devices, industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) devices, enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) devices, ultra-reliable low-latency communication (URLLC) devices, relay nodes configured to facilitate backhaul connections (such as integrated access and backhaul nodes), and / or devices installed in vehicles.

[0049] When executed by at least one processor 202, instructions stored in at least one memory 204 cause user equipment 200 to at least: initiate an initial access procedure in a radio access network cell 110, which includes one or more transmit and receive points (TRPs) 210A, 210B. For example, user equipment 200 may search for a primary synchronization signal (PSS) based on a predetermined synchronization grid in a given frequency band, and during PSS detection, user equipment 200 may detect a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) based on a fixed resource (time-frequency) relationship between the PSS and the secondary synchronization signal (SSS), as discussed in more detail below.

[0050] When executed by at least one processor 202, the instruction also causes the user equipment 200 to at least: acquire synchronization signal information.

[0051] When executed by at least one processor 202, the instruction also causes the user equipment 200 to at least: determine the cell identifier of the radio access network cell 110 and / or one or more TRP indices of one or more TRPs 210A, 210B based on the acquired synchronization signal information.

[0052] When executed by at least one processor 202, the instruction also causes the user equipment 200 to at least: continue the initial access procedure for one or more TRPs 210A, 210B based on the determined cell identifier and / or the determined one or more TRP indices.

[0053] Synchronization signal information includes one or more TRP-specific synchronization signal blocks (SSBs). Obtaining synchronization signal information involves detecting one or more TRP-specific SSBs from one or more TRPs 210A, 210B.

[0054] In other words, a TRP-specific SSB can be sent across TRPs, for example, in TDM or FDM mode.

[0055] In at least some embodiments, one or more TRP-specific SSBs can be received in time-continuous bursts of synchronization signals, each burst including an SSB specific to one of the one or more TRPs 210A, 210B. For example, each burst can be included in a half-frame.

[0056] In other words, a TRP-specific SSB can be transmitted in TDM mode, allowing a TRP to send an SSB in one SSB burst (e.g., within a half-frame), the next TRP to send an SSB in the next SSB burst (e.g., within the next occurring half-frame), and so on. For example, up to four TRPs can send within an 80-millisecond (ms) period, such that each TRP sends at an 80 ms period.

[0057] In at least some embodiments, one or more TRP-specific SSBs can be received such that each TRP-specific SSB includes the same primary synchronization signal (PSS) in each frequency division multiplexing (FDM) associated location. For example, each TRP-specific SSB may be located on the same synchronization grid.

[0058] In other words, TRP-specific SSBs can be transmitted in FDM mode. In this case, each TRP-specific SSB can also include a separate PSS, which can be configured to be the same PSS in each FDM location. Each TRP-specific SSB can reside on the same synchronization grid, thus allowing the initial user equipment 200 search to be TRP-agnostic.

[0059] In at least some embodiments, when executed by at least one processor 202, the instruction can also enable user equipment 200 to determine whether radio access network cell 110 includes more than one TRP.

[0060] In at least some embodiments, when executed by at least one processor 202, the instruction may also cause the user equipment 200 to: determine the number of TRPs 210A, 210B included in the radio access network cell 110, and / or the maximum number of TRPs 210A, 210B for the radio access network cell 110.

[0061] In at least some embodiments, when executed by at least one processor 202, the instruction may also cause user equipment 200 to: determine one or more spatial parameters for SSBs in radio access network cell 110 for other TRP-specific applications.

[0062] In at least some embodiments, when executed by at least one processor 202, the instruction may also cause user equipment 200 to: determine frequency resources and / or time resources in radio access network cell 110 for other TRP-specific SSBs.

[0063] In at least some embodiments, synchronization signal information may include an SSB. Acquiring synchronization signal information may include detecting a TRP-specific SSS and / or PBCH DMRS. SSS sequence initialization and / or PBCH DMRS sequence initialization may be based on a determined cell identifier and / or one or more determined TRP indices.

[0064] In at least some embodiments, a TRP-specific SSS may include a cell identifier and a TRP index for each TRP.

[0065] In other words, the SSS signal can be TRP-specific, and both the cell identifier and the TRP index can be used as components in the sequence initialization. PBCH DMRS can also use the cell identifier and the TRP index as components in the sequence initialization, for example, in addition to the three least significant bits (LSBs) of the time slot timing information (i.e., the three LSBs of the SSB index).

