Wireless Synchronization via Discovery Signal Muting Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently performing synchronization, particularly in multi-component carrier systems with small cell environments, where dynamic coverage and inter-cell interference management are critical for enhanced capacity and quality.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for acquiring and sharing synchronization timing and patterns across cells via the air interface, utilizing a processor to manage subframes and muting patterns based on downlink/uplink configurations, enabling efficient synchronization between small cells and macro cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If carrier aggregation technology is used to group multiple component carriers to increase bandwidth and system capacity, then the network coverage and service capacity are improved, but the synchronization complexity and inter-cell interference management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the synchronization process by introducing discovery signals in specific subframes that allow small cells to independently acquire synchronization information from macro cells. This segmentation enables distributed synchronization across multiple component carriers without requiring centralized coordination, thereby reducing synchronization complexity while maintaining high system capacity through carrier aggregation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary synchronization actions by having small cells acquire synchronization information from macro cells before actual data transmission begins. The discovery signals are transmitted in predetermined subframes, allowing cells to pre-establish timing and frequency synchronization, which simplifies subsequent multi-carrier operations and reduces inter-cell interference
2Productivity
If discovery signals are transmitted in specific subframes for small cell synchronization, then the synchronization efficiency is improved, but the uplink-downlink configuration flexibility is reduced due to muting patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic muting patterns that can be adapted to different uplink-downlink configurations. The discovery signal transmission is configured in specific subframes with flexible muting patterns that can be dynamically adjusted based on traffic conditions and configuration requirements, allowing the system to maintain both synchronization efficiency and configuration flexibility through dynamic resource allocation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for and apparatus for performing synchronization in a wireless communication system is provided. A wireless device receives information including a set of subframes in which a discovery signal or a synchronization signal is transmitted, and a muting pattern which is changed according to a downlink (DL)/uplink(UL) configuration of a corresponding cell; receives the discovery signal or the synchronization signal from a cell based on the information; and performs synchronization, wherein the information is indicated to cells via air interface from a source cell.