Extended SSB Structure for 5G NR Beam Sweeping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G NR wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in beam switching at higher frequency bands, particularly above 6 GHz, where low capability base stations and UEs struggle to perform beam switching within the cyclic prefix timing, leading to potential data loss and inefficiencies in beam-sweeping patterns.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an extended synchronization signal block (ESSB) with an additional initial symbol, which can be used as a coding gain or a gap for beam switching, allowing high capability devices to benefit from coding gains while low capability devices can perform beam switching without hard gaps, thus improving beam-sweeping efficiency across different numerologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If beam switching is performed within cyclic prefix timing at higher frequency bands, then beam-sweeping speed is improved, but data loss occurs and reliability deteriorates for low capability devices
Solution Approach 1:
The SSB is segmented into multiple symbols (first symbol, second symbol, third symbol) with distinct functions. The first symbol contains PSS/SSS for synchronization, the second symbol contains PBCH for broadcast information, and the third symbol provides additional coding gain or beam switching opportunity. This segmentation allows different capability devices to utilize different portions of the SSB structure appropriately.
Solution Approach 2:
The extended SSB structure performs preliminary action by adding an additional symbol before the traditional SSB symbols. This extra symbol is prepared in advance to provide coding gain or to serve as a gap for beam switching, allowing low capability devices to switch beams without losing data while high capability devices can utilize the full structure for improved performance.
2Reliability
If extended SSB with additional symbol is used, then coding gain is improved for high capability devices, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The extended SSB structure with additional symbol serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides coding gain for high capability devices, offers beam switching opportunity for low capability devices, and maintains backward compatibility with existing SSB processing. This multi-functionality justifies the increased structure complexity by delivering multiple benefits from a single design change.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of SSB duration by extending it with an additional symbol. This parameter change enables the system to achieve coding gain improvements while maintaining flexibility in how different devices utilize the extended structure, balancing the trade-off between complexity and performance gains.
3Reliability
If hard gaps are configured for beam switching, then beam switching reliability is improved for low capability devices, but time efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the coding function and beam switching function into a single extended SSB structure. The additional symbol serves dual purposes: providing coding gain for reliable reception and creating a natural gap for beam switching without requiring separate hard gap configurations. This merging eliminates the need for additional time gaps while maintaining switching reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, an extended SSB (ESSB) is provided that includes more than four symbols to facilitate UE reception of SSBs. In this aspect, the base station configures an ESSB comprising an SSB including four symbols and an initial symbol preceding the SSB. The base station transmits and the UE receives at least a portion of the ESSB. The UE processes the ESSB. Thus, higher capacity UEs can benefit from additional coding gain in the initial symbol while lower capacity UEs can switch beams to receive back-to-back ESSBs. In another aspect, a UE performs additional behaviors to receive SSBs. In this aspect, the UE receives a first SSB using a reception beam, and the UE determines to maintain the reception beam for a second SSB or to switch the reception beam during a PSS symbol of the second SSB. Thus, lower capacity UEs can also receive back-to-back SSBs.