[0066] In at least some embodiments, the SSB may also include a master synchronization signal (PSS) shared by each of the one or more TRPs 210A, 210B.

[0067] In other words, the PSS signal can be shared by all TRPs and can optionally be sent simultaneously by multiple TRPs.

[0068] In at least some embodiments, at least a cell identifier and one or more TRP indices may be included in the PBCH scrambling code initialization. Furthermore, when executed by at least one processor 202, the instruction may also cause user equipment 200 to, after descrambling the PBCH with the PBCH scrambling code, combine PBCHs transmitted from different TRPs, the PBCH scrambling code including the cell identifier and one or more TRP indices.

[0069] In other words, PBCH scrambling initialization can use at least the cell identifier, or both the cell identifier and the TRP index, as components.

[0070] When the PBCH scrambling initialization includes at least the cell identifier as a component, the PBCH can be transmitted from multiple TRPs, for example, in the form of a system frame number (SFN). Each TRP can have a TRP-specific DMRS, and the user equipment 200 can determine TRP-specific Doppler and time-domain channel estimation parameters based on the TRP-specific DMRS for use in a channel estimation filter to receive the SFN-based PBCH.

[0071] When the PBCH scrambling code initialization includes at least the cell identifier and TRP index as components, the user equipment 200 can combine the PBCH after descrambling it with a scrambling code based on the cell identifier and (multiple) TRP indices. Furthermore, this can be advantageous when the user equipment 200 performs soft combination of PBCHs with the same TRP, as it also allows for randomization of interference between TRPs.

[0072] In at least some embodiments, when the length of the sequence from which the portion to be sent is selected is defined based on the SSB index, or based on the time index and TRP index of the SSB, one or more TRP indices may be included in the PBCH DMRS sequence.

[0073] For example, the SSB index can index the SS block time position in ascending order from 0 to L-1 within a half-frame of radio. For L=8 or L=64, the three LSBs of the SS block time index can be indicated by eight different PBCH-DMRS sequences {a_0, ..., a_7}. For L=4, the two LSBs of the SS block time index can be indicated by four different PBCH-DMRS sequences {b_0, ..., b_3}. The remaining bit of the three LSBs can be set to 0 and not transmitted by the PBCH, or, for example, indicate whether the SS block is transmitted in the first 5 milliseconds (ms) or the last 5 ms half-frame of the radio frame.

[0074] In other words, when initializing the PBCH DMRS sequence, and / or when defining the length of the (long) sequence from the length of the (long) sequence to be sent based on the SSB index, or based on the SSB time index and TRP index, the PBCH DMRS sequence can also include the TRP index as a component. It should be noted that when the RS density is maintained at 3 or 4 within the PRB, for example, compared to 32 distinct sequences, DMRS with at least both the SSB index and TRP index as components results in embedding up to eight TRP indices within the DMRS, leading to 64 distinct DMRS sequences, without significantly impacting performance.

[0075] In at least some embodiments, the SSB may include a separate reference signal indicating the TRP index. For example, this separate reference signal may be used as the PBCH DMRS or as an additional PBCH DMRS.

[0076] In other words, an independent reference signal indicating the TRP index can be transmitted within the SSB. It can also be used as a PBCH DMRS or as an additional PBCH DMRS. For example, the additional reference signal (RS) can be frequency-domain multiplexed with the SSS, and PBCH symbols can be transmitted without an embedded DMRS. For example, the SSS and TRP index RS can be used as PBCH DMRS.

[0077] In at least some embodiments, the synchronization signal included in the synchronization signal information may be based on a constant amplitude zero autocorrelation (CAZAC) sequence, where different root sequences represent cell identifiers.

[0078] In other words, synchronization signals (e.g., SSS or PBCH DMRS signals) can be based on CAZAC sequences, where different root sequences represent physical cell identifiers.

[0079] In at least some embodiments, the resource elements of PBCH DMRS may include orthogonal covering codes (OCC), Walsh sequences, or discrete Fourier transform (DFT) sequences for use as resource elements of PBCH DMRS.

