HK40016633B - Method, scheduling entity and ue for synchronization signal block designs for wireless communication - Google Patents

Description

Method, scheduling entity and UE for communication of synchronization signal blocks for wireless communication

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority and benefit from U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/485,82, filed on day 14, 2017, and non-provisional patent application No. 15/936,200, filed on day 26, 2018, 3, so its entire contents are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth below and for all applicable purposes.

Technical Field

The technology discussed below relates generally to wireless communication systems, and more specifically to synchronization signal design for wireless communication and related methods.

Background

Next generation wireless networks like the 5G New Radio (NR) may support an increasing number of services and devices, including, for example, smart phones, mobile devices, internet of things (IoT) devices, sensor networks, and other further devices. Compared to current networks, 5G NR can provide higher performance in various applications, such as: higher bit rate, higher speed of movement, and/or lower latency. Furthermore, 5G NR networks may have higher connection densities, new spectrum allocations, and utilize unlicensed and licensed frequency bands. In 5G NR, the synchronization requirements may be based on the services provided and the network infrastructure. For example, device-to-device (D2D), peer-to-peer (P2P), vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), and IoT communications require accurate synchronization. Further, next generation networks may introduce new air interfaces and capabilities related to time sensitive networks that may require synchronization support from the network. Therefore, synchronization signal design and related features are important in 5G NR network design.

Disclosure of Invention

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated features of the disclosure, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects of the disclosure, nor delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the disclosure. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of the disclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide various Synchronization Signal (SS) block designs that can facilitate channel estimation and demodulation in 5G New Radio (NR) networks. An example SS block includes a set of time-frequency resources allocated to carry a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSs), and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), where the PSS, SSs, and PBCH are time and/or frequency multiplexed in the SS block. In some examples, the unused time-frequency resources of the SS block may be used or allocated for supplemental channels that can improve and/or extend radio link coverage.

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of wireless communication operable at a scheduling entity. A scheduling entity schedules a plurality of time domain symbols for transmitting a Synchronization Signal (SS) block and a supplemental channel. The SS block includes a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSs), and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH). The scheduling entity jointly encodes the PBCH and the supplemental channel for transmission. A scheduling entity transmits a plurality of time domain symbols including the SS blocks and supplemental channels to a User Equipment (UE). At least one of the PSS or the SSS is frequency multiplexed with the supplemental channel.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a method of wireless communication operable at a User Equipment (UE). The UE receives a plurality of time domain symbols including a Synchronization Signal (SS) block and a supplemental channel. The SS block includes a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), at least one of the PSS or the SSS being frequency multiplexed with the supplemental channel. The UE decodes the plurality of time domain symbols to recover the supplemental channel, PSS, SSS, and PBCH, wherein the PBCH and supplemental channel are jointly encoded.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a scheduling entity for wireless communication. The scheduling entity includes a communication interface, a memory, and a processor operatively coupled to the communication interface and the memory. The processor and the memory are configured to schedule a plurality of time domain symbols for transmission of a Synchronization Signal (SS) block and a supplemental channel, the SS block comprising a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSs), and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH). The processor and the memory are configured to jointly encode a PBCH and a supplemental channel for transmission. The processor and the memory are configured to transmit, to a User Equipment (UE), a plurality of time domain symbols including the SS blocks and a supplemental channel, at least one of the PSS or the SSs being frequency multiplexed with the supplemental channel.

Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a User Equipment (UE) for wireless communication. The UE includes a communication interface, a memory, and a processor operatively coupled with the communication interface and the memory. The processor and the memory are configured to receive a plurality of time domain symbols comprising a Synchronization Signal (SS) block and a supplemental channel. The SS block includes a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSs), and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH). At least one of the PSS or the SSS is frequency multiplexed with the supplemental channel. The processor and the memory are configured to decode the plurality of time domain symbols to recover the supplemental channel, PSS, SSS, and PBCH, wherein the PBCH is jointly encoded with the supplemental channel.

These and other aspects of the present invention will become more fully understood after reading the following detailed description. Other aspects, features and embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific, exemplary embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. While features of the invention may be discussed with respect to certain embodiments and figures below, all embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the advantageous features discussed herein. In other words, while one or more embodiments may be discussed as having certain advantageous features, one or more of these features may also be used in accordance with the various embodiments of the invention discussed herein. In a similar manner, although exemplary embodiments may be discussed below as device, system, or method embodiments, it should be understood that these exemplary embodiments can be implemented with a wide variety of devices, systems, and methods.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic illustration of a wireless communication system.

Fig. 2 is a conceptual illustration of an example of a radio access network.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a Synchronization Signal (SS) burst containing multiple SS blocks, according to some aspects of the present disclosure

Fig. 4 is a schematic illustration of the organization of radio resources in an air interface utilizing Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM).

Fig. 5 is a schematic illustration of an OFDM air interface utilizing a scalable digital scheme in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating a Synchronization Signal (SS) block design, according to some aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example SS block design with supplemental channels, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating another example SS block design with supplemental channels, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example SS block design with unallocated resources in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example SS block design with unallocated resources in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

Figure 11 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for a scheduling entity, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process for wireless communication using SS blocks, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

Figure 13 is a block diagram conceptually illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for a scheduled entity, in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating wireless communication using SS blocks for another exemplary process in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

While aspects and embodiments are described herein by way of illustrating some examples, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that additional implementations and use cases may occur in many different arrangements and scenarios. The innovations described herein may be implemented across a variety of different platform types, devices, systems, shapes, sizes, packaging arrangements. For example, embodiments and/or uses may be implemented via integrated chip embodiments and other non-modular component based devices (e.g., end-user devices, vehicles, communication devices, computing devices, industrial devices, retail/purchase devices, medical devices, AI-enabled devices, etc.). While some examples may or may not be specific to some use cases or applications, a broad application of the described innovations may occur. Implementations may range from chip-level or modular components to non-modular, non-chip-level implementations, and further relate to an aggregated, distributed, or OEM device or system incorporating one or more aspects of the described innovations. In some practical settings, a device incorporating the described aspects and features may also necessarily include additional components and features for implementing and practicing the claimed and described embodiments. For example, for analog and digital purposes, the transmission and reception of wireless signals necessarily includes a number of components (e.g., hardware components including antennas, RF chains, power amplifiers, modulators, buffers, processors, interleavers, adders/accumulators, and so forth). The innovations described herein are intended to be implementable in a wide variety of devices, chip-level components, systems, distributed arrangements, end-user devices, and the like, of various sizes, shapes, and configurations.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide various Synchronization Signal (SS) block designs that may facilitate channel estimation and demodulation in 5G New Radio (NR) networks. An exemplary SS block includes a set of time-frequency resources allocated to carry a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSs), and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), wherein the PSS, SSs, and PBCH are time and/or frequency multiplexed in the SS block. In some examples, the unused time-frequency resources of the SS block may be used or allocated for supplemental channels that can improve and/or extend radio link coverage.

