SSB Pattern Enhancement for 5G Cell Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G NR wireless communication networks face challenges in cell detection and measurement performance, particularly in low-SINR scenarios such as non-terrestrial networks, where the existing SSB patterns are not optimized for improved UE reception and network coverage.
Innovation Solution
The base station enhances SSB patterns by expanding PSS, SSS, and PBCH into additional REs, using techniques like PRB filling, OFDM symbol filling, and SSB slot filling, while ensuring backwards compatibility through supplementary signaling and precoding, allowing UEs to process enhanced patterns effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the SSB pattern is expanded to include additional REs for PSS, SSS, and PBCH, then cell detection performance and UE reception are improved, but device complexity and signal processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the SSB expansion into distinct components: PSS extension using first unused REs, SSS extension using second unused REs, and PBCH extension using third unused REs. This segmentation allows the base station to selectively apply expansion to different signal components based on specific performance requirements, managing complexity by breaking down the overall expansion task into manageable parts with different processing requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the frequency dimension by identifying and using unused REs that are not currently allocated to PSS, SSS, or PBCH. This dimensional approach allows expansion of synchronization signals without interfering with existing signal allocations, effectively adding capacity in the frequency domain rather than requiring additional time resources or increasing signal power.
2Area of stationary object
If the SSB pattern is expanded to additional REs, then network coverage is enhanced, but the complexity of maintaining backwards compatibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the SSB pattern configurable and adaptable to different deployment scenarios. The base station can selectively enable or disable expansion of PSS, SSS, and PBCH based on whether legacy UEs are present in the network. This localized approach allows optimal performance in pure 5G deployments while maintaining compatibility in mixed environments, rather than applying a uniform expansion strategy everywhere.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic configurability of the SSB pattern, allowing the base station to adjust the expansion parameters based on network conditions and UE capabilities. The pattern can be dynamically modified through RRC signaling to inform UEs about the actual SSB configuration being used, enabling the system to adapt between legacy and enhanced modes as needed.
3Ease of operation
If existing SS REs are repeated in time and/or frequency domain, then UE reception is simplified, but processing gain improvement is limited compared to using new random sequences
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the synchronization signal by introducing new random sequences for PSS and SSS instead of simply repeating existing sequences. This parameter change fundamentally alters the correlation properties of the signals, enabling UEs to achieve better processing gain and improved cell detection performance, particularly in low-SINR conditions, while still maintaining reasonable reception complexity through structured sequence generation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system is configured for reconfiguration of a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) pattern. The system is configured for obtaining data including a configuration for a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB) transmission carrying a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), the configuration specifying, for an SSB of the configuration, resource elements (REs) allocated for transmitting a primary synchronization signal (PSS) to a user equipment (UE) and REs allocated for transmitting a secondary synchronization signal (SSS) to the UE. The system is configured for selecting a set of REs that are unused in the configuration for the SSB transmission, specifying a filling sequence for extending a synchronization signal or an SSB to the set of REs that are unused in the configuration of the SSB transmission, generating data including an enhanced configuration for the SSB transmission that includes the extended synchronization signal or the extended SSBs, and transmitting the SSB transmission using the enhanced configuration.