[0080] In other words, for example, an orthogonal coverage code (OCC) or Walsh sequence (e.g., of length K) can be defined for the resource elements of the PBCH DMRS to enable TRP separation, where K > 1, for example, 2, 4, or 8. In addition to the TRPs and cell-specific initializations of the PBCH DMRS, cell-specific comb offset hopping can also be applied to enable interference randomization between potential sets of TRPs under a given cell identifier. Furthermore, cell-specific DMRS comb offset hopping can be defined as a comb offset hopping based on a set of TRPs, where each set can include at least one TRP associated with a specific frequency offset related to the PBCH DMRS comb type.

[0081] In at least some embodiments, the maximum number of TRPs can be frequency-layer specific, and can be signaled to user equipment 200 once user equipment 200 is in connected mode. In at least some embodiments, this can reduce the number of assumptions user equipment 200 can use when decoding TRP information.

[0082] In summary, this disclosure allows for TRP-level granularity to be enabled for SSB transmissions in cells comprising one or more TRPs. This principle is based on... Figure 5 Figure 500 illustrates that SSBs for different TRPs are transmitted in a spatially multiplexed manner. In other words, Figure 500 represents SSB 501 supporting a multi-TRP scenario. In the example of Figure 500, there are 16 SSB indices 503 (from 0 to 15) with unique time positions. Above them, there are TRP indices 502. Figure 500 covers an example scenario with three TRPs. Parallel SSBs (for the three TRPs) can be transmitted on the same frequency / time resource because they are spatially separated and have unique DMRS sequences. In another scenario, multiple parallel SSBs can be transmitted on different frequency resources, for example, frequency-division multiplexing each other.

[0083] As described above, at least in some embodiments, SSB detection can be made agnostic to the TRP dimension. That is, when an SSB (and / or, for example, the associated System Information Block #1 (SIB1)) is correctly received, the user equipment 200 is able to determine at least one of the following: Multi-TRP usage in Community 110 (Yes / No); The number of TRPs used in cell 110 (or the maximum number, e.g., from a set of maximum numbers 1, 2, 4). User equipment 200 may use this information, for example, to detect or use it as a hypothesis for measuring one or more other SSBs in cell 110; Spatial parameters of SSBs used for (other) TRP-specific purposes in cell 110; Frequency / time resources in cell 110 for (other) TRP-specific SSBs.

[0084] In at least some embodiments, the TRP index RS can be defined such that sequence initialization has at least one of the following: Cell identifier (SSS); SSB index; or TRP index.

[0085] Figure 4 Figure 400 illustrates the disclosed SSB, including PSS 401, PBCH 402, RS 403, and SSS 404. As can be seen from Figure 400, in at least some embodiments, the TRP index RS sequence or sequence initialization may include providing the user equipment 200 with information about the number or maximum number of TRPs used in cell 110. Therefore, the resulting sequence can identify the TRP ID and the number of TRPs. Thus, the user equipment 200 can determine the TRP ID and the number of TRPs based on a single detection.

[0086] In at least some embodiments, any RS sequence or sequence initialization used to identify a TRP may include providing user equipment 200 with information about the number or maximum number of TRPs used in cell 110. Therefore, the resulting sequence can identify the TRP ID and the number of TRPs. Thus, user equipment 200 can determine the TRP ID and the number of TRPs based on a single detection.

[0087] In at least some embodiments, different sets of sequences identifying TRPs can be used for different numbers of TRPs in cell 110: A set of sequences in cell 110 used for a TRP; A set of sequences in cell 110 used for two TRPs; and A sequence set used for four TRPs in cell 110.

[0088] As described above, in at least some embodiments, the SSS can use both the cell identifier and the TRP index as components. However, embedding up to four TRP indices in the SSS results in 2016 different sequences without affecting detection performance.

[0089] In at least some embodiments, acquiring synchronization signal information, including the SSB, may include detecting the PBCH DMR. One or more TRP indices may be included in one or more first PBCH scrambling codes. Acquiring synchronization signal information may also include detecting the secondary synchronization signal (SSS).

[0090] In other words, the TRP index can be added as a component to the first scrambling code, for example, to enable a more robust soft binding of the same TRP for PBCH (when bound before descrambling) and across TRPs (when bound after descrambling).

[0091] For example, the first scrambling code of the two-level scrambling in PBCH encoding can be based on the cell identifier, the second LSB, and the third LSB of the SFN. Similarly, the second scrambling code of the two-level scrambling in PBCH encoding can be based on the cell identifier, the second LSB of the SSB index, and / or the third LSB.