The various concepts presented throughout this disclosure may be implemented in a wide variety of telecommunications systems, network architectures, and communication standards. Referring now to fig. 1, various aspects of the present disclosure are illustrated with reference to a wireless communication system 100, by way of an illustrative example and not by way of limitation. The wireless communication system 100 includes three interaction domains: a core network 102, a Radio Access Network (RAN)104, and User Equipment (UE) 106. Through the wireless communication system 100, the UE 106 may be enabled to conduct data communications with an external data network 110 (such as, but not limited to, the internet).

The RAN 104 may implement any suitable wireless communication technology or set of technologies to provide radio access to the UE 106. As one example, RAN 104 may operate in accordance with the third generation partnership project (3GPP) New Radio (NR) specification, which is commonly referred to as 5G. As another example, RAN 104 may operate in accordance with a hybrid of 5G NR and evolved universal terrestrial radio access network (eUTRAN) standards, which are commonly referred to as LTE. The 3GPP refers to this hybrid RAN as a next generation RAN or NG-RAN. Of course, many other examples may also be utilized within the scope of the present disclosure.

As shown, the RAN 104 includes a plurality of base stations 108. In a broad sense, a base station is a network element in a radio access network responsible for radio transmission and reception in one or more cells to or from a UE. A base station may be referred to variously by those skilled in the art as a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), a radio base station, a radio transceiver, a transceiver function, a Basic Service Set (BSS), an Extended Service Set (ESS), an Access Point (AP), a node B (nb), an evolved node B (enb), a enode B (gNB), or some other suitable terminology, in different technologies, standards, or contexts.

The radio access network 104 is also shown as supporting wireless communications for multiple mobile devices. In the 3GPP standards, a mobile device may be referred to as User Equipment (UE), but may also be referred to by those skilled in the art as a Mobile Station (MS), a subscriber station, a mobile unit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobile device, a wireless communications device, a remote device, a mobile subscriber station, an Access Terminal (AT), a mobile terminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a terminal, a user agent, a mobile client, a client, or some other suitable terminology. A UE may be a device that provides a user with access to network services.

In this document, a "mobile" device need not necessarily have the capability for movement, and may be stationary. The term mobile device or mobile equipment broadly refers to a wide variety of equipment and technologies. The UE may include a number of hardware structural components sized, shaped, and arranged to facilitate communications; these components may include antennas, antenna arrays, RF chains, amplifiers, one or more processors, etc., electrically coupled to each other. For example, some non-limiting examples of mobile devices include mobile stations, cellular (cell) phones, smart phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, laptops, Personal Computers (PCs), notebooks, netbooks, smartbooks, tablets, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and a wide range of embedded systems, e.g., corresponding to the "internet of things" (IoT). Additionally, the mobile device may be an automobile or other transportation vehicle, a remote sensor or actuator, a robot or robotic device, a satellite radio, a Global Positioning System (GPS) device, an object tracking device, a drone, a multi-purpose helicopter, a quadcopter, a remote control device, a consumer device and/or a wearable device such as glasses, wearable cameras, virtual reality devices, smart watches, health or fitness trackers, digital audio players (e.g., MP3 players), cameras, game consoles, and so forth. In addition, the mobile device may also be a digital home or smart home device such as a home audio, video and/or multimedia device, home appliance, vending machine, smart lighting, home security system, smart meter, and the like. Additionally, the mobile device may also be a smart energy device, a security appliance, a solar panel or array, a municipal infrastructure device that controls power (e.g., a smart grid), lighting, water, etc.; industrial automation and enterprise equipment; a logistics controller; agricultural equipment; military defense equipment, vehicles, aircraft, ships, weaponry, and the like. In addition, the mobile device may provide connected medical or telemedicine support (e.g., telemedicine). The telemedicine devices may include telemedicine monitoring devices and telemedicine management devices, the communications of which may be given priority over or have priority access to other types of information, e.g., priority access with respect to transmission of critical service data, and/or associated QoS for transmission of critical service data.

Wireless communication between RAN 104 and UE 106 may be described as utilizing an air interface. Transmissions from a base station (e.g., base station 108) to one or more UEs (e.g., UE 106) over the air interface may be referred to as Downlink (DL) transmissions. In accordance with certain aspects of the present disclosure, the term downlink may refer to a point-to-multipoint transmission originating from a scheduling entity (described further below; e.g., base station 108). Another way to describe the scheme may be to use the term broadcast channel multiplexing. Transmissions from a UE (e.g., UE 106) to a base station (e.g., base station 108) may be referred to as Uplink (UL) transmissions. According to further aspects of the disclosure, the term uplink may refer to a point-to-point transmission originating from a scheduled entity (described further below; e.g., the UE 106).

In some examples, access to the air interface may be scheduled, wherein a scheduling entity (e.g., base station 108, etc.) allocates resources for communication between some or all of the devices and equipment within its service area or cell. In the present disclosure, the scheduling entity may be responsible for scheduling, allocating, reconfiguring, and releasing resources for one or more scheduled entities, as discussed further below. That is, for scheduled communications, the UE 106 (which may be a scheduled entity) may utilize resources allocated by the scheduling entity 108.

The base station 108 is not merely the only entity acting as a scheduling entity. That is, in some examples, a UE may act as a scheduling entity, scheduling resources for one or more scheduled entities (e.g., one or more other UEs).

As shown in fig. 1, scheduling entity 108 may broadcast downlink traffic 112 to one or more scheduled entities 106. Broadly speaking, the scheduling entity 108 is a node or device responsible for scheduling traffic in the wireless communication network, including downlink traffic 112 and, in some examples, uplink traffic 116 from one or more scheduled entities 106 to the scheduling entity 108. On the other hand, scheduled entity 106 is a node or device that receives downlink control information 114 from another entity in the wireless communication network (e.g., scheduling entity 108), the downlink control information 114 including, but not limited to, scheduling information (e.g., grants), synchronization or timing information, or other control information.

In general, the base station 108 may include a backhaul interface for communicating with a backhaul portion 120 of a wireless communication system. The backhaul 120 may provide a link between the base station 108 and the core network 102. Further, in some examples, a backhaul network may provide interconnection between various base stations 108. Various types of backhaul interfaces (e.g., direct physical connections, virtual networks, etc.) may be employed using any suitable transport network.

The core network 102 may be part of the wireless communication system 100 and may be independent of the radio access technology used in the RAN 104. In some examples, the core network 102 may be configured according to the 5G standard (e.g., 5 GC). In other examples, the core network 102 may be configured according to the 4G Evolved Packet Core (EPC), or any other suitable standard or configuration.

Fig. 2 is a conceptual illustration of an example of a radio access network. By way of example, and not limitation, a schematic illustration of RAN 200 is provided. In some examples, the RAN 200 may be the same as the RAN 104 described above and shown in fig. 1. The geographic area covered by the RAN 200 may be divided into cellular regions (cells) that can be uniquely identified by User Equipment (UE) based on an identification broadcast from one access point or base station. Fig. 2 shows macro cells 202, 204, and 206 and small cell 208, each of which may include one or more sectors (not shown). A sector is a sub-region of a cell. All sectors located in one cell are served by the same base station. A wireless link in a sector may be identified by a single logical identification belonging to the sector. In a cell divided into sectors, multiple sectors in a cell may be formed by groups of antennas, each antenna being responsible for communication with UEs in a portion of the cell.

