SSB Broadcast Signal Processing for Time Sequence Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

In LTE networks, carrying additional information in synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) for new radio access technologies is challenging, particularly due to the complexity of processing information transmitted on the physical broadcast channel (PBCH), which leads to increased service delays and inefficiencies in time sequence alignment between user equipment (UE) and base stations.

Innovation Solution

The solution involves generating and processing part of the information at lower protocol layers, such as the physical layer, rather than at higher layers like the RRC layer, to reduce the time consumed in the protocol stack, allowing for quicker transmission and reception of additional information in SSBs, including a time index (TI) that indicates the order of SSBs within an SS burst set, enabling faster time sequence alignment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional information is carried in SSB through PBCH, then the functionality and adaptability of the system is improved, but the processing time and service delay increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The information carried in PBCH is segmented into two parts: first information (essential system information) and second information (additional information such as time index). This segmentation allows the system to maintain enhanced functionality while enabling selective processing, where UEs can quickly obtain critical timing information without being burdened by processing all information through the complete protocol stack.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the time index information from the general PBCH information stream and identifies it as a separate, independently processable element. This extraction enables UEs to prioritize processing of time-critical information (second information) separately from other system information, thereby reducing overall processing time while maintaining full functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Loss of information

If all information on PBCH is processed through the complete protocol stack, then information completeness is ensured, but service delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation completenessVSAvoidservice delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the UE perform physical layer processing to extract time index information before proceeding through the complete protocol stack. This preliminary extraction of critical timing information allows the UE to immediately align its timing with the network, reducing service delay while subsequent protocol stack processing ensures complete information acquisition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by allowing the UE to perform only physical layer processing for time index extraction when timing alignment is the immediate need, rather than requiring complete protocol stack processing. This partial processing approach reduces service delay for time-critical operations, while the option remains available to perform complete processing when full information completeness is required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP4092948B1Broadcast signal sending method, broadcast signal receiving method, network device, and terminal device
Publication Date: 2024.09.11 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4092948B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4092948B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP4092948B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application discloses a broadcast signal sending method, a broadcast signal receiving method, a network device, and a terminal device, to carry additional information in an SSB. The method is performed by a network device, a protocol stack of the network device includes a first protocol layer and a second protocol layer, the second protocol layer is a protocol layer below the first protocol layer, and the method includes: generating, by the network device, first information at the first protocol layer; generating, by the network device, second information at the second protocol layer, where the second information is used to determine a time-frequency resource corresponding to one or more synchronization signal blocks SSBs; processing, by the network device, the first information and the second information at the second protocol layer; and sending, by the network device to a terminal device by using a physical broadcast channel PBCH in the SSB, data obtained after second protocol layer processing.