[0092] In at least some embodiments, one or more first PBCH scrambling bits include one or more physical layer bits of the PBCH that are not scrambled with the second-level scrambling code. For example, one or more physical layer bits may also include a system frame number (SFN) bit.

[0093] In other words, multiple SFN bits can be added to such physical layer bits that are not scrambled with the second-level scrambling code in the PBCH.

[0094] In at least some embodiments, when executed by at least one processor 202, the instruction may also cause the user equipment 200 to determine time-domain information based on the SFN bits. For example, the time-domain information may include a time slot index.

[0095] Figure 6 Figure 600 illustrates the transmission as an unscrambled TRP index, showing SS block 610, which has a 10-bit SFN 601, a 3-bit TRP index 602, a 1-bit HF 603, a 6-bit SS block position index 604, and symbol timing 605. Figure 600 also shows the PBCH scrambling portion (first scrambling) 620, the PBCH unscrambling portion 630, and the PBCH DMRS 640. In other words, user equipment 200 can determine time-domain information (e.g., slot index) from the physical layer bits of DMRS 640 (e.g., three LSBs when the number of SSBs does not exceed 8, and three most significant bits (MSBs) when the number of SSBs is between 8 and 64). Timing information can be transmitted from the synchronization TRP, for example, in SFN mode, while the TRP index 602 can be transmitted in unscrambled (i.e., first scrambling) mode. That is, in this embodiment, the TRP index 602 may not be scrambled by the first scrambling code, as shown by the dashed line 650.

[0096] Figure 3A An example flowchart of a method 300 for a user equipment 200 according to an example embodiment is shown.

[0097] At operation 301, user equipment 200 initiates an initial access procedure in radio access network cell 110, which includes one or more TRPs 210A, 210B.

[0098] At operation 302, user equipment 200 acquires synchronization signal information.

[0099] In optional operation 303, user equipment 200 can determine whether radio access network cell 110 includes more than one TRP.

[0100] At optional operation 304, user equipment 200 may determine the number of TRPs 210A and 210B included in radio access network cell 110, and / or the maximum number of TRPs 210A and 210B for radio access network cell 110.

[0101] At optional operation 305, user equipment 200 may determine one or more spatial parameters in radio access network cell 110 for other TRP-specific SSBs.

[0102] At optional operation 306, user equipment 200 can determine the frequency resources and / or time resources in radio access network cell 110 for other TRP-specific SSBs.

[0103] At operation 307, user equipment 200 determines the cell identifier of radio access network cell 110 or one or more TRP indices of one or more TRPs 210A, 210B based on the acquired synchronization signal information.

[0104] At operation 308, user equipment 200 continues the initial access procedure for one or more TRPs 210A, 210B based on the determined cell identifier and / or the determined one or more TRP indices. As discussed in more detail above, synchronization signaling information includes one or more TRP-specific SSBs. Acquisition of synchronization signaling information 302 includes detecting one or more TRP-specific SSBs from a specific TRP among one or more TRPs 210A, 210B.

[0105] about Figure 3A The embodiments and examples can be provided by Figure 2AThe method is executed by user equipment 200. For example, operations 301-308 can be executed by at least one processor 202 and at least one memory 204. Further features of method 300 resulting directly from the functions and parameters of user equipment 200 will not be repeated here. Method 300 can be executed by a computer program or a portion thereof.

[0106] Applicable to the execution of about Figure 3A Another example of the apparatus of the embodiments and examples includes components for the following:

[0107] At operation 301, an initial access procedure is initiated in radio access network cell 110, which includes one or more TRPs 210A, 210B;

[0108] At operation 302, obtain the synchronization signal information;

[0109] At operation 307, based on the acquired synchronization signal information, the cell identifier of radio access network cell 110 or one or more TRP indices of TRPs 210A and 210B are determined; and

[0110] At operation 308, based on at least one of the determined cell identifier or one or more determined TRP indices, the initial access procedure continues for each TRP in one or more TRPs 210A, 210B, wherein: the synchronization signaling information includes one or more TRP-specific SSBs; at operation 302, the acquisition of the synchronization signaling information includes: detecting one or more TRP-specific SSBs from a specific TRP in one or more TRPs 210A, 210B.