In fig. 2, two base stations 210 and 212 are shown in cells 202 and 204; and a third base station 214 is shown controlling a Remote Radio Head (RRH)216 in the cell 206. That is, the base station may have an integrated antenna, or may be connected to an antenna or RRH through a feeder cable. In the illustrated example, the cells 202, 204, and 126 may be referred to as macro cells because the base stations 210, 212, and 214 support cells having a larger size. Further, the base station 218 is shown in a small cell 208 (e.g., a micro cell, pico cell, femto cell, home base station, home node B, home eNodeB, etc.) that may overlap with one or more macro cells. In this example, the cell 208 may be referred to as a small cell because the base station 218 supports cells having a relatively small size. Cell size adjustment may be accomplished according to system design and component constraints.

It should be understood that radio access network 200 may include any number of radio base stations and cells. In addition, relay nodes may also be deployed to extend the size or coverage area of a given cell. The base stations 210, 212, 214, 218 provide wireless access points to a core network for any number of mobile devices. In some examples, base stations 210, 212, 214, and/or 218 may be the same as base station/scheduling entity 108 described above and shown in fig. 1.

Fig. 2 also includes a quadcopter or drone 220 that may be configured to act as a base station. That is, in some examples, the cell may not need to be stationary, and the geographic region of the cell may move according to the location of the mobile base station (e.g., the quadcopter 220).

In the RAN 200, cells may include UEs capable of communicating with one or more sectors of each cell. Further, each base station 210, 212, 214, 218, and 220 may be configured to provide an access point to the core network 102 (see fig. 1) for all UEs in the respective cell. For example, UEs 222 and 224 may communicate with base station 210; UEs 226 and 228 may communicate with base station 212; UEs 230 and 232 may communicate with base station 214 by way of RRH 216; the UE 234 may communicate with the base station 218; and the UE 236 may communicate with the mobile base station 220. In some examples, UEs 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, 232, 234, 236, 238, 240, and/or 242 may be the same as UE/scheduled entity 106 described above and shown in fig. 1.

In some examples, the mobile network node (e.g., the quadcopter 220) may be configured to act as a UE. For example, the quadcopter 220 may operate in the cell 202 by communicating with the base station 210.

In further aspects of the RAN 200, side-link signals may be used between UEs without relying on scheduling or control information from the base stations. For example, two or more UEs (e.g., UEs 226 and 228) may communicate with each other using peer-to-peer (P2P) or sidelink signals 227 without relaying the communication through a base station (e.g., base station 212). In a further example, UE 238 is shown in communication with UEs 240 and 242. Herein, UE 238 may act as a scheduling entity or a primary side link device, and UEs 240 and 242 may act as scheduled entities or non-primary (e.g., secondary) side link devices. In another example, the UE may act as a scheduling entity in a device-to-device (D2D), peer-to-peer (P2P), or vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) network and/or mesh network. In the mesh network example, UEs 240 and 242 may optionally communicate directly with each other in addition to communicating with scheduling entity 238. Thus, in a wireless communication system having scheduled access to time-frequency resources and having a cellular configuration, a P2P configuration, or a mesh configuration, a scheduling entity and one or more scheduled entities may communicate utilizing scheduled resources.

In the radio access network 200, the ability of a UE to communicate while moving (independent of its location) is referred to as mobility. In general, various physical channels between the UE and the radio access network are established, maintained and released under the control of access and mobility management functions (AMFs, not shown, as part of the core network 102 in fig. 1), which may include: a Security Context Management Function (SCMF) that manages security contexts for control plane and user plane functions; and a security anchor function (SEAF) that performs authentication.

In various aspects of the present disclosure, the wireless access network 200 may utilize DL-based mobility or UL-based mobility to enable mobility and handover (i.e., the connection of a UE is switched from one radio channel to another). In a network configured for DL-based mobility, during a call with a scheduling entity, or at any other time, a UE may monitor various parameters of signals from its serving cell, as well as various parameters of neighboring cells. Depending on the quality of these parameters, the UE may maintain communication with one or more of the neighboring cells. During this time, if the UE moves from one cell to another, or if the signal quality from the neighboring cell exceeds the signal quality from the serving cell for a given amount of time, the UE may perform a handover or handoff from the serving cell to the neighboring (target) cell. For example, UE 224 (which is shown as a vehicle, but any suitable form of UE may be used) may move from a geographic area corresponding to its serving cell 202 to a geographic area corresponding to a neighbor cell 206. When the signal strength or quality from a neighbor cell 206 exceeds the signal strength or quality of its serving cell 202 for a given amount of time, the UE 224 may send a report message to its serving base station 210 indicating the condition. In response, UE 224 may receive the handover command and the UE may perform a handover to cell 206.

In a network configured for UL-based mobility, UL reference signals from each UE may be utilized by the network to select a serving cell for each UE. In some examples, the base stations 210, 212, and 214/216 may broadcast a unified synchronization signal (e.g., a unified Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), a unified Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), and a unified Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH)). In some embodiments, the PSS, SSS, and PBCH may be included in a self-contained Synchronization Signal (SS) block. In some examples, the network may periodically send an SS burst containing multiple SS blocks. Two exemplary SS bursts 300 are shown in fig. 3, but a set of SS bursts may include any suitable number of SS bursts. In some examples, the set of SS bursts may include periodic transmissions of SS bursts (e.g., every X milliseconds (msec)), but any periodic SS burst or aperiodic set of SS bursts may also be utilized. Each SS burst 300 may include a predetermined number of SS blocks 302 (N SS blocks are shown in fig. 3). Each SS block 302 may include PSS, SSs, and PBCH multiplexed in time and/or frequency.

Referring back to fig. 2, the UEs 222, 224, 226, 228, 230, and 232 may receive the SS block 302 containing these unified synchronization signals, derive carrier frequency and slot timing from these synchronization signals, and transmit uplink pilot or reference signals in response to the derived timing. The uplink pilot signals transmitted by a UE (e.g., UE 224) may be received simultaneously by two or more cells in radio access network 200 (e.g., base stations 210 and 214/216). Each of these cells may measure the strength of the pilot signal, and the radio access network (e.g., one or more of base stations 210 and 214/216 and/or a central node in the core network) may determine the serving cell for UE 224. As the UE 224 moves through the radio access network 200, the network may continue to monitor the uplink pilot signals transmitted by the UE 224. When the signal strength or quality of the pilot signal measured by the neighboring cell exceeds the signal strength or quality measured by the serving cell, the network 200 may handover the UE 224 from the serving cell to the neighboring cell, with or without notification of the UE 224.

While the synchronization signal (e.g., SS block 302) transmitted by base stations 210, 212, and 214/216 may be uniform, the synchronization signal may not identify a particular cell, but rather identify the area of multiple cells operating on the same frequency and/or using the same timing. The use of zones in a 5G network or other next generation communication network enables an uplink-based mobility framework and improves the efficiency of both the UE and the network, as it can reduce the number of mobile messages that need to be exchanged between the UE and the network.

