SS Block Group Indication for 5G Signaling Overhead Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication networks, especially in 5G new radio configurations, base stations are limited in the number of synchronization signal (SS) blocks they can transmit within a specific time frame, which can lead to inefficiencies in signaling and resource utilization, particularly in higher frequency bands where the number of possible SS block transmissions is large.
Innovation Solution
The base station determines a group set of SS block groups to be transmitted and identifies a group transmission configuration index, which is then transmitted to the user equipment, allowing for efficient indication of which SS blocks are actually transmitted by dividing the possible SS block transmissions into groups and transmitting in logically consecutive manners, reducing the number of bits required for signaling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the base station transmits more SS blocks to cover higher frequency bands, then the coverage and capacity are improved, but the signaling overhead and resource utilization efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the SS block transmission space by introducing a group structure where multiple SS blocks are organized into groups. Instead of individually indicating each SS block, the base station segments the indication into group-level information (which groups are transmitted) and optional fine-grained information (which specific blocks within groups are transmitted). This segmentation reduces signaling overhead while maintaining the ability to indicate a large number of SS blocks for high-frequency band coverage.
2Measurement precision
If the base station indicates each SS block individually, then the precision of transmission indication is improved, but the number of bits required for signaling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the indication system. Instead of a flat one-to-one mapping between indication bits and SS blocks, it creates a two-level hierarchy: group-level indication (coarse granularity) and block-level indication (fine granularity). This dimensional change allows the system to achieve precise indication when needed while using fewer bits by relying on group-level defaults, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and bit quantity.
3Reliability
If the user equipment monitors all possible SS block positions, then the detection reliability is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The base station provides feedback information in the form of group transmission configuration indices that indicate which SS block groups are actually transmitted. The user equipment uses this feedback to selectively monitor only the indicated groups and their associated SS blocks, rather than blindly monitoring all possible positions. This feedback mechanism maintains detection reliability for transmitted blocks while significantly reducing power consumption by avoiding monitoring of non-transmitted blocks.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication are described. A base station may determine a group set of at least one synchronization signal (SS) block group to be transmitted within a SS burst set. The base station may identify a group transmission configuration index associated with the group set, and then transmit the group transmission configuration index to a user equipment. The base station may also include an indication of which SS blocks in each transmitted SS block group are transmitted. A user equipment (UE) may determine transmitted SS blocks based on the group set index or the indication of which SS blocks in each transmitted SS block group are transmitted.