[0111] Figure 2B This is a block diagram of network node device 220 according to an example embodiment.

[0112] Network node device 220 includes one or more processors 222 and one or more memories 224, the one or more memories 224 including computer program code. Network node device 220 may also include other elements, such as a transceiver 226 configured to enable network node device 220 to send information to and / or receive information from other devices, and Figure 2B Other elements not shown. In one example, network node device 220 may use transceiver 226 to send or receive signaling information and data according to at least one cellular communication protocol. Transceiver 226 may be configured to provide at least one radio connection, such as a 3GPP mobile broadband connection (e.g., 5G Advanced or higher). Transceiver 226 may include or be configured to be coupled to at least one antenna to send and / or receive radio frequency signals.

[0113] Although network node device 220 is depicted as including only one processor 222, network node device 220 may include multiple processors. In one embodiment, memory 224 is capable of storing instructions, such as an operating system and / or various applications. Furthermore, memory 224 may include a storage device that can be used to store at least some of the information and data used, for example, in the disclosed embodiments.

[0114] Furthermore, processor 222 is capable of executing stored instructions. In one embodiment, processor 222 may be embodied as a multi-core processor, a single-core processor, or a combination of one or more multi-core processors and one or more single-core processors. For example, processor 222 may be embodied as one or more of a variety of processing devices, such as a coprocessor, microprocessor, controller, digital signal processor (DSP), processing circuitry with or without an accompanying DSP, or various other processing devices including integrated circuits, such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), microcontroller units (MCUs), hardware accelerators, dedicated computer chips, neural network (NN) chips, artificial intelligence (AI) accelerators, tensor processing units (TPUs), neural processing units (NPUs), etc. In one embodiment, processor 222 may be configured to perform hard-coded functions. In one embodiment, processor 222 is embodied as an executor of software instructions, wherein the instructions may specifically configure processor 222 to perform the algorithms and / or operations described herein when the instructions are executed.

[0115] The memory 224 may be embodied as one or more volatile memory devices, one or more non-volatile memory devices, and / or a combination of one or more volatile memory devices and non-volatile memory devices. For example, the memory 224 may be embodied as a semiconductor memory (such as a mask ROM, PROM (programmable ROM), EPROM (erasable PROM), flash ROM, RAM (random access memory), etc.).

[0116] Network node device 220 may include a base station and / or a relay node (such as an integrated access and backhaul node) configured to facilitate sub-(access) links for client devices connected to the relay node. The base station may include, for example, a 5G Advanced or 6G base station (gNB), or any such device that provides an air interface to user equipment 200 for connection to the wireless network via wireless transmission (e.g., through TRP 210A, 210B).

[0117] When executed by at least one processor 222, instructions stored in at least one memory 224 cause network node device 220 to at least: send synchronization signal information to user equipment 200, the synchronization signal information including a cell identifier of radio access network cell 110 or one or more TRP indices of one or more TRPs 210A, 210B in radio access network cell 110.

[0118] When executed by at least one processor 222, the instruction also causes network node device 220 to at least: receive signals from user equipment 200 for one or more TRPs 210A, 210B based on cell identifier and / or one or more TRP indices.

[0119] Synchronization signal information includes one or more TRP-specific SSBs. Transmission of synchronization signal information includes sending one or more TRP-specific SSBs from a specific TRP among one or more TRPs 210A, 210B.

[0120] Other characteristics of network node 220 are directly caused by the functions and parameters of user equipment 200, and therefore will not be repeated here.

[0121] Figure 3B An example flowchart of a method 310 for a network node device 220 according to an example embodiment is shown.

[0122] At operation 311, network node device 220 sends synchronization signal information to user equipment 200, the synchronization signal information including the cell identifier of radio access network cell 110 and / or one or more TRP indices of one or more TRPs 210A, 210B in radio access network cell 110.

[0123] At operation 312, network node device 220 receives signals from user equipment 200 for one or more TRPs 210A, 210B based on cell identifier and / or one or more TRP indexes. As described above, the synchronization signal information includes one or more TRP-specific SSBs, and the transmission of the synchronization signal information includes sending one or more TRP-specific SSBs from a specific TRP among one or more TRPs 210A, 210B.