In various implementations, the air interface in the radio access network 200 may utilize licensed spectrum, unlicensed spectrum, or shared spectrum. Licensed spectrum is typically provided for exclusive use of a portion of the spectrum by mobile network operators who purchase licenses from governmental regulatory agencies. Unlicensed spectrum provides for shared use of a portion of the spectrum without the need for government-authorized licenses. Generally, any operator or device may gain access, although it is still generally necessary to comply with some technical rules to access the unlicensed spectrum. The shared spectrum may fall between licensed and unlicensed spectrum, where some technical rules or restrictions may be needed to access the spectrum, but the spectrum may still be shared by multiple operators and/or multiple RATs. For example, a holder of a license for a portion of licensed spectrum may provide Licensed Shared Access (LSA) to share the spectrum with other parties, e.g., having appropriate licensee-determined conditions for gaining access.

For transmission over the radio access network 200 to achieve a lower block error rate (BLER) while still achieving a very high data rate, channel coding may be used. That is, wireless communications may typically utilize appropriate error correction block coding. In typical block coding, an information message or sequence is segmented into Code Blocks (CBs), and then an encoder (e.g., CODEC) at the transmitting device mathematically adds redundancy to the information message. The use of such redundancy in the encoded information message may improve the reliability of the message, enabling any bit errors that may occur due to noise to be corrected.

In the early 5G NR specification, user data was encoded using a quasi-cyclic Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) with two different base graphs: one base map is used for larger code blocks and/or higher code rates, while another base map is used for other cases. Control information and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) are encoded using a nested sequence based polar coding. For these channels, puncturing, shortening, and repetition are used for rate matching.

However, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that aspects of the disclosure may be implemented using any suitable channel coding. Various implementations of the scheduling entity 108 and scheduled entity 106 may include appropriate hardware and capabilities (e.g., encoders, decoders, and/or CODECs) to utilize one or more of these channel encodings for wireless communications.

The air interface in radio access network 200 may utilize one or more multiplexing and multiple access algorithms to enable simultaneous communication of various devices. For example, the 5G NR specification provides multiple access for UL transmissions from UEs 222 and 224 to base station 210 and multiplexing for DL transmissions from base station 210 to one or more UEs 222 and 224 using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) with a Cyclic Prefix (CP). Moreover, for UL transmissions, the 5G NR specification provides support for discrete Fourier transform spread OFDM with CP (DFT-s-OFDM) (which is also referred to as Single-Carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA). however, within the scope of the present disclosure, multiplexing and multiple access are not limited to the above schemes and may be provided utilizing Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), Sparse Code Multiple Access (SCMA), Resource Spread Multiple Access (RSMA), or other suitable multiple access schemes.

Various aspects of the present disclosure are described with reference to the OFDM waveform schematically illustrated in fig. 4. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that various aspects of the present disclosure may be applied to DFT-s-OFDMA waveforms in substantially the same manner as described herein below. That is, while some examples of the present disclosure focus on OFDM links for clarity of illustration, it should be understood that the same principles may also be applied to DFT-s-OFDMA waveforms.

In this disclosure, a frame may refer to a predetermined duration (e.g., 10ms) for wireless transmission where each frame consists of 10 subframes of 1ms each. On a given carrier, there may be one set of frames in the Uplink (UL) and another set of frames in the Downlink (DL). Referring now to fig. 4, an expanded view of an exemplary DL subframe 402 is shown, which illustrates an OFDM resource grid 404. However, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the PHY transmission structure for any particular application may vary from the examples described herein depending on any number of factors. Here, time is a horizontal direction in units of OFDM symbols, and frequency is a vertical direction in units of subcarriers or tones.

Resource grid 404 may be used to schematically represent time-frequency resources for a given antenna port. That is, in a MIMO implementation with multiple antenna ports available, a corresponding plurality of resource grids 404 may be used for communication. Resource grid 404 is divided into a plurality of Resource Elements (REs) 406. The RE, which is 1 subcarrier x 1 symbol, is the smallest discrete part of the time-frequency grid and contains a single complex value representing data from a physical channel or signal. Each RE may represent one or more bits in information, depending on the modulation utilized in a particular implementation. In some examples, the block of REs may be referred to as a Physical Resource Block (PRB), or more simply Resource Block (RB)408, which contains any suitable number of consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. In one example, an RB may include 12 subcarriers, which are independent of the number scheme used. In some examples, an RB may include any suitable number of consecutive OFDM symbols in the time domain, depending on the digital scheme. In the present disclosure, it is assumed that a single RB, such as RB 408, corresponds entirely to a single communication direction (transmission or reception for a given device).

The UE typically utilizes only a subset of the resource grid 404. The RB may be the smallest resource unit that can be allocated to the UE. Thus, the more RBs scheduled for the UE, and the higher the modulation scheme selected for the air interface, the higher the data rate for the UE.

In this schematic illustration, RB 408 is shown to occupy less than the entire bandwidth of subframe 402, with some subcarriers shown above and below RB 408. In a given implementation, subframe 402 may have a bandwidth corresponding to any number of one or more RBs 408. Further, in this schematic illustration, RB 408 is shown to occupy less than the entire duration of subframe 402, but this is merely a possible example.

Each 1ms subframe 402 may consist of one or more adjacent slots. In the example shown in fig. 4, one subframe 402 includes four slots 410 as an illustrative example. In some examples, a slot may be defined in terms of a specified number of OFDM symbols with a given Cyclic Prefix (CP) length. For example, a slot may include 7 or 14 OFDM symbols with a nominal CP. Further examples may include a micro-slot having a shorter duration (e.g., one or two OFDM symbols). In some cases, these minislots may be transmitted occupying resources scheduled for ongoing slot transmissions for the same or different UEs.

An expanded view of one of the time slots 410 shows the time slot 410 including a control field 412 and a data field 414. In general, the control region 412 may carry a control channel (e.g., PDCCH) and the data region 414 may carry a data channel (e.g., PDSCH or PUSCH). Of course, a slot may contain all DL, all UL, or at least one DL portion and at least one UL portion. The simple structure shown in fig. 4 is merely exemplary in nature, and different slot structures may be utilized and may include one or more of each of the control and data domains.

Although not shown in fig. 4, individual REs 406 within an RB 408 may be scheduled to carry one or more physical channels including control channels, shared channels, data channels, and so forth. Other REs 406 within RB 408 may also carry pilots or reference signals including, but not limited to, demodulation reference signals (DMRS), Control Reference Signals (CRS), or Sounding Reference Signals (SRS). These pilot or reference signals may be provided for a receiving device to perform channel estimation of the corresponding channel, which may enable coherent demodulation/detection of the control and/or data channels within the RB 408.

In DL transmissions, a transmitting device (e.g., scheduling entity 108) may allocate one or more REs 406 (e.g., within control domain 412) to carry DL control information 114 including one or more DL control channels (e.g., PBCH, PSS, SSS, SS blocks, Physical Control Format Indicator Channel (PCFICH), physical hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) indicator channel (PHICH), and/or Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), etc.) to one or more scheduled entities 106. The PCFICH provides information for assisting a receiving device in receiving and decoding the PDCCH. The PDCCH carries Downlink Control Information (DCI), including but not limited to: power control commands, scheduling information, grants, and/or assignment of REs for DL and UL transmissions. The PHICH carries HARQ feedback transmission such as Acknowledgement (ACK) or Negative Acknowledgement (NACK). HARQ is a technique known to those of ordinary skill in the art in which the integrity of a packet transmission may be checked at the receiving side for accuracy, e.g., using any suitable integrity checking mechanism such as a checksum or a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC). An ACK may be sent if the integrity of the transmission is confirmed, and a NACK may be sent if not confirmed. In response to the NACK, the transmitting device may send a HARQ retransmission, which may implement chase combining, incremental redundancy, and so on.

