NR Secondary Cell Activation via Preconfigured Reference Signals
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the New Radio (NR) system, activating a secondary cell for data transmission or reception takes a long time due to the terminal waiting for a long delay to receive the first Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) after receiving a Media Access Control (MAC) Control Element (CE), leading to inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
The method involves sending and receiving a reference signal activation signaling to activate a secondary cell without waiting for the first SSB, using Tracking Reference Signals (TRS) to determine the starting time and length of the reference signal based on the state of the carrier and network device configuration, allowing immediate activation of the secondary cell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the terminal waits for the first SSB after receiving MAC CE to activate the secondary cell, then the activation process follows the standard protocol procedure, but the activation time delay increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The network device pre-configures reference signal resources (tracking reference signals or channel state information reference signals) before secondary cell activation. These pre-configured reference signals enable the terminal to perform timing synchronization and channel estimation immediately upon receiving activation indication, eliminating the need to wait for the first SSB and reducing activation delay while maintaining protocol compliance
Solution Approach 2:
Reference signals serve as an intermediary mechanism between the MAC CE activation indication and the actual secondary cell data transmission. The terminal uses these reference signals to establish synchronization and channel conditions before full data transmission begins, allowing activation to proceed without waiting for SSB while ensuring reliable communication
2Measurement precision
If the terminal parses the SSB to determine secondary cell usage, then the cell activation accuracy is ensured, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential functions needed for secondary cell activation (timing synchronization and channel estimation) from the complete SSB parsing process. By using dedicated reference signals configured by the network, the terminal performs only the necessary measurements without parsing the entire SSB structure, thereby maintaining activation accuracy while significantly reducing processing time
3Productivity
If the terminal uses pre-configured reference signals for activation, then the activation speed increases, but the system complexity increases due to additional signaling configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The reference signal resources are configured with multi-functionality, serving both as activation triggers and as basis for timing synchronization and channel estimation. This universal approach consolidates multiple functions into a single signaling mechanism, increasing activation speed while minimizing the addition of separate configuration elements
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to the field of mobile communication. Disclosed are a secondary cell activation method, an apparatus, a device, and a storage medium. The method comprises: receiving a reference signal activation signaling, the reference signal activation signaling being used for activating a reference signal, the reference signal being used for activation of a secondary cell; receiving the reference signal on the basis of the reference signal activation signaling, and activating the secondary cell. Obviated is the need to wait further to receive a first SSB to activate the secondary cell, thus reducing the length of time spent on waiting to receive the first SSB, reducing the delay in activating the secondary cell, and increasing the accuracy of activating the secondary cell.