[0124] about Figure 3B The embodiments and examples can be provided by Figure 2B The user equipment 200 performs the operation. For example, operations 311-312 can be performed by at least one processor 222 and at least one memory 224. Further features of method 310 resulting directly from the functions and parameters of network node device 220 will not be repeated here. Method 310 can be performed by a computer program or a portion thereof.

[0125] Applicable to the execution of about Figure 3B Another example of the apparatus of the embodiments and examples includes components for the following:

[0126] At operation 311, synchronization signal information is sent to user equipment 200, the synchronization signal information including the cell identifier of radio access network cell 110 and / or one or more TRP indices of radio access network cell 110 TRP 210A, 210B; and

[0127] At operation 312, based on the cell identifier and / or one or more TRP indices, signals for one or more TRPs 210A, 210B are received from user equipment 200, such that synchronization signal information includes one or more TRP-specific SSBs, and sending synchronization signal information includes sending one or more TRP-specific SSBs from a specific TRP among one or more TRPs 210A, 210B.

[0128] The functions described herein may be performed at least in part by one or more computer program product components, such as software components. According to embodiments, user equipment 200 and / or network node device 220 may include a processor or processor circuitry, such as a microcontroller, which, when executed, is configured by program code to perform the operations and functions. Alternatively or additionally, the functions described herein may be performed at least in part by one or more hardware logic components. Illustrative types of hardware logic components that may be used, such as but not limited to, include field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), application-specific standard products (ASSPs), systems-on-a-chip (SoCs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), tensor processing units (TPUs), and graphics processing units (GPUs).

[0129] Any ranges or device values ​​given herein may be extended or modified without losing the desired effect. Furthermore, any embodiment may be combined with another embodiment unless expressly prohibited.

[0130] Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and / or actions, it should be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or actions described above. Rather, the specific features and actions described above are disclosed as examples of implementing the claims, and other equivalent features and actions are intended to fall within the scope of the claims.

[0131] It should be understood that the above benefits and advantages may relate to one embodiment or several embodiments. These embodiments are not limited to embodiments that solve any or all of the problems described, or that have any or all of the benefits and advantages described. It will be further understood that reference to "one" item may refer to one or more of those items.

[0132] The steps of the methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate. Furthermore, individual blocks may be removed from any of the methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Aspects of any embodiment in the foregoing examples can be combined with aspects of any embodiment in the other described examples to form further embodiments without losing the desired effects.

[0133] The term “comprising” is used herein to mean including the identified method, block or element, but such block or element does not include an exclusive list, and the method or apparatus may include additional blocks or elements.

[0134] It should be understood that the above description is given by way of example only, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art. The above specification, examples, and data provide a complete description of the structure and use of exemplary embodiments. Although various embodiments have been described above with some degree of specificity or by reference to one or more individual embodiments, various modifications can be made to the disclosed embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of this specification.

Claims

1. A user equipment (200), comprising: At least one processor (202); as well as At least one memory (204) stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor (202), cause the user equipment (200) to at least: An initial access procedure is initiated in a radio access network cell (110), which includes one or more transmission and reception points (TRPs) (210A, 210B). Obtain synchronization signal information; Based on the acquired synchronization signal information, determine at least one of the following: the cell identifier of the radio access network cell (110) or one or more TRP indices of the one or more TRPs (210A, 210B); as well as Based on the determined cell identifier or at least one of the determined one or more TRP indices, the initial access procedure continues for the one or more TRPs (210A, 210B). in: The synchronization signal information includes one or more TRP-specific synchronization signal blocks (SSBs); and The acquisition of the synchronization signal information includes: detecting the SSB specific to the one or more TRPs (210A, 210B) from the specific TRP.

2. The user equipment (200) of claim 1, wherein the one or more TRP-specific SSBs are received in time-continuous bursts of synchronization signals, each burst including an SSB specific to one of the one or more TRPs (210A, 210B).

3. The user equipment (200) according to claim 2, wherein each burst is included in a half-frame.

4. The user equipment (200) according to claim 1, wherein the one or more TRP-specific SSBs are received such that each TRP-specific SSB includes the same primary synchronization signal (PSS) in each frequency division multiplexing (FDM) related location.

5. The user equipment (200) according to claim 4, wherein each TRP-specific SSB is located on the same synchronization grid.

6. The user equipment (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor (202), further cause the user equipment (200) to determine whether the radio access network cell (110) includes more than one TRP.