In UL transmissions, a transmitting device (e.g., scheduled entity 106) may utilize one or more REs 406 to carry UL control information 118 including one or more UL control channels (e.g., Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH)) to scheduling entity 108. The UL control information may include a wide variety of packet types and categories including pilots, reference signals, and information configured to enable or facilitate decoding of uplink data transmissions. In some examples, the control information 118 may include a Scheduling Request (SR), e.g., a request for the scheduling entity 108 to schedule an uplink transmission. Herein, in response to the SR transmitted on the control channel 118, the scheduling entity 108 may transmit downlink control information 114, which may schedule resources for uplink packet transmission. The UL control information may also include HARQ feedback, Channel State Feedback (CSF), or any other suitable UL control information.

In addition to control information, one or more REs 406 may be allocated for user data or traffic data (e.g., within data field 414). The traffic may be carried on one or more traffic channels (e.g., for DL transmissions, Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH), or for UL transmissions, Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH)). In some examples, one or more REs 406 in data field 414 may be configured to carry System Information Blocks (SIBs) that carry information that enables access to a given cell.

The channels or carriers described above and shown in fig. 1 and 4 need not be all of the channels or carriers that can be utilized between the scheduling entity 108 and the scheduled entity 106, and those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that other channels or carriers (e.g., other traffic, control, and feedback channels) may be utilized in addition to those shown.

These physical channels described above are typically multiplexed and mapped to transport channels for processing at the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. The transport channels carry information blocks called Transport Blocks (TBs). Based on the Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) and the number of RBs in a given transmission, the Transport Block Size (TBS), which may correspond to the number of information bits, may be a controlled parameter.

In OFDM, to maintain the orthogonality of the subcarriers or tones, the subcarrier spacing may be equal to the inverse of the symbol period. The digital scheme of an OFDM waveform refers to its specific subcarrier spacing and Cyclic Prefix (CP) overhead. The scalable digital scheme refers to the ability of the network to select different subcarrier spacings and, thus, the corresponding symbol duration (which includes the CP length) at each spacing. Using a scalable digital scheme, the nominal subcarrier spacing (SCS) can be scaled up or down by integer multiples. In this way, regardless of the CP overhead and the selected SCS, the symbol boundaries may be aligned at some common multiple of the symbols (e.g., at the boundary of each 1ms subframe). The scope of the SCS may include any suitable SCS. For example, a scalable digital scheme may support SCS ranging from 15kHz to 480 kHz.

To illustrate this concept of a scalable digital scheme, fig. 5 shows a first RB 502 having a nominal digital scheme, and a second RB 504 having a scaled digital scheme. As one example, the first RB 502 may have a 'nominal' subcarrier spacing (SCS) of 30kHz_n) And a 'nominal' symbol duration of 333 mus_n. Here, in the second RB 504, the digital scheme for scaling includes a scaled SCS that doubles the nominal SCS, or a2 × SCS_n60 kHz. Since this provides twice the bandwidth per symbol, the symbol duration carrying the same information is shortened. Thus, in the second RB 504, the scaled digital scheme includes a scaled symbol duration of one-half of the nominal symbol duration, or (symbol duration)_n)÷2＝167μs。

In some aspects of the disclosure, a scheduling entity 108 (e.g., a gNB) may transmit synchronization and control signals (e.g., PSS, SSs, and PBCH) to one or more scheduled entities 108 (e.g., UEs) using various SS block designs. Each SS block may include a PSS, a SSs, and a PBCH. Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example SS block, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. SS block 600 may be the same as SS block 302 of fig. 3 and may be included in SS burst 300. The SSB block 600 includes four OFDM symbols, which are numbered in increasing order from 0 to 3 within the SS block. The SS block 600 may provide various synchronization and control signals. In this example, time-frequency resources (e.g., REs or RBs) of the SS block 600 may be allocated to carry the PSS 602, the SSs 604, and the PBCH 606. Some resources of the SS block may be allocated to a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) associated with the PBCH. For example, some REs in a symbol in which the PBCH 606 is located may be allocated to associated DMRSs 610, and so on. In some aspects of the disclosure, the PBCH 606 spans a wider bandwidth (PBCH BW) than the bandwidth of the PSS and/or SSS. In one example, the PBCH may have a bandwidth of 240 tones (e.g., subcarrier 0, 1, …, 239) and the PSS/SSS may have a bandwidth of 127 tones (e.g., subcarrier 56, 57, …, 182). In another example, the PBCH bandwidth may be twice the PSS/SSS bandwidth.

In 5G NR, PBCH channel estimation and demodulation may be performed using PSS/SSS and/or DMRS. The PSS and SSs are transmitted in the same SS block 600 as the PBCH, and are multiplexed with the PBCH symbols in the time domain. DMRS is transmitted in the same symbol as PBCH and multiplexed in the frequency domain. In this example, the PBCH 606 occupies the second and fourth symbols, the PSS 602 occupies the first symbol, and the SSS 604 occupies the third symbol. This particular SS block 600 configuration is merely an example. In other aspects of the disclosure, the PSS, SSS, and PBCH may be allocated to different REs of an SS block in other examples. That is, the order of PBCH, PSS, and SSS may be different from this example, and furthermore, may be presented in a different order in the frequency domain.

When the scheduling entity transmits PSS and SSs in the same SS block as PBCH, the receiving device may demodulate PBCH based at least in part on PSS and/or SSs. The PSS/SSS may be used for channel estimation and demodulated reference signals for PBCH. However, in some cases, for example, when the bandwidth of the PSS/SSS is smaller than that of the PBCH, an additional dedicated DMRS may be required. In this case, a dedicated DMRS may be used to provide at least channel estimates for REs of PBCH at tones where PSS/SSS are not transmitted. In some aspects of the disclosure, PSS/SSS may be sent from one port (e.g., port P0) while PBCH may be sent from two ports (e.g., one common port P0 with PSS/SSS and one other port P1). In this case, a dedicated DMRS may be needed to provide channel estimates for at least port P1 transmissions.

In the example described with respect to fig. 6, since the PSS and SSS do not use all of the available bandwidth in the SS block 600, some or all of the unused/unallocated resources 612 (e.g., REs) may be used to carry other information or supplemental channels. Some non-limiting examples of supplemental channels are a Tertiary Synchronization Signal (TSS) used to signal SS block time indices, a Beam Reference Signal (BRS) used for beam refinement, wake-up radio signals, etc. to support UE power saving, a common search space PDCCH used to signal scheduling grants of PDSCH resources carrying Minimum System Information Block (MSIB) information (e.g., information indicating the location within a slot or RB where a minimum set of SIBs required for channel access may be located), a paging channel/signal, etc. In another example, the supplemental channel may be a supplemental PBCH. In one particular example, the scheduling entity may reduce MIB overhead for transmitting the common search space configuration by using the reallocated REs to transmit Master Information Block (MIB) information or the like using a supplemental channel.

