SSB Periodicity Signaling for Accurate Radio Frame Boundaries
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G wireless communication systems, user equipment (UE) faces challenges in determining the location of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) within radio frames due to the lack of additional information, especially when SSB periodicity is reduced, which hinders accurate frame boundary determination.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating N SSB location (SSB-L) bits in the PBCH payload of layer 1 and transferring N system frame number (SFN) bits to higher layers or system information blocks to provide additional information for UE to determine the SSB set location and radio frame boundaries without increasing the PBCH payload size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If SSB periodicity is reduced to provide more frequent synchronization opportunities, then synchronization frequency is improved, but UE ability to determine frame boundaries deteriorates due to lack of additional location information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension of information (SSB set location indication) within the existing PBCH payload structure. By utilizing the second portion of the PBCH payload that carries timing information, the patent embeds SSB location bits without adding to the overall payload size, thereby providing additional spatial-temporal dimension information for frame boundary determination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter configuration of the PBCH payload by reassigning bits within the existing structure. Specifically, it transfers some SFN bits to higher layers and uses the freed bits to carry SSB set location indication, thereby changing how timing information is encoded while maintaining the same physical layer payload size.
2Measurement precision
If additional SSB location information is provided to enable accurate frame boundary determination, then measurement precision is improved, but PBCH payload size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts SFN bits from the PBCH payload and transfers them to higher layers or system information blocks. This extraction frees up space within the PBCH payload that can then be used to carry SSB set location indication bits, thereby providing additional location information without increasing the overall payload size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the PBCH payload structure multi-functional by having the same bits serve dual purposes: carrying both timing information and SSB location information. The second portion of the PBCH payload that traditionally carried SFN information now also carries SSB set location indication, enabling the system to convey multiple types of timing-related information within the same payload structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to processing an SSB, received in one radio frame, to obtain timing information helpful for allowing a UE to determine a boundary for the radio frame. Beneficially, changes in the periodicity of the transmission of SSB sets may allow the UE more frequent opportunities to determine a boundary for the radio frame. However, in the absence of additional information, the UE may not be able to determine a location, for an SSB set, within the radio frame. Aspects of the present application relate to a manner of including the additional information in an SSB and the processing of the SSB to obtain the additional information such that the UE may be assisted, by the additional information, in the task of determining a boundary for the radio frame.