Digital Beamforming for mmWave SSB and Data Multiplexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency bands in 5G NR communications face challenges due to rapid channel variations and free-space pathloss, requiring highly directional antennas for sufficient link budgets, which increase latency and affect control layer procedures like initial access and beam tracking.
Innovation Solution
Implementing digital beamforming capabilities in wireless devices, allowing for the multiplexing of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) and data/control blocks using frequency-division multiplexing, enabling efficient mmWave communications by reducing the need for precise beam alignment and lowering latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If highly directional antennas are used to achieve sufficient link budget in mmWave frequency bands, then link quality is improved, but latency increases and beam management operations become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines synchronization signal block reception and data transmission into a single time slot by frequency-division multiplexing SSB and PDSCH in the same resource grid. This merging eliminates the need for separate time slots, thereby reducing latency while maintaining link quality through digital beamforming capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from time-division multiplexing to frequency-division multiplexing, adding a frequency dimension to the resource allocation. By placing SSB and PDSCH in different frequency resources within the same time slot, the system achieves parallel transmission, reducing the time required for initial access and beam management operations.
2Reliability
If highly directional antennas are used for mmWave communications, then link budget is improved, but beam management operations increase complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges SSB reception and data transmission into the same time slot using frequency-division multiplexing. This combination simplifies beam management operations by reducing the number of separate beam alignment procedures required, while digital beamforming maintains the necessary directional gain for adequate link budget.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the wireless device to handle multiple functions (SSB reception and data transmission) simultaneously within the same time slot through digital beamforming. This multi-functionality reduces the complexity of beam management by consolidating operations that would otherwise require separate beam alignment procedures.
3Reliability
If SSB and data transmissions are separated in time, then reception reliability is improved, but transmission efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces frequency-division multiplexing as an additional dimension for resource allocation, allowing SSB and PDSCH to occupy different frequency resources within the same time slot. This approach maintains reception reliability through digital beamforming while significantly improving transmission efficiency by enabling parallel transmissions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines SSB and PDSCH transmissions in the same time slot through frequency-division multiplexing. This merging allows simultaneous reception of synchronization signals and data, improving transmission efficiency while digital beamforming ensures adequate signal quality and reception reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments include systems and methods for managing millimeter wave (mmWave) communications with wireless devices capable of mmWave digital beamforming. Various embodiments may enable multiplexing of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) and data and/or control blocks for wireless devices with digital beamforming capabilities. Various embodiments may include sending an indication to a base station that the wireless device is capable of mmWave digital beamforming. Various embodiments may include receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message from the base station scheduling an SSB in a mmWave frequency range for the wireless device with the SSB frequency-division multiplexed in a same timeslot with one or both of a data transport block or a system information block (SIB) for the wireless device.