Synchronization Signal Burst Cell Search Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wireless communication systems, user equipment (UE) faces inefficiencies in cell search and power consumption due to the need to repeatedly decode system information across multiple cells, especially when moving between cells, as existing systems typically have a single-cell SI validity area, leading to redundant SI decoding.

Innovation Solution

The method involves coordinating and synchronizing transmissions from multiple cells, allowing UE to receive synchronization signals in coordinated SS bursts, which include signals from multiple cells transmitted with nominal time differences, enabling UE to efficiently search for compatible cells by providing prior knowledge of signal structure and timing relationships.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If UE repeatedly decodes system information across multiple cells to ensure reliable access, then detection reliability is improved, but power consumption increases and cell search efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The network pre-configures SI validity area information and SS burst timing relationships before UE performs cell search. UE receives and stores this preliminary information, which enables it to anticipate where and when to find synchronization signals without exhaustive searching, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining detection reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the network provides SI validity area configuration to UE, and UE uses this feedback information to optimize its cell search behavior. This feedback loop allows UE to adapt its searching strategy based on network-provided information about which cells share the same system information, reducing unnecessary decoding operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If UE performs exhaustive cell search across all cells to find compatible cells, then detection reliability is improved, but cell search time increases and productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidcell search efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The network segments the cell search space by defining SI validity areas that group cells with identical system information. UE uses this segmentation to divide its search efforts into targeted groups rather than exhaustively searching all cells, improving search efficiency while maintaining reliability by focusing on relevant cell groups.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The network performs preliminary organization of cells into SI validity areas and provides this structure to UE before cell search begins. This preliminary action enables UE to leverage the pre-organized cell groups and SS burst timing information to efficiently locate compatible cells without exhaustive searching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If UE decodes system information in every cell to ensure valid SI, then SI validity is improved, but loss of time increases due to redundant decoding

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveSI validityVSAvoidtime for initial access
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network creates copies of the same system information across multiple cells within an SI validity area and transmits them with coordinated timing. UE leverages this copying by using SS burst timing relationships to identify which cells transmit identical SI, allowing it to decode SI once and reuse it across multiple cells, eliminating redundant decoding time while ensuring SI validity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

A single system information broadcast serves multiple cells simultaneously within an SI validity area. The coordinated SS burst transmission structure enables one SI decoding operation to be valid across multiple cells, giving the SI universal applicability and eliminating the need for separate decoding in each cell, thereby reducing access time while maintaining validity.

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

4Adaptability or versatility

If network transmits SS from multiple cells without coordination to maintain flexibility, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases for UE to process uncoordinated signals

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork flexibilityVSAvoidUE processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network introduces specific parameters such as SS burst timing relationships and SI validity area configurations to coordinate multi-cell transmissions. These parameter changes provide a structured framework that maintains network flexibility and adaptability while giving UE predictable patterns to follow, thereby reducing UE processing complexity without sacrificing network versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3313130B1Synchronization signal burst assisted cell search
Publication Date: 2020.07.29 ZTE WISTRON TELECOM
  • EP3313130B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3313130B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3313130B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6B

AI summary

A method and system for obtaining system information from a plurality of cells in a network based on a downlink (DL) synchronization signal block (SB) burst used by the plurality of cells to transmit information to user equipment (UE) wherein the DL SB burst includes a plurality of SB's each containing synchronization information for one or more of the plurality of cells.