Anchor Cell Beam Management for SSB-Less Secondary Carriers
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in deploying secondary cells (SCells) without synchronization signal block (SSB) transmission, especially in intra-band carrier aggregation, as they rely on SSB transmission from another serving cell in the same frequency band, limiting network energy savings and deployment flexibility.
Innovation Solution
Implementing inter-band carrier aggregation by using an anchor cell in a different frequency band for SSB-less SCells, enabling RSRP measurements and beam management through an anchor cell, allowing SSB-less SCells to be activated and managed efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SSB transmission is deployed on all SCells, then reliable synchronization and beam management are achieved, but network energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the SSB transmission function from SCells and relocates it to anchor cells. SSB-less SCells rely on anchor cells for synchronization signal blocks, thereby reducing energy consumption on SCells while maintaining synchronization reliability through the anchor cell infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
Anchor cells serve multiple functions: they provide SSB transmission for synchronization, serve as reference for RSRP measurements, and enable beam management for multiple SSB-less SCells. This multi-functionality allows the network to reduce overall energy consumption while maintaining reliable synchronization across multiple cells.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If SSB-less SCells are deployed in intra-band carrier aggregation, then network energy savings are achieved, but deployment flexibility is limited as another serving cell with SSB transmission must exist in the same frequency band
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the anchor cell relationship across frequency bands, allowing an anchor cell in one band to serve SSB-less SCells in different bands. This cross-band dimensionality change enables greater deployment flexibility while maintaining energy savings, as the anchor cell requirement is no longer restricted to the same frequency band.
3Adaptability or versatility
If RSRP measurements are performed on anchor cells for SSB-less SCells, then beam management is enabled, but measurement and reporting complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables SSB-less SCells to self-manage their beam configuration by performing RSRP measurements on anchor cells and autonomously determining beam parameters. This self-service approach enables beam management capability while reducing the need for complex network-controlled measurement and reporting procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. Various aspects relate generally to anchor cell management for a synchronization signal block (SSB)-less secondary cell (SCell). In some aspects, an anchor cell in a different frequency band from an SSB-less SCell may be used for downlink beam management of the SSB-less SCell. A UE may report, to a network node, reference signal received power (RSRP) measurements for a plurality of downlink reference signals transmitted via the anchor cell, and the network node may determine a downlink beam for the SSB-less SCell based at least in part on the RSRP measurements. The UE may receive a configuration of the SSB-less SCell, and the configuration may indicate the anchor cell associated with the SSB-less SCell. The UE may receive an activation indication that activates the SSB-less SCell for the UE.