Clustered SSB Transmission for Faster UE Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional SSB transmission periodicities in wireless communications systems, especially in NR and 6G, lead to increased acquisition latency and energy consumption due to extended periods between synchronization signals, particularly affecting UEs in poor signal conditions.
Innovation Solution
Implementing clustered SSB burst transmission, where multiple SSB bursts are grouped within a defined time window and transmitted at a longer periodicity, allowing for reduced network energy consumption and faster UE synchronization opportunities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If conventional SSB transmission periodicity is used, then network energy consumption is reduced, but UE acquisition latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides SSB transmissions into multiple bursts within a cluster, where each burst contains one or more SSBs. This segmentation allows the network to provide multiple synchronization opportunities within a compressed time window, reducing UE acquisition latency while maintaining longer inter-cluster periodicity to conserve energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic SSB burst clusters at extended periodicity (e.g., 40ms, 80ms, or 160ms) while providing multiple SSB bursts within each cluster. This periodic structure with intra-cluster multiple bursts resolves the contradiction by offering frequent synchronization opportunities within clusters while maintaining energy-efficient longer intervals between clusters.
2Reliability
If conventional SSB transmission periodicity is used, then network energy consumption is reduced, but synchronization coverage is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting SSB transmissions into multiple bursts per cluster, the patent ensures that UEs in poor signal conditions can acquire synchronization from at least one burst within the cluster. This segmentation maintains comprehensive synchronization coverage while allowing longer inter-cluster periodicity for energy conservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple SSB bursts into a cluster structure, combining multiple synchronization opportunities into a single transmitted unit. This merging provides robust synchronization coverage for UEs while enabling the network to transmit clusters at energy-efficient extended periodicity.
3Loss of time
If multiple SSB bursts are transmitted in a cluster, then UE acquisition latency is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments SSB transmissions into structured bursts within clusters, where each burst contains one or more SSBs. This segmentation reduces UE acquisition latency by providing multiple opportunities while maintaining manageable transmission structure complexity through standardized burst organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic configuration of the number of SSBs per burst and the number of bursts per cluster, allowing the system to adapt to different deployment scenarios. This dynamic approach reduces acquisition latency when needed while keeping device complexity manageable through flexible, standardized configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to techniques for cluster-based synchronization signal block (SSB) transmission. A network entity is configured to configure a first plurality of SSB bursts for transmission within a first time window, transmit the first plurality of SSB bursts as an SSB burst cluster within the first time window, and periodically transmit one or more second plurality of SSB bursts as SSB burst clusters within one or more second time windows at a periodicity that is greater than a standard SSB burst periodicity.