In some examples, some or all of the available REs may be reallocated for transmitting supplemental channels or signals. For example, the supplemental channels may be frequency multiplexed (FDM) with the SSS, while a portion of the available REs 810 in the same symbol as the PSS may remain unused. That is, the nature of PSS may be such that: the supplemental channels may be degraded if they are FDM with the PSS.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example SS block 700, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The SS block 700 has a PSS 702, a SSs 704, and a PBCH 706, similar to the SS block 600 described above. For simplicity, the DMRS associated with the PBCH 706 is not shown in fig. 7. In this example, the scheduling entity may allocate unused resources in the third symbol to a supplemental channel (e.g., supplemental PBCH 708) to improve and/or extend link coverage. In this case, the supplemental PBCH 708 and SSS 704 are multiplexed in the same symbol position using FDM. Supplemental PBCH may improve link budget and/or coverage of PBCH by transmitting more repetitions of coded bits of the PBCH payload (e.g., MIB). Supplemental PBCH 708 and PBCH 706 may be jointly encoded such that they are linked from a channel coding perspective. In one example, these coded bits are repeated and mapped into the PBCH. The supplemental PBCH carries additional repetitions of coded bits of the PBCH. The coded bits and their repetitions are further mapped into the supplemental PBCH for link budget enhancement. For example, PBCH and supplemental PBCH data sequences may be multiplexed and fed to a joint encoder. Joint coding of supplemental PBCH 708 and PBCH 706 may include one or more of channel coding, error correction coding, scrambling, modulation, layer mapping, and precoding to generate OFDM symbols. In some aspects of the disclosure, supplemental PBCH 708 and PBCH 706 may use the same modulation and channel coding scheme.

In some aspects of the disclosure, the scheduling entity may use the same transmit (Tx) configuration for transmitting the supplemental PBCH 708 and the PBCH 706 in the same SS block. Using the same Tx configuration may simplify receiver design. Tx configuration refers to some combination of transmission schemes. For example, the transmitting device may transmit supplemental PBCH and PBCH jointly coded and mapped to different OFDM symbols using the same antenna port configuration, the same beamforming configuration, and/or the same transmit diversity scheme. In some examples, the transmitting device may use the same numerology (e.g., subcarrier spacing and cyclic prefix) for transmitting the supplemental PBCH and PBCH.

Fig. 8 is a diagram illustrating another example SS block 800, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. The SS block 800 has a PSS 802, a SSs 804, and a PBCH 806, similar to the SS blocks 600 and 700 described above. In this example, the scheduling entity may allocate unused resources at the first and third symbols to a supplemental channel (e.g., supplemental PBCH 808) for improving and/or extending link coverage. In this case, the supplemental PBCH 808 is frequency multiplexed with the PSS 802 and SSS 804. The scheduling entity may jointly encode supplemental PBCH 808 and PBCH 806 and use the same modulation and channel coding scheme for their transmissions. Further, the scheduling entity may use the same Tx configuration for transmitting the supplemental PBCH and the PBCH in the same SS block.

In some aspects of the disclosure, supplemental signals/channels carried in available REs may be used, at least in part, to carry DMRSs. In other examples, the DMRS carried in the PBCH symbol may also be used as a demodulation reference signal for at least a portion of the supplemental signal/channel. When demodulating supplemental signals/channels using DMRS associated with PBCH, the transmitting device may indicate this to the UE via MIB, SIB, or RRC signaling. For example, in case of UE stationary or slow moving, channel demodulation based on DMRS in different symbols (which carry PBCH) may be sufficient to demodulate the supplemental signal/channel. However, in scenarios where the UE is moving rapidly (such as in a train or car), demodulation of the supplemental signal/channel may benefit from having the DMRS in the same symbol as the supplemental signal/channel. In some examples, such use of DMRS for PBCH may be pre-configured and may not require explicit signaling to account for its use by supplemental signals/channels.

Referring back to fig. 6, in one aspect of the present disclosure, some time-frequency resources 612 may remain unused or unallocated. In this example, the available transmit power for these unused or unallocated resources (e.g., REs) may be used to boost or increase the Tx power level of the PSS and/or SSS. In one example, the scheduling entity may boost (i.e., increase) the Tx power level of the PSS/SSS by 3dB or any desired value limited by the available Tx power. That is, the power applied to REs carrying PSS/SSS may be increased (i.e., boosted) by a predetermined amount (e.g., 3dB) relative to the nominal level or default value for REs within the same RB or slot. Since the UE may decode or demodulate the PBCH using PSS/SSS as DMRS, the scheduling entity may inform the UE of the power boost (if applied). For example, the scheduling entity may use RRC signaling or Downlink Control Information (DCI) to inform the UE of the power boost of the PSS/SSS. The scheduling entity needs to consider the power of the PBCH when applying power boosting to the PSS/SSS. In one example, the PSS/SSS may be boosted by x dB when the PBCH is transmitted at its nominal power (i.e., not boosted). When the power of the PBCH has increased by y dB, the transmitting device may increase the power of the PSS/SSS by x + y dB, so that the power difference between PBCH and PSS/SSS may be maintained. The scheduling entity may indicate the advanced PSS and/or SSS via system information (e.g., minimum remaining system information (RMSI) or Other System Information (OSI)) or Radio Resource Control (RRC) signaling.

Fig. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating additional example SS block designs, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. Referring to fig. 9, an SS block 900 includes a PBCH 902 in first and fourth symbols, a PSS 904 in a second symbol, and an SSs 906 in a third symbol. Some of the time-frequency resources 908 in the second and third symbols may be used for reallocation, as described above with respect to fig. 6-8. Referring to fig. 10, an SS block 1000 includes a PBCH 1002 in first and fourth symbols, a PSS 1004 in second symbols, and an SSs 1006 in third symbols. Some of the time-frequency resources 1008 in the second and third symbols may be used for reallocation, as described above with respect to fig. 6-8.

Fig. 11 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for a scheduling entity 1100 employing a processing system 1114. For example, scheduling entity 1100 may be a User Equipment (UE), as illustrated in any one or more of fig. 1 and/or fig. 2. In another example, the scheduling entity 1100 may be a base station as illustrated in any one or more of fig. 1 and/or fig. 2.

The scheduling entity 1100 may be implemented using a processing system 614 that includes one or more processors 1104. Examples of processor 1104 include microprocessors, microcontrollers, Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform the various functions described throughout this disclosure. In various examples, the scheduling entity 1100 may be configured to perform any one or more of the functions described herein. That is, the processor 1104, as utilized in the scheduling entity 1100, may be utilized to implement any one or more of the processes and procedures described with respect to fig. 6-10 and 12.

In this example, the processing system 1114 can be implemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus 1102. The bus 1102 may include any number of interconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific application of the processing system 1114 and the overall design constraints. The bus 1102 may communicatively couple various circuits including one or more processors, represented generally by the processor 1104, memory 1105, and computer-readable media, represented generally by the computer-readable medium 1106. In addition, bus 1102 may also link various other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in the art, and therefore, are not described any further. A bus interface 1108 provides an interface between bus 1102 and transceiver 1110. The transceiver 1110 provides a communication interface or unit for communicating with various other apparatus over a transmission medium. Depending on the nature of the apparatus, a user interface 1112 (e.g., keypad, display, speaker, microphone, joystick) may also be provided. Of course, such a user interface 1112 is optional and may be omitted in some examples (e.g., a base station).

