Flexible SSB Time Location Configuration for TDD Slot Compatibility
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face limitations in flexible configuration of synchronization signal block time locations, leading to increased latency and reduced spectral efficiency due to fixed time locations of synchronization signals, which are incompatible with time division duplex slot patterns, and a limited number of beams for beamforming, especially in scenarios requiring more precise beamforming and efficient spectral resource use.
Innovation Solution
The system allows for flexible configuration of synchronization signal block time locations within an SS burst set based on the slot pattern, enabling the base station to transmit SSBs during downlink slots and indicating time locations for SSBs to improve compatibility and spectral efficiency, and conveys additional SSB indices without increasing network overhead by using reserved bits in the Master Information Block.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed time locations of SSBs are used within an SS burst set, then the system maintains simple and fixed configuration, but the slot pattern compatibility is reduced and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the SSB time locations configurable rather than fixed. The base station can dynamically adjust the time locations of SSBs within the SS burst set to align with downlink slots in the TDD slot pattern, allowing the system to adapt to different slot configurations and reduce latency by transmitting SSBs in appropriate time locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of SSB time locations from fixed to flexible/configurable. By introducing configurable time location parameters that can be adjusted based on the slot pattern, the system achieves better compatibility with TDD configurations while maintaining controlled overhead through efficient indication mechanisms.
2Productivity
If fixed time locations of SSBs are used, then the configuration is simple, but spectral efficiency is reduced due to fewer transmission opportunities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the time location parameters of SSBs from fixed to flexible, enabling the base station to transmit SSBs in multiple configurable time locations within the SS burst set. This increases transmission opportunities and improves spectral efficiency while the complexity is managed through efficient indication methods using existing signaling resources.
3Measurement precision
If the number of SSBs is limited to 64 per SS burst set, then the network overhead is controlled, but beamforming precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the SSB indexing beyond the traditional 64-limit by utilizing additional bits in the PBCH payload. This dimensional extension allows up to 256 SSBs per SS burst set, enabling more precise beamforming with a larger number of beams while managing overhead through efficient encoding schemes that utilize available payload bits.
Data Source
AI summary
When time locations of synchronization signal (SS) blocks (SSBs) are fixed within an SS burst set, the time locations and the slot pattern may be incompatible. In this case, the base station may not be permitted to transmit that SSBs that overlap in time with a configured uplink symbols because the base station is configured to receive uplink communications during this time, rather than transmit downlink communications during this time. As a result, the base station may have fewer opportunities to transmit SSBs, which may lead to increased latency due to delays in accessing the base station, may reduce spectral efficiency due to fewer opportunities to indicate beamforming parameters and/or fewer beams being used for communications, and/or the like. Some techniques and apparatuses described herein permit the base station to flexibly configure time locations of SSBs within an SS burst set, thereby reducing latency, improving spectral efficiency, and/or the like.