Wireless Synchronization Signal Blocks Sub-Carrier Segmentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems face challenges in achieving reliable synchronization due to low transmission power of synchronization signal blocks (SSBs), leading to increased initial access delay and interference, especially in high-density networks requiring high data rates.

Innovation Solution

The method involves broadcasting multiple SSBs in the same time slot within the same carrier on different sub-carriers, with increased transmission power and the use of indicators to provide system information, allowing for more reliable detection and decoding, and implementing listen-before-talk (LBT) for efficient resource sharing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple SSBs are broadcasted in the same time slot on different sub-carriers with increased transmission power, then the reliability of SSB detection and decoding is improved, but the spectral resource usage and interference increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSSB detection reliabilityVSAvoidinterference
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the synchronization signal transmission by broadcasting multiple SSBs on different sub-carriers (frequency resources) within the same time slot. This segmentation allows the system to distribute transmission power across multiple frequency resources, improving detection reliability while managing interference through resource diversity rather than concentrating power on a single carrier.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces frequency diversity as an additional dimension for SSB transmission by utilizing multiple sub-carriers. Instead of relying solely on time or power dimensions, the system transitions to a multi-dimensional approach where SSBs are transmitted across different frequency sub-carriers, enabling improved reliability through frequency diversity while controlling interference through spatial-frequency separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Loss of time

If multiple SSBs are broadcasted with increased transmission power, then the initial access delay is reduced, but the transmission power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinitial access delayVSAvoidtransmission power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the high-power transmission requirement across multiple SSBs on different sub-carriers. Instead of transmitting one SSB with very high power, the system transmits multiple SSBs with distributed power, achieving faster detection (reduced access delay) while spreading the power consumption across multiple lower-power transmissions, thereby managing overall energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs preliminary action by broadcasting multiple SSBs in advance across different sub-carriers before the UE needs to access the network. This pre-positioning of synchronization signals on multiple frequency resources ensures that the UE can quickly detect and decode an SSB without waiting for retransmissions, reducing initial access delay while the distributed power approach manages transmission energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If multiple SSBs are broadcasted on different sub-carriers, then the synchronization speed is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization speedVSAvoidnetwork device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the synchronization signal transmission across multiple sub-carriers, allowing parallel transmission of multiple SSBs. This segmentation enables the network device to broadcast synchronization information simultaneously on different frequency resources, improving synchronization speed for UEs while the modular segmented structure helps manage device complexity through standardized processing of each sub-carrier segment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies universality by using the same SSB structure and modulation scheme across multiple sub-carriers. The network device can reuse the same transmission framework, signal processing algorithms, and resource allocation mechanisms for each sub-carrier, thereby improving synchronization speed through multi-carrier transmission while avoiding proportional increases in device complexity due to the universal multi-functional design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3424257B1Method and device for sychronization in a wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2023.11.29 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP3424257B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3424257B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3424257B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A method and device for synchronization in a wireless communication system. The method includes: broadcasting multiple synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) within a same carrier; and broadcasting an indicator of system information according to information included in the multiple SSBs. Each of the multiple SSBs is sent on a different set of sub-carriers. Therefore, the demand for fair sharing of spectral resource may be met.