In some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 1104 may include circuitry (e.g., processing circuitry 1140, communication circuitry 1142, and encoding circuitry 1144) configured for various functions (e.g., including communicating with scheduled entities using synchronization signal blocks). For example, the circuitry may be configured to implement one or more of the functions described with respect to fig. 12.

The processor 1104 is responsible for managing the bus 1102 and general processing, including the execution of software stored on the computer-readable medium 1106. The software, when executed by the processor 1104, causes the processing system 1114 to perform the various functions described supra for any particular apparatus. The computer-readable medium 1106 and the memory 1105 may also be used for storing data that is manipulated by the processor 1104 when executing software.

One or more processors 1104 in the processing system may execute the software. Software should be construed broadly to mean instructions, instruction sets, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, software modules, applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution, procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or other terminology. The software may reside on computer readable medium 1106. Computer-readable media 1106 may be non-transitory computer-readable media. Non-transitory computer-readable media include, by way of example, magnetic storage devices (e.g., hard disks, floppy disks, magnetic tape), optical disks (e.g., Compact Disks (CDs) or Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs)), smart cards, flash memory devices (e.g., cards, stick, or key drives), Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), programmable ROM (prom), erasable prom (eprom), electrically erasable prom (eeprom), registers, removable hard disks, and any other suitable medium for storing software and/or instructions that may be accessed and read by a computer. The computer-readable medium 1106 may be located in the processing system 1114, located external to the processing system 1114, or distributed among multiple entities including the processing system 1114. The computer-readable medium 1106 may be embodied in a computer program product. By way of example, and not limitation, a computer program product may comprise a computer-readable medium in packaging material. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize how best to implement the described functionality presented throughout this disclosure, depending on the particular application and the overall design constraints imposed on the overall system.

In one or more examples, the computer-readable storage medium 1106 may include software (e.g., processing instructions 1152, communication instructions 1154, and encoding instructions 1156) configured to implement various functions (e.g., including communicating with scheduled entities using SS blocks). For example, the software may be configured to implement one or more of the functions described with respect to fig. 12.

Fig. 12 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process 1200 for wireless communication using a Synchronization Signal (SS) block, according to some aspects of the present disclosure. As described below, in particular implementations of the scope of the present disclosure, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted, and some illustrated features may not be required for implementation of all embodiments. In some examples, process 1200 may be performed by scheduling entity 1100 shown in fig. 11. In some examples, process 1200 may be performed by any suitable means or element for performing the functions or algorithms described below.

At block 1202, referring to fig. 11, a scheduling entity 1100 schedules a plurality of time domain symbols for transmitting SS blocks and supplemental channels using a communication circuit 1142. For example, the SS blocks include a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSs), and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), similar to the SS blocks shown in fig. 6-10.

At block 1204, the scheduling entity jointly encodes the PBCH and the supplemental channel for transmission using the encoding circuit 1144. For example, the encoding circuitry 1144 may be configured to multiplex the PBCH with the data sequence of the supplemental channel, and feed the multiplexed sequence to the joint encoder.

At block 1206, the scheduling entity transmits a plurality of time domain symbols including the SS blocks and supplemental channels to a UE or scheduled entity using transceiver 1110. In some examples, at least one of the PSS or SSS is frequency multiplexed with the supplemental channel. In one example, the supplemental channel is a supplemental PBCH frequency multiplexed with the PSS and/or SSS in respective symbols. Using this process 1200, the scheduling entity may utilize the unallocated resources of the SS block to transmit the supplemental signals/channels. Therefore, communication efficiency can be increased.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, it is also contemplated that the scheduling entity can boost the Tx power of the PSS and/or SSS when some resources in the same symbol used to transmit the PSS/SSS are not used.

Fig. 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementation for an exemplary scheduled entity 1300 employing a processing system 1314. In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, an element, or any portion of an element, or any combination of elements, may be implemented using a processing system 1314 including one or more processors 1304. For example, scheduled entity 1300 may be a User Equipment (UE), as illustrated by any one or more of fig. 1 and/or fig. 2.

The processing system 1314 may be substantially the same as the processing system 1114 shown in FIG. 11, including a bus interface 1308, a bus 1302, memory 1305, a processor 1304, and a computer-readable medium 1306. Further, the scheduled entity 1300 may include a user interface 1312 and a transceiver 1310 substantially similar to those described above in fig. 11. That is, as utilized in the scheduled entity 1300, any one or more of the processes described below and illustrated in fig. 13 may be implemented using the processor 1304.

In some aspects of the disclosure, the processor 1304 may include circuitry (e.g., processing circuitry 1340, communication circuitry 1342, and decoding circuitry 1344) configured for various functions (e.g., including receiving and decoding SS blocks in wireless communications). For example, the circuitry may be configured to implement one or more of the functions described below with respect to fig. 14. In one or more examples, computer-readable storage medium 1306 may include software (e.g., processing instructions 1352, communication instructions 1354, and decoding instructions 1356) configured for various functions (e.g., including receiving and decoding SS blocks in wireless communications). For example, the software may be configured to implement one or more of the functions described with respect to fig. 14.

Fig. 14 is a flow diagram illustrating another example process 1400 for wireless communication using Synchronization Signal (SS) blocks in accordance with some aspects of the present disclosure. As described below, in particular implementations of the scope of the present disclosure, some or all of the illustrated features may be omitted, and some illustrated features may not be required for implementation of all embodiments. In some examples, process 1400 may be performed by scheduling entity 1300 shown in fig. 13. In some examples, process 1400 may be performed by any suitable means or unit for performing the functions or algorithms described below.

At block 1402, referring to fig. 13, a scheduled entity 1300 receives a plurality of time domain symbols including SS blocks and supplemental channels using communication circuitry 1342 and transceiver 1310. The SS block includes a PSS, a SSs, and a PBCH, at least one of the PSS or the SSs being frequency multiplexed with a supplemental channel. In some examples, the SS block may be any of the SS blocks described with respect to fig. 6-10.

At block 1404, the scheduled entity 1300 decodes the plurality of time domain symbols using decoding circuits 1344 to recover a supplemental channel, a PSS, an SSS, and a PBCH, wherein the PBCH and supplemental channel are jointly encoded. The scheduled entity performs joint decoding of PBCH and supplemental PBCH. An exemplary decoding process may include one or more of the following: symbol reading, layer demapping and de-precoding, demodulation, descrambling, and codeword decoding. In some examples, the scheduled entity may demodulate the supplemental channel using a DMRS associated with the PBCH. In some examples, the supplemental channel is a supplemental PBCH. In some examples, the scheduled entity may use the PSS/SSS as a demodulation reference signal for demodulating the PBCH.

In one configuration, the apparatus 1100 and/or 1300 for wireless communication includes: various units for transmitting and/or receiving SS blocks and supplemental channels. In one aspect, the aforementioned means may be the processor 1104/1304 shown in fig. 11/13 configured to perform the functions set forth by these aforementioned means. In another aspect, the aforementioned means may be circuitry or any device configured to perform the functions recited by the aforementioned means.

