SCell Synchronization Signaling with Reduced SSB Overhead
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Solution Overview
Problem
The overhead of periodic synchronization signal block (SSB) transmissions is a significant source of power consumption in wireless communication networks, necessitating efficient techniques for synchronization signaling while maintaining key performance parameters.
Innovation Solution
User equipment (UE) receives an indication of a synchronization signal block (SSB) configuration from a primary cell (PCell) to monitor and establish a connection with a secondary cell (SCell), reducing the need for full SSB patterns and utilizing alternative reference signals like tracking reference signals (TRS) or channel state information reference signals (CSI-RS) when the SCell is colocated or SFN aligned with the PCell.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If periodic SSB transmissions are performed for SCell synchronization, then synchronization reliability is improved, but network power consumption and signaling overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential synchronization function from the complete SSB transmission and implements it through alternative reference signals (TRS or CSI-RS) when the SCell is colocated or SFN aligned with the PCell. This selective extraction allows the system to maintain synchronization capability while removing the energy-intensive full SSB transmission in appropriate scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission parameters by using different reference signal configurations based on SCell conditions. When SCell is colocated or SFN aligned with PCell, the system uses TRS or CSI-RS with modified transmission parameters instead of standard SSB, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining synchronization function.
2Measurement precision
If full SSB patterns are transmitted for SCell, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but UE processing complexity and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary synchronization components from the full SSB pattern and implements them through alternative reference signals. By using TRS or CSI-RS for synchronization when SCell is colocated or SFN aligned with PCell, the UE needs to process fewer signal hypotheses while maintaining synchronization accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by using only the essential reference signals needed for synchronization rather than transmitting complete SSB patterns. This partial approach provides sufficient synchronization capability while significantly reducing UE processing complexity and power consumption.
3Reliability
If SSB configuration is transmitted for every SCell, then connection establishment reliability is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the PCell's SSB configuration serve multiple purposes by allowing it to indicate the SSB configuration for colocated or SFN-aligned SCells as well. This universal indication mechanism reduces redundant signaling while ensuring that UEs receive necessary synchronization information for multiple cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the SSB configuration indication for PCell and SCell into a single signaling message. By combining these indications and utilizing the relationship between PCell and SCell configurations, the system reduces the total amount of signaling overhead while maintaining connection establishment reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of wireless communication performed by a user equipment (UE) includes: establishing a connection with a primary cell (PCell); receiving, from the PCell, an indication of a synchronization signal block (SSB) configuration associated with a secondary cell (SCell); monitoring, based on the indication, for at least one signal from the SCell based on the indication; and establishing a connection with the SCell based on the at least one signal.