SS/PBCH Block Offset Processing for NR Initial Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
The initial access procedure in New Radio (NR) wireless communication systems differs from existing 3GPP LTE/LTE-A systems, requiring efficient methods for synchronization signal (SS)/physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block reception and remaining minimum system information (RMSI) acquisition.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for a user equipment (UE) to receive synchronization signals and RMSI by processing information on the offset between the SS/PBCH block and RMSI, allowing efficient initial access in NR systems, involving the transmission and reception of SS/PBCH blocks and RMSI with specific offset information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the initial access procedure in NR follows the existing 3GPP LTE/LTE-A method, then the system structure remains simple and easy to implement, but it cannot meet the urgent market needs and long-term requirements for enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine-type communications, and ultra-reliable low-latency communications
Solution Approach 1:
The system information is segmented into two parts: minimum system information (MSI) transmitted via PBCH and remaining minimum system information (RMSI) transmitted via PDSCH. This segmentation allows the critical synchronization and basic access information to be delivered quickly through the simple PBCH channel, while more detailed configuration information is provided separately through RMSI, thus maintaining procedural simplicity while enhancing adaptability to different usage scenarios
Solution Approach 2:
The PBCH transmission is performed before RMSI transmission, and the PBCH includes preliminary information about the RMSI resource allocation and modulation scheme. This preliminary action enables the UE to prepare for RMSI reception in advance, reducing the overall access time and allowing the system to meet urgent market needs while maintaining a structured approach to information delivery
2Productivity
If the NR initial access uses multi-beam transmission and wideband support, then the system capacity and coverage are improved, but the initial access procedure becomes more complex compared to LTE/LTE-A
Solution Approach 1:
The PBCH structure is designed to be universal and multi-functional, serving both as a synchronization signal carrier and as a carrier for MSI and RMSI allocation information. The same PBCH resources are used across different usage scenarios (eMBB, mMTC, URLLC), and the multi-beam transmission framework is unified under a single initial access procedure, thus improving system capacity without proportionally increasing procedure complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses parameter changes in the PBCH payload and associated signaling to adapt to different usage scenarios and deployment configurations. By modifying parameters such as RMSI resource allocation, modulation schemes, and beam configuration within the existing PBCH framework, the system can support enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine-type communications, and ultra-reliable low-latency communications without fundamentally changing the initial access procedure structure
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are a method and device for receiving remaining minimum system information (RMSI) in a wireless communication system. User equipment (UE) receives a synchronization signal (SS)/physical broadcast channel (PBCH) block from a network, receives information about an offset between the SS/PBCH block and the RMSI from the network, and receives the RMSI from the network on the basis of the information about the offset between the SS/PBCH block and the RMSI. The offset between the SS/PBCH block and the RMSI can be based on the numerology having a smaller subcarrier interval among the numerology of the SS/PBCH block and the numerology of the RMSI, and, more generally, the numerology having the smaller subcarrier interval among the numerology of the SS/PBCH block and the numerology of the RMSI can be the numerology having the smallest subcarrier interval in each frequency range (FR).