NTN Bandwidth Part Switching Using SSB-Guided Beam Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current BWP management in non-terrestrial networks (NTN) faces challenges in efficiently managing bandwidth parts (BWPs) due to beam division based on multi-color frequency division multiplexing, leading to high signaling overheads and inefficiencies in BWP switching.
Innovation Solution
A method where a terminal device switches BWPs based on synchronization signal block (SSB) quality thresholds, sending an SSB index to the network device to synchronize BWP switching without explicit signaling, allowing for flexible BWP division and reduced signaling overheads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If beam division based on multi-color frequency division multiplexing is used to reduce interference between beams, then beam interference is reduced, but signaling overheads increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the BWP switching decision-making function from the network device and relocates it to the terminal device. The terminal autonomously determines BWP switching based on SSB quality measurements, eliminating the need for network-side signaling to indicate BWP switches. This extraction of the decision function resolves the contradiction by maintaining beam division benefits while removing the associated signaling overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal device performs self-service by autonomously measuring SSB quality, comparing it against thresholds, and independently deciding when to switch BWPs. This self-service mechanism eliminates dependency on network signaling for BWP switching decisions, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining effective beam management for interference reduction.
2Manufacturing precision
If traditional BWP management with explicit signaling is used, then BWP switching control is precise, but BWP switching efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional BWP management approach by shifting control from network-centric to terminal-centric. Instead of the network device signaling BWP switching commands, the terminal device autonomously determines switching based on local SSB quality measurements. This inversion maintains control precision through threshold-based decision-making while dramatically improving switching efficiency by eliminating signaling delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal device performs preliminary actions by continuously measuring SSB quality and pre-evaluating switching conditions before actual BWP switching is needed. This preliminary monitoring and evaluation enable rapid, precise switching decisions without requiring real-time network signaling, thereby improving both control precision and switching efficiency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If BWP division is made flexible to adapt to different terminal bandwidths, then adaptability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different BWPs to have different characteristics (bandwidth, frequency position, SSB associations) tailored to specific terminal capabilities and service requirements. Each BWP can be independently configured with appropriate SSB references, enabling flexible adaptation to various terminal bandwidths while maintaining manageable complexity through localized optimization rather than system-wide reconfiguration.
Data Source
AI summary
A bandwidth part switching method, is applicable to a non-terrestrial network (NTN) to implement BWP switching based on multi-color frequency-division multiplexing. In the method, a terminal device may report, in a second BWP to a network device, an index of a first SSB whose signal quality is greater than or equal to a first threshold in one or more SSBs in a first BWP, and switch from the second BWP to a third BWP. The one or more SSBs correspond to at least one BWP other than the first BWP, and the third BWP is in the at least one BWP and corresponds to the first SSB. After receiving the index of the first SSB in the second BWP, the network device determines the third BWP, and performs service data transmission with the terminal device in the third BWP.