Satellite SSB Set Expansion for Extended Beam Footprint Scanning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Low earth orbit satellites face challenges in providing full-area coverage due to limited platform resources and uneven ground traffic distribution, making it difficult to meet the requirement of thousands of beam footprints with the existing maximum number of SSBs per SSB set.
Innovation Solution
Extend the SSB scanning period by transmitting K SSB sets, where beams with the same index in different SSB sets point to different beam footprints, and broadcast the scanning period extension coefficient to the terminal device via SIB1 or RRC messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the maximum number of SSBs per SSB set is limited to 4, 8, or 64, then the system maintains simplicity and compatibility with existing 5G NR designs, but it cannot meet the requirement of thousands of beam footprints for full-area satellite coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the SSB transmission into multiple SSB sets (first SSB set, second SSB set, third SSB set, etc.), where each set contains a manageable number of SSBs (4, 8, or 64). This segmentation allows the system to maintain compatibility with existing designs while achieving extended coverage by sequentially transmitting multiple sets across different time slots or periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic transmission of multiple SSB sets, where each SSB set is transmitted in a periodic manner with defined time slots. The network device can configure different periodicities for different SSB sets, enabling comprehensive beam footprint coverage over extended periods while maintaining system simplicity during each individual transmission cycle.
2Area of stationary object
If beam sweeping is used to scan and transmit different SSB beams in a fixed period, then comprehensive cell coverage is achieved, but the time required to cover all beam footprints exceeds the available slots within a system half-frame
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the SSB transmission from a single time dimension (one SSB set per half-frame) to multiple time dimensions (multiple SSB sets across multiple half-frames or periods). By introducing the concept of multiple SSB sets that can be transmitted in different time slots, periods, or frames, the system achieves comprehensive coverage without being constrained by the limited slots within a single half-frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The network device performs preliminary configuration of multiple SSB sets with predefined beam footprints and transmission parameters before actual transmission. This allows the system to plan and execute comprehensive beam sweeping across multiple periods efficiently, ensuring that all necessary beam footprints are covered without wasting time on redundant transmissions.
3Use of energy by moving object
If low earth orbit satellites use limited platform resources for beam transmission, then power consumption and resource usage are controlled, but the number of concurrent beams is restricted, making full-area coverage difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous coverage by transmitting multiple SSB sets across different time periods, ensuring that beam sweeping operations continue without interruption. While the satellite transmits a limited number of beams concurrently due to platform constraints, the continuous transmission of multiple SSB sets over extended periods ensures that all beam footprints are eventually covered, maintaining full-area coverage capability without exceeding power or resource limits at any moment.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for extending a synchronization signal block (SSB) and device, a medium and a program product, which are used for extending the number of SSBs and realizing coverage of more beam footprints. The method comprises: when the number of beam footprints that the satellite base station needs to serve is greater than the number of SSB beams sent in each SSB period, sending SSB beams to a current cell using K SSB sets, wherein the sum of the SSB beams contained in the K SSB sets is greater than the number of the beam footprints, and K is a natural number greater than 1; and transmitting the K SSB sets to the current cell, wherein beams with a same index in different SSB sets point to different beam footprints.