Multi-RAT Synchronization Signal for Wireless Device Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Wireless communication devices face inefficiencies in detecting available radio access technologies (RATs) when first powered on in new locations, as they traditionally need to search multiple RATs sequentially, consuming time and resources.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a common multi-RAT primary synchronization signal (PSS) that is shared among various RATs, allowing user equipment (UE) to decode and identify the associated RAT using a secondary synchronization signal (SSS), which includes information such as timing and frequency parameters, thereby enabling blind detection of available RATs without prior knowledge.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a UE sequentially searches for multiple RATs to detect an available network, then the UE can identify the deployed RAT, but the time and power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveRAT detection accuracyVSAvoidRAT detection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the primary synchronization signals of multiple RATs (LTE, NR, 5G) into a single common synchronization signal structure. The multi-RAT PSS combines synchronization sequences from different RATs in a unified format, allowing the UE to detect multiple RATs simultaneously through one signal rather than sequentially searching each RAT's separate synchronization signals, thereby reducing detection time while maintaining accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The common multi-RAT PSS serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the synchronization signal for LTE, NR, and 5G RATs alike. The signal structure is designed to be universal across different RATs, enabling a single UE receiver to decode and identify multiple RAT types from one common signal source, eliminating the need for separate detection processes for each RAT

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If a UE sequentially searches for multiple RATs to detect an available network, then the UE can identify the deployed RAT, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveRAT detection accuracyVSAvoidUE power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By combining multiple RAT synchronization information into a single multi-RAT PSS, the UE performs one detection operation instead of multiple sequential searches. This merging reduces the total energy expenditure for RAT detection while maintaining the ability to accurately identify the deployed RAT type through the unified signal structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The multi-RAT PSS creates a copied or replicated synchronization structure that contains information from multiple RATs in a standardized format. The UE can decode this copied structure to extract identification information for different RATs, reducing the need to perform separate full detection procedures for each RAT and thereby lowering power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate synchronization signals are used for each RAT, then each RAT can be detected independently, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveRAT detection capabilityVSAvoidUE detection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The common multi-RAT PSS provides a universal detection mechanism that handles multiple RATs through a single standardized signal structure. The UE employs one unified detection algorithm to process the multi-RAT PSS and extract identification information for different RATs, reducing the complexity of implementing separate detection procedures for each RAT while maintaining full adaptability across multiple RAT types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3348094B1Multi-radio access technology synchronization signal
Publication Date: 2021.09.15 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3348094B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3348094B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3348094B1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3B

AI summary

Methods, systems, devices, and apparatuses are described for radio access technology (RAT) detection and identification. A user equipment (UE) may decode a multi- RAT primary synchronization signal (PSS). The multi-RAT PSS may be common among a plurality of RATs. The UE may decode, based on the decoded multi-RAT PSS, a secondary synchronization signal (SSS). The UE may identify, based on the decoded SSS, a RAT associated with the multi-RAT PSS and the SSS.