Position-Based Synchronization Beam Activation for Wireless Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The overhead in radio resources and energy consumption associated with the increasing number of synchronization signals (SSB beams) in wireless communication networks, particularly at higher frequencies, leads to reduced capacity and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A network node determines a set of synchronization beams based on the position of user equipment (UE) and selectively activates these beams for active UEs, reducing the number of beams needed for synchronization and broadcasting signals only in active directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of synchronization beams (SSB beams) is increased to improve coverage and synchronization reliability, then synchronization reliability is improved, but radio resource overhead and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network node determines a UE-specific set of synchronization beams in advance based on UE position information before actual synchronization occurs. This preliminary determination allows the system to pre-configure which beams will be needed, avoiding the need to continuously transmit all possible beams and thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining synchronization reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of uniformly transmitting synchronization signals across all directions, the patent applies local quality by transmitting synchronization signals only in specific directions determined by UE position. Each UE receives synchronization signals tailored to its specific location, maintaining reliability while reducing overall energy consumption by avoiding transmissions in directions where no UEs are present.
2Area of stationary object
If the number of synchronization beams is increased to improve coverage area, then coverage area is improved, but radio resource overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network node determines the set of synchronization beams in advance based on UE position information before the UE needs to synchronize. This preliminary action allows the system to prepare the appropriate beams without needing to maintain all possible beams active continuously, thereby covering the necessary area while reducing radio resource overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The set of active synchronization beams is dynamically adjusted based on UE position information. The network node determines which beams are needed and configures them accordingly, making the beam configuration flexible and adaptive rather than static. This dynamic approach ensures coverage is provided where needed while minimizing radio resource overhead by not maintaining unnecessary beams.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for handling synchronization beams for synchronization with a first UE. The network node determines a second set of synchronization beams related to the first UE to be used for the carrier. Determining the second set of synchronization beams related to the first UE to be used for the carrier is based on an obtained position of the first UE. The network node adds the beams of the second set of synchronization beams to an active set of synchronization beams for active UEs. The network node broadcasts a respective synchronization signal in each synchronization beam out of the active set of synchronization beams for the carrier. The network node receives from the first UE, an indication that the first UE has connected to the network node using a specific synchronization beam out of the active set of synchronization beams based on the respective synchronization signals.