Multi-RAT SSB Communications Using a Unified Synchronization Raster
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increased complexity, power consumption, and latency in SSB communications for UEs supporting multiple radio access technologies (RATs like 5G and 6G due to differing SSB designs, leading to inefficient wireless communication.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a unified synchronization raster and shared SSB indicators across different RATs, such as 5G and 6G, by including an indication of the associated RAT in the SSB, reducing search complexity, power consumption, and latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate SSB designs are used for different RATs (5G and 6G), then each RAT can have optimized synchronization performance, but the UE complexity and power consumption increase due to needing to process multiple different SSB formats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing a unified SSB structure that can serve multiple RATs (5G and 6G) simultaneously. The SSB includes a common portion with synchronization signals and a variable portion that can be configured for different RATs, allowing a single UE design to handle multiple technologies without requiring separate processing paths for each RAT.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the SSB into a common portion and a variable portion. The common portion contains RAT-independent synchronization signals, while the variable portion contains RAT-specific information. This segmentation allows the UE to first process the common portion efficiently and then only process the variable portion when needed, reducing overall complexity.
2Reliability
If separate SSB designs are used for different RATs, then each RAT can be optimized, but power consumption increases due to more extensive signal processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the SSB into common and variable portions, the patent enables the UE to process only the necessary portions for each RAT. The common portion is processed once for all RATs, and only the variable portion requiring RAT-specific processing is handled subsequently, significantly reducing the total processing time and power consumption compared to processing complete separate SSBs for each RAT.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified SSB structure allows a single synchronization signal to serve multiple RATs, eliminating the need for the UE to receive and process multiple separate SSB transmissions. This multi-functionality directly reduces the cumulative power consumption that would otherwise occur from processing multiple distinct SSB formats.
3Reliability
If separate SSB designs are used for different RATs, then RAT-specific optimization is achieved, but latency increases due to additional processing steps required for multiple SSB formats
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented SSB structure allows the UE to first quickly process the common portion which is identical for all RATs, and then only process the variable portion when needed. This eliminates the latency that would result from processing complete separate SSBs for each RAT, as the common portion is processed once and reused for all RATs.
Solution Approach 2:
The common portion of the SSB is processed in advance as a preliminary step before RAT-specific processing. This preliminary processing of the common synchronization signals allows the UE to quickly acquire basic synchronization information and then only perform additional processing for the variable portion, significantly reducing overall latency compared to processing multiple complete SSBs sequentially.
4Device complexity
If a unified SSB structure is used for multiple RATs, then UE complexity is reduced, but the ability to provide RAT-specific optimization is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the SSB into a common portion that provides universal functionality and a variable portion that enables RAT-specific optimization. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both simplified UE processing (through the common portion) and RAT-specific optimization (through the variable portion), resolving the contradiction between complexity reduction and optimization capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making the variable portion of the SSB configurable for different RATs. While the common portion remains uniform for all RATs, the variable portion can be locally adapted to provide RAT-specific optimization parameters and characteristics, allowing differentiated performance optimization without increasing overall UE complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a user equipment (UE) may receive an indication of whether a synchronization signal block (SSB) is associated with a first radio access technology (RAT) or a second RAT, wherein a synchronization raster for an SSB associated with the first RAT is the same as a synchronization raster for an SSB associated with the second RAT. The UE may process the SSB based at least in part on the indication of whether the SSB is associated with the first RAT or the second RAT. Numerous other aspects are described.