Zero Element Beam for 5G mmW SSB Power Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G NR millimeter wave (mmW) communication systems, user equipment (UE) experiences significant power consumption during cell search and measurement operations, particularly when monitoring synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) that were previously undetected, leading to unnecessary energy expenditure.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a zero element beam (ZEB) technique, where the UE measures only a subset of SSBs detected during the cell search and applies ZEB to undetected SSBs, reducing the number of symbols measured from four to less than four, thereby conserving power by not monitoring unused symbols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the UE monitors all SSBs in all directions during cell search and measurement operations, then the signal strength measurement accuracy is improved, but the power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the SSB monitoring process by dividing SSBs into two categories: detected SSBs (requiring full 4-symbol measurement) and undetected SSBs (applying ZEB with 0 symbols measured). This segmentation allows the UE to focus measurement resources only on relevant SSBs while applying zero element beams to irrelevant ones, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by measuring only the necessary portion of each SSB. For detected SSBs, the UE measures all 4 symbols to ensure accuracy. For undetected SSBs, the UE performs no measurement (0 symbols) since they are already identified as weak or non-existent. This partial measurement approach eliminates unnecessary power consumption while maintaining measurement precision for relevant signals.
2Reliability
If the UE measures all four symbols of each SSB during post-search operations, then the measurement completeness is improved, but unnecessary power is consumed on previously undetected SSBs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing cell search operations before post-search measurements. During the cell search, the UE identifies and detects SSBs that are actually present and strong enough to warrant further measurement. This preliminary detection creates a foundation for the post-search operations, allowing the UE to confidently apply ZEB to undetected SSBs without risking measurement completeness, since these SSBs were already proven to be weak or absent.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses feedback from the cell search results to guide post-search measurement operations. The detection status of each SSB during cell search provides feedback that determines the measurement strategy for post-search operations: detected SSBs receive full measurement while undetected SSBs receive ZEB treatment. This feedback mechanism ensures measurement completeness for relevant SSBs while eliminating energy waste on irrelevant ones.
3Reliability
If the UE continuously monitors SSBs in all beam directions, then the detection reliability is improved, but the power consumption increases by up to 34%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics into the measurement process by adaptively adjusting the measurement approach based on SSB detection status. The system dynamically switches between two measurement modes: full measurement mode for detected SSBs (maintaining high detection reliability) and ZEB mode for undetected SSBs (reducing power consumption). This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain detection reliability for relevant signals while significantly reducing overall power consumption by up to 34%.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure provides systems, devices, apparatus and methods, including computer programs encoded on storage media, for applying a zero element beam to conserve power in search and measurement operations of a UE. The UE may determine to measure a set of SSBs, where each SSB of the set of SSBs is transmitted on four symbols, and further determine a subset of the SSBs for which less than the four symbols associated with the SSBs are to be used for measurement of the SSBs. The UE may measure each SSB of the subset of the SSBs through less than the four symbols associated with the SSB.