Synchronization Signal Bundling for 5G Terminal Power Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

In 5G wireless communication systems, terminals face challenges with high power consumption during synchronization processes, particularly in initial access, which affects communication coverage and efficiency, especially for low-cost, low-complexity terminals used in IoT applications.

Innovation Solution

The method involves repetitive transmission and bundling of synchronization signals, such as the PBCH, to improve communication coverage by using additional time and frequency resources, allowing terminals to perform time and frequency synchronization with reduced power consumption and increased reliability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If terminals perform synchronization using traditional methods in 5G systems, then time and frequency synchronization can be achieved, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization reliabilityVSAvoidterminal power consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary actions by repetitively transmitting the PBCH signal multiple times before the terminal needs to synchronize. This creates bundled signal opportunities in advance, allowing the terminal to detect synchronization signals with higher reliability while consuming less power, as the signals are already accumulated and strengthened through repetition before the terminal's detection attempt.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Area of stationary object

If terminals use repetitive transmission and bundling of synchronization signals, then communication coverage is enhanced by up to 15 dB, but additional time and frequency resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication coverage areaVSAvoidtime and frequency resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges multiple PBCH transmissions into a bundled structure where the same broadcast channel signal is transmitted repetitively across multiple time slots and frequency resources. By combining these repeated transmissions, the signal coverage area is expanded by up to 15 dB, allowing low-cost terminals to detect synchronization signals in challenging environments while the base station efficiently manages the additional time and frequency resources through this bundled approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If low-cost terminals perform synchronization in initial access, then they can connect to the network, but their complexity and power consumption remain high

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterminal network access capabilityVSAvoidterminal synchronization complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs the complex task of repetitive PBCH transmission and signal bundling itself, rather than requiring the low-cost terminal to perform complex synchronization operations. The terminal simply needs to detect the bundled signals that the base station has already prepared and transmitted repeatedly, thereby achieving network access capability while maintaining low terminal complexity and reduced power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3355629B1Method and apparatus for detecting synchronization signal in wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2024.07.24 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3355629B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3355629B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3355629B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for performing, by a terminal, time and frequency synchronization with a base station in an initial access process to the base station. The method includes receiving, by the terminal, a physical broadcast channel, and detecting a synchronization signal based on the received physical broadcast channel.