Temporary Reference Signals for Fast Secondary Cell Activation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face inefficiencies in secondary cell activation due to the infrequent transmission of synchronization signals, leading to prolonged activation times, especially in new radio systems, and lack mechanisms for configuring temporary reference signals effectively.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a non-consecutive slot arrangement for aperiodic reference signals, identified through a slot location and offset, allows user equipment to measure and synchronize with secondary cells more efficiently by utilizing temporary reference signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If synchronization signals are transmitted infrequently in new radio systems, then system power consumption is reduced and resource utilization is improved, but secondary cell activation time is prolonged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by configuring temporary reference signals in advance before secondary cell activation is needed. The network device pre-configures reference signal resources including time domain positions and frequency domain positions, so that when activation is required, the user equipment can immediately measure these pre-positioned signals without waiting for periodic synchronization signals, thus reducing activation time while avoiding continuous signal transmission that would waste resources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces temporary reference signals as an intermediary between periodic synchronization signals and the cell activation process. These intermediary signals are transmitted aperiodically only when needed for activation, providing a bridge that allows fast activation without requiring continuous periodic synchronization signal transmission, thereby resolving the contradiction between activation speed and resource efficiency
2Measurement precision
If periodic synchronization signals are transmitted frequently, then synchronization accuracy is improved, but system power consumption increases and resource efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the periodic transmission of synchronization signals into an aperiodic transmission pattern for temporary reference signals. Instead of transmitting synchronization signals at fixed periodic intervals regardless of need, the system transmits temporary reference signals aperiodically only when secondary cell activation is required, maintaining synchronization accuracy when needed while eliminating unnecessary transmissions that consume power and resources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission parameter from periodic to aperiodic for reference signals. By configuring temporary reference signals with aperiodic transmission timing rather than fixed periodic intervals, the system adapts signal transmission to actual activation needs, ensuring synchronization accuracy during activation events while reducing overall power consumption and resource usage during non-activation periods
3Speed
If aperiodic reference signals are transmitted in non-consecutive slots, then user equipment can measure and synchronize faster, but signal configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the time domain positions and frequency domain positions of temporary reference signals before transmission. The network device determines and signals the slot offsets and resource allocations in advance through RRC configuration, allowing user equipment to know exactly where to measure these aperiodic signals without complex real-time calculations, thus achieving fast synchronization while managing configuration complexity through advance planning
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive, from a base station, a secondary cell activation message that indicates a secondary cell is to be activated at the UE in addition to a primary cell. The UE may identify, based at least in part on the secondary cell activation message, a slot location of a first portion of aperiodic reference signals for cell activation measurements and a slot offset between the first portion of the aperiodic reference signals and a second portion of the aperiodic reference signals, the slot offset comprising non-consecutive slots with respect to the slot location. The UE may measure one or more characteristics of the secondary cell based at least in part on the aperiodic reference signals.