Synchronization Signal Block Early Indication for UE Resource Conservation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently providing early indication of dedicated system information to user equipment (UE), particularly for low-tier or reduced capability UEs, which leads to unnecessary computational burdens and resource consumption.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves an early indication mechanism where a system information indication is embedded within the synchronization signal block (SSB), specifically surrounding the primary synchronization signal (PSS) in frequency. This indication allows UEs to determine if the system information is dedicated to their type in the first symbol of the SSB, thereby enabling efficient resource allocation and reducing unnecessary decoding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional synchronization procedures are used where UE receives and decodes multiple channels (SSB, MIB, CORESET, PDCCH, PDSCH) to obtain system information, then the system information can be reliably delivered to all UE types, but the computational burden on UE increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem information delivery reliabilityVSAvoidUE computational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the system information indication from the conventional multi-channel decoding process and places it directly in the first symbol of SSB. This allows UE to obtain the indication without decoding MIB, CORESET, PDCCH, and PDSCH, significantly reducing computational complexity while maintaining reliable system information delivery through the extracted indication mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system information indication is provided in advance within the first symbol of SSB, before the UE needs to perform full decoding of subsequent channels. This preliminary indication allows UE to determine early whether system information is dedicated to their type, avoiding unnecessary computational steps while ensuring reliable information delivery

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If UE performs full decoding of SSB, MIB, CORESET, PDCCH, and PDSCH to receive system information, then complete system information is obtained, but power consumption increases for power-limited devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem information completenessVSAvoidUE power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential system information indication from the complex multi-channel structure and places it in the first symbol of SSB. Power-limited UE can obtain this extracted indication without performing energy-intensive decoding of MIB, CORESET, PDCCH, and PDSCH, significantly reducing power consumption while still accessing necessary system information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of requiring UE to perform complete decoding of all channels (excessive action), the patent enables UE to perform partial decoding - only processing the first symbol of SSB to obtain the system information indication. This partial action is sufficient for power-limited devices to determine whether system information is dedicated to their type without exhausting computational resources

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If system information is provided without early indication in the first symbol, then all UE types can receive generic system information, but low-tier UE cannot efficiently identify dedicated information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem information accessibilityVSAvoidinformation acquisition efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the system information delivery process into two parts: (1) an early indication in the first symbol of SSB that identifies whether system information is dedicated to specific UE types, and (2) the complete system information in subsequent channels. This segmentation allows low-tier UE to efficiently identify and acquire only the information relevant to their type, improving productivity while maintaining adaptability for all UE types

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system information indication is provided in advance in the first symbol of SSB, enabling low-tier UE to preliminarily determine whether system information is dedicated to their type before investing resources in full decoding. This preliminary action maintains adaptability for all UE types while significantly improving information acquisition efficiency for low-tier devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4070607B1Early indication of new radio-light dedicated system information
Publication Date: 2025.02.12 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4070607B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4070607B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4070607B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. The described techniques relate to an early indication, from a base station to a user equipment (UE), that may allow the UE to determine from the first symbol of a synchronization signal block (SSB) if the system information associated with the SSB is intended for the UE. Thus, when the UE receives the indication that the system information is dedicated to the UE, the UE may determine to receive and decode the remaining synchronization signal block, a master information block, a set of control resources, a downlink control channel, and a downlink shared channel to receive the system information. In some cases, the UE may determine that the system information is generic and end decoding during reception of the SSB to conserve computational resources by avoiding unnecessary decoding.