Overlaid Synchronization Signal Multiplexing in Control Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication networks, especially in 5G and NR networks, achieving fine time synchronization is challenging due to restrictions on radio resource usage and the need for ultra-lean design, flexibility, and forward compatibility, which limits the bandwidth of synchronization signals and affects synchronization accuracy.

Innovation Solution

A reference signal, referred to as the overlaid synchronization signal (OSS), is multiplexed with the physical control channel in a subframe, allowing for detection without prior knowledge of the OSS, and its parameters are signaled within the same subframe, enabling wideband synchronization without interfering with other signals or requiring pre-configuration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If synchronization signals are transmitted with limited bandwidth to meet ultra-lean design requirements, then device complexity and energy consumption are reduced, but synchronization accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedesign complexityVSAvoidsynchronization accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the synchronization signal with the physical control channel by overlaying the synchronization signal onto the control channel resources. This allows the synchronization function to be achieved without requiring separate dedicated synchronization signal resources, thereby maintaining ultra-lean design while enabling wideband synchronization for accurate timing acquisition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The physical control channel serves multiple functions simultaneously: it carries control information and also serves as the carrier for the synchronization signal. This multi-functionality approach eliminates the need for separate synchronization signal transmission, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining synchronization accuracy through the control channel's existing wideband structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If reference signals are transmitted continuously to maintain synchronization accuracy, then synchronization precision is improved, but energy consumption and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By combining the synchronization signal transmission with the physical control channel transmission, the system achieves synchronization without requiring separate dedicated reference signal transmissions. The control channel's existing transmission structure is utilized, thereby maintaining synchronization accuracy while avoiding additional energy consumption and interference from separate reference signal transmissions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If wideband reference signals are used to improve synchronization accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent leverages the existing physical control channel's wideband structure to carry the synchronization signal. This approach provides wideband synchronization capabilities without requiring separate wideband reference signal configurations, thereby achieving high synchronization accuracy while avoiding the complexity of additional wideband signal generation and processing infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Ease of operation

If separate synchronization signals are transmitted independently, then synchronization function is simplified, but resource efficiency and network capacity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesynchronization functionVSAvoidnetwork capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the synchronization signal with the physical control channel transmission, allowing both synchronization functionality and control information to be transmitted together using the same time-frequency resources. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated synchronization signal resources, thereby improving resource efficiency and network capacity while maintaining the synchronization function through the integrated approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10917274B2Transmitting radio equipment, receiving radio equipment and corresponding methods for communicating using a reference signal

Publication Date: 2021.02.09 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

Methods and transmitting and receiving radio equipments for transmitting and receiving a reference signal in a subframe where a portion of one or more multi-carrier modulation symbols that is included in the subframe is used for transmitting control information to receiving radio equipments. The transmitting radio equipment transmits the reference signal overlaid on at least a part of the portion of the one or more multi-carrier modulation symbols that is used for transmitting the control information in the subframe. The reference signal is generated based on at least one parameter. The receiving radio equipment then receives a transmission including the control information and the reference signal in the subframe, and may determine one or more properties of the reference signal based on the at least one parameter and process the reference signal using the determined one or more properties of the reference signal.