SSB Structure Gaps for Uplink and Beam Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G New Radio (NR) synchronization signal block (SSB) designs face issues with uplink transmission opportunities and analog beam switching times, leading to potential data rate loss and interference when sub-carrier spacing increases, as they do not allow for gaps between SSB symbols or between SSBs, hindering efficient communication.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves determining a first sub-carrier spacing for SSB transmission and a second for data transmission, and designing an SSB structure that includes gaps between SSB symbols or between SSBs, allowing for uplink transmissions and analog beam switching without interfering with SSB reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If sub-carrier spacing is increased to improve data transmission rate, then spectral efficiency is improved, but uplink transmission opportunities are reduced and analog beam switching cannot be performed
Solution Approach 1:
The SSB structure is segmented into multiple symbols with gaps between them, allowing uplink transmissions to occur during the gap periods. This segmentation enables the system to maintain high sub-carrier spacing for downlink data transmission while providing dedicated time slots for uplink acknowledgments and beam switching, thus resolving the contradiction between spectral efficiency and uplink transmission opportunities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic gaps between SSB symbols and between SSB blocks, creating regular time slots for uplink transmissions. This periodic structure allows the system to alternate between downlink SSB transmission and uplink acknowledgment/beam switching, ensuring that both high data rates and reliable uplink communication can coexist.
2Productivity
If sub-carrier spacing is increased to improve spectral efficiency, then data transmission rate is improved, but analog beam switching time cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The SSB structure is divided into multiple symbols with intentional gaps between them. These gaps provide dedicated time periods for analog beam switching to occur without interfering with the high-rate downlink data transmission. The segmentation allows beam switching to be performed during the gap periods while maintaining spectral efficiency during the symbol periods.
Solution Approach 2:
Periodic gaps are introduced between SSB symbols and between SSB blocks, creating regular time slots that can be used for analog beam switching. This periodic structure ensures that beam switching time is consistently accommodated within the SSB transmission pattern, allowing the system to maintain both high spectral efficiency and proper beam switching capability.
3Reliability
If gaps are introduced between SSB symbols or SSBs to enable uplink transmissions, then uplink transmission opportunities are improved, but SSB structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The SSB structure is segmented into multiple symbols with gaps between them, which provides a systematic and predictable pattern for uplink transmissions. This segmentation approach, while increasing structural complexity, follows a regular pattern that can be easily configured and managed, allowing uplink opportunities to be integrated without creating unmanageable complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The gaps between SSB symbols and SSB blocks are introduced in a periodic manner, creating a regular time slot pattern for uplink transmissions. This periodic structure, while adding complexity to the overall SSB design, provides a straightforward and repeatable pattern that simplifies the configuration and management of uplink transmission opportunities compared to irregular or ad-hoc approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless communication system utilizes a synchronization signal block (SSB) structure to enable beam switching at higher sub carrier spacing (SCS) or uplink transmissions within an SSB. The SSB structure has a first SCS for an SSB transmission and a second SCS for a data transmission. The SSB structure is based on the first SCS and the second SCS, with the SSB structure including at least one gap between SSB symbols or between SSBs. The wireless communication system transmits or receives an SSB based on the SSB structure. A base station may transmit a downlink signal during the gap, for example, where the second SCS is much greater than the first SCS. A user equipment may transmit an uplink signal such as an acknowledgment during the at least one gap. The user equipment or the base station may perform analog beam switching during the at least one gap between SSBs.