SSB Periodicity Determination for IAB Cell Reselection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies face challenges in determining synchronization signal block (SSB) periodicity for cell reselection in wireless communication networks, particularly when there is no prior knowledge of candidate IAB nodes.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for determining SSB periodicity for cell reselection, which involves establishing connections with IAB nodes using different SSB periodicities, and performing radio resource measurement to determine and store SSB periodicities for future cell reselection processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If a first SSB periodicity (e.g., 160 ms) is used for initial connection establishment with IAB nodes, then connection setup is simplified and standardized, but cell reselection speed and responsiveness deteriorate when switching to candidate IAB nodes with different SSB periodicities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection setup simplicityVSAvoidcell reselection speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs radio resource measurement (RRM) on SSBs of candidate IAB nodes during initial connection establishment or idle periods, determining and storing their SSB periodicities in advance. This preliminary action enables the UE to quickly switch to the appropriate SSB periodicity when cell reselection is needed, resolving the contradiction between standardized initial connection setup and rapid adaptive cell reselection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from a static SSB periodicity approach (using only the first SSB periodicity for all connections) to a dynamic approach where the UE adapts its SSB periodicity based on the target IAB node's characteristics. The UE stores multiple SSB periodicities and selects the appropriate one during cell reselection, enabling both standardized initial connections and rapid adaptive reselection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the UE stores SSB periodicity information for multiple candidate IAB nodes, then cell reselection efficiency improves, but device memory requirements and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecell reselection efficiencyVSAvoidmemory storage requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential SSB periodicity parameter from candidate IAB nodes for storage, rather than storing complete node configurations. This selective extraction maintains cell reselection efficiency by storing the critical timing information needed for rapid connection establishment, while minimizing memory usage and device complexity by storing only the necessary parameter

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Measurement precision

If the UE performs radio resource measurement on all candidate IAB nodes to determine their SSB periodicities, then connection accuracy improves, but measurement time and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSSB periodicity detection accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The UE performs RRM measurements on candidate IAB nodes in advance, during initial network scanning or idle periods, to determine and store their SSB periodicities before actual cell reselection is needed. This preliminary measurement approach ensures accurate SSB periodicity detection while distributing the measurement time over periods when the UE is not actively transmitting data, reducing the time loss during critical handover moments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The UE performs measurements on a subset of candidate IAB nodes or uses partial measurement results to determine SSB periodicities. The system may use assumed SSB periodicities for some nodes while performing actual measurements on others, balancing measurement precision with time and energy constraints by applying measurements selectively rather than universally

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS12273830B2Synchronization signal block periodicity for cell reselection

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 APPLE INC

AI summary

Some embodiments of this disclosure include apparatuses and methods for determining synchronization signal block (SSB) periodicity for cell reselection. In some embodiments, user equipment (UE) may establish a first connection with a first integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node using a first SSB periodicity. The UE may perform a cell reselection process and determine whether a number of candidate IAB nodes include a candidate IAB node with a previously stored candidate SSB periodicity corresponding to the candidate IAB node. If the UE identifies a candidate SSB periodicity, the UE may establish a second connection with the candidate IAB node using the candidate SSB periodicity. If the UE does not identify a previously stored candidate SSB periodicity, the UE may establish a second connection with a second IAB node using a second SSB periodicity that is less than the first SSB periodicity.