Dual-Cycle Synchronization Signal Block Bursts for Beam Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in beam selection processes, particularly in initial access, due to the overhead and latency associated with transmitting both wide and narrow beams, which consume resources and increase power consumption.

Innovation Solution

Implementing separate synchronization signal block (SSB) bursts for wide and narrow beams with different periodicities, allowing user equipment (UE) to predict narrow beam measurements using artificial intelligence/machine learning models during occasions of wide beam SSBs, thereby enhancing beam selection efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If both wide and narrow beams are transmitted simultaneously, then beam selection accuracy is improved, but resource consumption and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam selection accuracyVSAvoidresource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the beam transmission into two distinct bursts: a first SSB burst containing only wide beams transmitted at a first periodicity, and a second SSB burst containing only narrow beams transmitted at a second periodicity. This segmentation allows the system to provide both wide-area coverage and precise beam selection without simultaneously transmitting all beam types, thereby reducing overall resource consumption while maintaining beam selection accuracy through the separate narrow beam burst.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs different periodicities for the two beam bursts: wide beams are transmitted at a first periodicity and narrow beams at a second periodicity. This periodic action allows the system to refresh wide beam coverage regularly while providing more frequent narrow beam opportunities when needed, optimizing the balance between resource consumption and beam selection accuracy without requiring simultaneous transmission of all beams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Measurement precision

If both wide and narrow beams are transmitted simultaneously, then beam selection accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebeam selection accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the beam transmission into two distinct bursts: a first SSB burst containing only wide beams transmitted at a first periodicity, and a second SSB burst containing only narrow beams transmitted at a second periodicity. This segmentation allows the system to provide both wide-area coverage and precise beam selection without simultaneously transmitting all beam types, thereby reducing overall resource consumption while maintaining beam selection accuracy through the separate narrow beam burst.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs different periodicities for the two beam bursts: wide beams are transmitted at a first periodicity and narrow beams at a second periodicity. This periodic action allows the system to refresh wide beam coverage regularly while providing more frequent narrow beam opportunities when needed, optimizing the balance between resource consumption and beam selection accuracy without requiring simultaneous transmission of all beams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Quantity of substance

If separate SSB bursts for wide and narrow beams are transmitted, then resource consumption is reduced, but beam selection latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource consumptionVSAvoidbeam selection latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by transmitting wide beams first in the first SSB burst, establishing a baseline for beam selection before the narrow beam burst occurs. The UE can use the wide beam measurements as preliminary information to guide subsequent narrow beam selection, reducing the time needed to evaluate all possible beams from scratch. This preliminary wide beam transmission provides advance knowledge that accelerates the overall beam selection process despite the separated burst structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs different periodicities for the two beam bursts: wide beams are transmitted at a first periodicity and narrow beams at a second periodicity. This periodic action allows the system to refresh wide beam coverage regularly while providing more frequent narrow beam opportunities when needed, optimizing the balance between resource consumption and beam selection accuracy without requiring simultaneous transmission of all beams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

4Use of energy by stationary object

If separate SSB bursts for wide and narrow beams are transmitted, then power consumption is reduced, but beam selection latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidbeam selection latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by transmitting wide beams first in the first SSB burst, establishing a baseline for beam selection before the narrow beam burst occurs. The UE can use the wide beam measurements as preliminary information to guide subsequent narrow beam selection, reducing the time needed to evaluate all possible beams from scratch. This preliminary wide beam transmission provides advance knowledge that accelerates the overall beam selection process despite the separated burst structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs different periodicities for the two beam bursts: wide beams are transmitted at a first periodicity and narrow beams at a second periodicity. This periodic action allows the system to refresh wide beam coverage regularly while providing more frequent narrow beam opportunities when needed, optimizing the balance between resource consumption and beam selection accuracy without requiring simultaneous transmission of all beams.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS20250301428A1Spatial beam prediction for dual-cycle synchronization signal block bursts
Publication Date: 2025.09.25 QUALCOMM INC
  • US20250301428A1 patent drawing
  • US20250301428A1 patent drawing
  • US20250301428A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described for beam measurement and selection using separate synchronization signal block (SSB) bursts for wide beams and narrow beams, where a periodicity of SSB bursts of narrow beams may be longer than a periodicity of SSB bursts with wide beams. A user equipment (UE) may predict narrow beam measurements (such as using an artificial intelligence or machine learning (AI/ML) model) at occasions of the wide beam SSBs that do not include the narrow beam SSBs. The UE may identify control resource set or remaining minimum system information resources, or random access channel resources for a random access transmission, based on the measured and predicted measurements.