Punctured SSB for Small Bandwidth Channel Sync
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communications, determining synchronization signal block locations for small bandwidth channels is challenging due to the lack of valid sync raster locations within the channel, leading to issues in synchronization and access for user equipment (UEs).
Innovation Solution
The method involves generating and transmitting a punctured synchronization signal block (SSB) with a reduced number of resource blocks, allowing the UE to detect the SSB based on specific sync raster locations, even when the SSB bandwidth exceeds the channel bandwidth, by applying a puncture pattern to the physical broadcast channel (PBCH) and using alternate sync raster locations or reduced raster spacings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a standard SSB with full bandwidth is transmitted, then the synchronization signal quality is maintained, but the SSB cannot be detected in channels with bandwidth smaller than the SSB bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The SSB is segmented into multiple parts: PSS (primary synchronization signal), SSS (secondary synchronization signal), and PBCH (physical broadcast channel). The PBCH is further punctured to create a punctured PBCH that fits within the channel bandwidth. This segmentation allows different parts of the SSB to be handled differently to achieve both detection reliability and bandwidth adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the bandwidth parameter of the SSB by applying puncture patterns to the PBCH. The puncture pattern reduces the number of resource blocks (RBs) of the PBCH from a first number to a second number, effectively adapting the SSB bandwidth to match smaller channel bandwidths while maintaining the PSS and SSS components for synchronization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the SSB bandwidth is reduced to fit small channels, then the SSB can be detected in limited bandwidth channels, but the number of resource blocks available for broadcast information is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The essential synchronization functions (PSS and SSS) are extracted and preserved in their original form, while the PBCH is the part that is modified through puncturing. This extraction approach ensures that the critical synchronization signals remain intact while adapting the broadcast channel to fit the available bandwidth.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of reducing the entire SSB bandwidth uniformly, the patent applies partial action by only puncturing the PBCH portion of the SSB. The PSS and SSS maintain their full bandwidth characteristics, ensuring sufficient signal quality for synchronization while the PBCH is compressed to fit the channel constraints.
3Ease of operation
If traditional sync raster locations are used, then the synchronization procedure is simplified, but valid sync raster locations may not exist within small bandwidth channels
Solution Approach 1:
The puncture pattern acts as an intermediary mechanism between the standard sync raster locations and the actual channel bandwidth. By applying the puncture pattern to the PBCH, the system maintains compatibility with traditional sync raster locations while adapting to small bandwidth channels that would otherwise not support valid raster locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The puncture pattern is applied in advance to the PBCH before transmission, preparing the SSB to fit within the channel bandwidth. This preliminary action ensures that when the UE detects the SSB at the sync raster location, the signal is already adapted to the channel constraints, simplifying the detection process.
Data Source
AI summary
A base station generates a punctured synchronization signal block (SSB) for a channel of a frequency band based on a SSB. A bandwidth of the SSB exceeds a bandwidth of the channel. The punctured SSB includes a punctured physical broadcast channel (PBCH), a primary synchronization signal (PSS), and a secondary synchronization signal (SSS). The PSS of the punctured SSB has a center frequency indicated by a sync raster location of a set of sync raster locations associated with the frequency band. The punctured PBCH is obtained from a PBCH of the first SSB based on a puncture pattern associated with the sync raster location. The base station transmits the punctured SSB in the channel. A user equipment (UE) detects the punctured SSB according to the sync raster location.