SSB Presence Signaling Aligned With TDD Slot Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G NR signaling mechanisms for synchronization signal block (SSB) presence in time locations do not consider the Time Division Duplexing (TDD) pattern, leading to inefficient system information transmission and high redundancy.
Innovation Solution
Provision of SSB presence information based on TDD pattern configuration through dedicated RRC signaling, reducing redundant information by omitting signaling for uplink slots and applying SSB presence information to downlink slots only.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If SSB presence information is signaled without considering TDD pattern, then complete coverage of all time locations is achieved, but system information overhead increases and redundant signaling occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes redundant SSB presence information signaling for uplink slots by introducing TDD pattern awareness. The network node determines SSB presence based on TDD slot direction (downlink vs uplink), thereby taking out the unnecessary signaling components that would otherwise be required to indicate SSB presence in all time locations regardless of their actual transmission capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of SSB presence determination from a static blanket indication to a dynamic TDD-pattern-dependent indication. By introducing TDD pattern configuration parameters (uplink slot pattern, downlink slot pattern, flexible slot pattern), the system adapts SSB presence signaling to the actual time division duplexing structure, reducing overhead while maintaining accuracy.
2Loss of information
If SSB presence information is provided for all time locations, then no information is lost, but redundant signaling bits increase system overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts redundant SSB presence indications for uplink slots from the signaling message. Since uplink slots cannot carry downlink SSB transmissions, the patent removes the need to signal SSB presence in these slots, thereby reducing the quantity of signaling bits while preserving all necessary information about actual SSB transmission locations.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of providing SSB presence information for all possible time locations (excessive action), the patent provides SSB presence information only for relevant downlink and flexible slots (partial action). This partial signaling approach is sufficient because uplink slots are inherently excluded from SSB transmission, making the reduced signaling both adequate and efficient.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus may be configured to: receive, from a network node, synchronization signal block, SSB, presence information; receive, from the network node, information related to time division duplexing, TDD, pattern configuration; determine a presence of SBB in one or more specific time locations based on the received SSB presence information and the information related to the TDD pattern configuration; and perform at least one measurement based on the determined presence of SSB in the one or more specific time locations.