7. The user equipment (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor (202), further cause the user equipment (200) to determine at least one of the following: the number of TRPs (210A, 210B) included in the radio access network cell (110), or the maximum number of TRPs (210A, 210B) for the radio access network cell (110).

8. The user equipment (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor (202), further cause the user equipment (200) to: determine one or more spatial parameters of the radio access network cell (110) for other TRP-specific SSBs.

9. The user equipment (200) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor (202), further cause the user equipment (200) to determine at least one of the following: frequency resources or time resources in the radio access network cell (110) for other TRP-specific SSBs.

10. A method (300) comprising: The user equipment (200) initiates (301) an initial access procedure in a radio access network cell (110), which includes one or more transmission and reception points (TRPs) (210A, 210B). The user equipment (200) acquires (302) synchronization signal information; Based on the acquired synchronization signal information, the user equipment (200) determines (307) at least one of the following: the cell identifier of the radio access network cell (110) or one or more TRP indices of the one or more TRPs (210A, 210B); as well as The user equipment (200) continues (308) the initial access procedure for the one or more TRPs (210A, 210B) based on the determined cell identifier or at least one of the determined TRP indices. in: The synchronization signal information includes one or more TRP-specific synchronization signal blocks (SSBs); and The acquisition (302) of the synchronization signal information includes: detecting the SSB specific to the one or more TRPs from the specific TRP among the one or more TRPs (210A, 210B).

11. An apparatus comprising components for performing the method (300) according to claim 10.

12. A computer program comprising instructions for causing a user device to perform at least the following: Initiate an initial access procedure in a radio access network cell, the radio access network cell including one or more transmit and receive points (TRPs); Obtain synchronization signal information; Based on the acquired synchronization signal information, determine at least one of the following: the cell identifier of the radio access network cell or one or more TRP indices of the one or more TRPs; and Based on at least one of the determined cell identifier or the determined one or more TRP indices, the initial access procedure continues for the one or more TRPs. in: The synchronization signal information includes one or more TRP-specific synchronization signal blocks (SSBs); and The acquisition of the synchronization signal information includes: detecting the SSB specific to the one or more TRPs from the specific TRP.

13. A network node device (220), comprising: At least one processor (222); as well as At least one memory (224) stores instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor (222), cause the network node device (220) to at least: Sending synchronization signal information to user equipment (200), wherein the synchronization signal information includes at least one of the following: a cell identifier of a radio access network cell (110) or one or more TRP indices of one or more transmission and reception points (TRPs) (210A, 210B) in the radio access network cell (110); and Based on at least one of the cell identifier or the one or more TRP indices, signals for the one or more TRPs (210A, 210B) are received from the user equipment (200). in: The synchronization signal information includes one or more TRP-specific synchronization signal blocks (SSBs); and Sending the synchronization signal information includes sending a specific SSB from the specific TRP among the one or more TRPs (210A, 210B).

14. A method (310) comprising: (311) Synchronization signal information is sent from network node device (220) to user equipment (200), wherein the synchronization signal information includes at least one of the following: cell identifier of radio access network cell (110) or one or more TRP indices of one or more transmission and reception points (TRPs) (210A, 210B) in radio access network cell (110); as well as At the network node device (220), signals for the one or more TRPs (210A, 210B) are received (312) from the user equipment (200) based on at least one of the cell identifier or the one or more TRP indices. in: The synchronization signal information includes one or more TRP-specific synchronization signal blocks (SSBs); and The transmission (311) of the synchronization signal information includes: transmitting the one or more TRP-specific SSBs from the specific TRP among the one or more TRPs (210A, 210B).

15. An apparatus comprising components for performing the method (310) according to claim 14.

16. A computer program, including instructions, for causing a network node device to perform at least the following: Sending synchronization signal information to the user equipment, wherein the synchronization signal information includes at least one of the following: a cell identifier of a radio access network cell or one or more TRP indices of one or more Transmit and Receive Points (TRPs) in the radio access network cell; and Based on at least one of the cell identifier or the one or more TRP indices, signals for the one or more TRPs are received from the user equipment. in: The synchronization signal information includes one or more TRP-specific synchronization signal blocks (SSBs); and Sending the synchronization signal information includes: sending a specific SSB from the specific TRP among the one or more TRPs.

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