Of course, in the examples above, the circuitry included in the processor 1104/1304 is provided merely as an example, and other means for performing the functions described may be included in various aspects of the disclosure, including, but not limited to, instructions stored in the computer-readable storage medium 1106/1306, or any other suitable means or unit described in any of fig. 1 and/or 2, and utilizing the processes and/or algorithms described in fig. 12 and/or 14 herein, for example.

Aspects of a wireless communication network are presented with reference to an example implementation. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate, the various aspects described throughout this disclosure may be extended to other telecommunications systems, network architectures, and communication standards.

By way of example, various aspects may be implemented in other systems specified by 3GPP, such as Long Term Evolution (LTE), Evolved Packet System (EPS), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), and/or global system for mobile communications (GSM). Aspects may also be extended to systems specified by the third generation partnership project 2(3GPP2), such as CDMA2000 and/or evolution data optimized (EV-DO). Other examples may be implemented in systems employing IEEE 802.11(Wi-Fi), IEEE 802.16(WiMAX), IEEE 802.20, ultra-wideband (UWB), Bluetooth, and/or other suitable systems. The actual telecommunications standard, network architecture, and/or communications standard employed will depend on the particular application and all design constraints imposed on the system.

Throughout this disclosure, the word "exemplary" means "serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any implementation or aspect described herein as "exemplary" is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects of the disclosure. Likewise, the word "aspect" does not require that all aspects of the disclosure include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. The term "coupled" is used herein to refer to a direct or indirect coupling between two objects. For example, if object a physically contacts object B, and object B contacts object C, objects a and C may still be considered coupled to each other even though they are not in direct physical contact with each other. For example, a first object may be coupled to a second object even though the first object is never in direct physical contact with the second object. The terms "circuitry" and "electronic circuitry" are used broadly and are intended to encompass both hardware implementations of electronic devices and conductors (where the performance of functions described in this disclosure is achieved when the electronic devices and conductors are connected and configured, without limitation to the type of electronic circuitry), and software implementations of information and instructions (where the performance of functions described in this disclosure is achieved when the information and instructions are executed by a processor).

One or more of the components, steps, features and/or functions illustrated in figures 1-14 may be rearranged and/or combined into a single component, step, feature or function or embodied in several components, steps or functions. In addition, additional elements, components, steps, and/or functions may be added without departing from the novel features disclosed herein. The apparatus, devices, and/or components shown in fig. 1-14 may be configured to perform one or more of the methods, features, or steps described herein. The novel algorithms described herein may also be efficiently implemented in software and/or embedded in hardware.

It is to be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods disclosed herein is merely illustrative of exemplary processes. It should be understood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods may be rearranged based on design preferences. The accompanying method claims present elements of the various steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to the specific order or hierarchy presented unless explicitly stated herein.

Claims (38)

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

scheduling a plurality of time domain symbols for transmitting synchronization signals, SS, blocks and supplemental channels, the SS blocks comprising a primary synchronization signal, PSS, a secondary synchronization signal, SSS, and a physical broadcast channel, PBCH;

jointly encoding the PBCH and the supplemental channel for transmission such that the supplemental channel comprises encoded bits of the PBCH; and

transmitting the plurality of time domain symbols including the SS blocks and the supplemental channel to a User Equipment (UE), the SSS being frequency multiplexed with the supplemental channel, and

wherein the PSS, the SSS, and the PBCH are located in four consecutive time domain symbols of the plurality of time domain symbols in a time multiplexed manner, and wherein second and fourth time domain symbols of the four consecutive time domain symbols carry the PBCH.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental channel comprises a supplemental PBCH.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises:

transmitting the PBCH across a first bandwidth; and

transmitting the PSS and SSS across a second bandwidth, wherein the second bandwidth is narrower than the first bandwidth.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmitting comprises:

transmitting at least one of the PSS or the SSS at a boosted power level higher than a nominal power level.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

indicating the boosted power level relative to the nominal power level of at least one of the PSS or the SSS to the UE.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental channel comprises at least one of:

a three-level synchronization signal (TSS) for signaling SS block time indexes;

a Beam Reference Signal (BRS) for facilitating beam refinement;

waking up the radio signal;

a common search space for a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH); or alternatively

A paging signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises: transmitting the supplemental channel and the PBCH with a same transmission configuration.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmission configuration comprises at least one of: an antenna port configuration, a beamforming configuration, a transmit diversity scheme, or a digital scheme.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing a demodulation reference signal, DMRS, of the PBCH as a reference signal for the supplemental channel.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising indicating to the UE to utilize the DMRS of the PBCH as the reference signal for the supplemental channel.

11. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving a plurality of time domain symbols comprising a synchronization signal SS block and a supplemental channel;

the SS blocks include a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), the SSS being frequency multiplexed with the supplemental channel, and wherein the PSS, the SSS, and the PBCH are located in four consecutive time domain symbols of the plurality of time domain symbols in a time multiplexed manner, and wherein second and fourth time domain symbols of the four consecutive time domain symbols carry the PBCH; and

decoding the plurality of time domain symbols to recover the supplemental channel, the PSS, the SSS, and the PBCH, wherein the PBCH is jointly encoded with the supplemental channel, the supplemental channel comprising encoded bits of the PBCH.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the supplemental channel comprises a supplemental PBCH.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the decoding comprises:

jointly decoding the PBCH and the supplemental PBCH.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving comprises:

receiving the PBCH across a first bandwidth; and

receiving the PSS and the SSS across a second bandwidth, wherein the second bandwidth is narrower than the first bandwidth.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the receiving comprises:

receiving at least one of the PSS or the SSS at a boosted power level higher than a nominal power level.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving an indication from a scheduling entity, the indication indicating the boosted power level relative to the nominal power level for at least one of the PSS or the SSS.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the supplemental channel comprises at least one of:

a three-level synchronization signal (TSS) for signaling SS block time indexes;

a Beam Reference Signal (BRS) for facilitating beam refinement;

waking up the radio signal;

a common search space for a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH); or

A paging signal.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an indication to utilize a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PBCH as a reference signal for the supplemental channel.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the decoding comprises:

demodulating the supplemental channel using a PBCH demodulation reference Signal (DMRS).

20. A scheduling entity for wireless communication, comprising:

a communication interface;

a memory; and

a processor operatively coupled with the communication interface and the memory, wherein the processor and the memory are configured to:

scheduling a plurality of time domain symbols for transmitting synchronization signals, SS, blocks and supplemental channels, the SS blocks comprising a primary synchronization signal, PSS, a secondary synchronization signal, SSS, and a physical broadcast channel, PBCH;

jointly encoding the PBCH and the supplemental channel for transmission such that the supplemental channel includes encoded bits of the PBCH; and

transmitting the plurality of time domain symbols including the SS blocks and the supplemental channel to a User Equipment (UE), the SSS being frequency multiplexed with the supplemental channel, and

wherein the PSS, the SSS, and the PBCH are located in four consecutive time domain symbols of the plurality of time domain symbols in a time multiplexed manner, and wherein second and fourth time domain symbols of the four consecutive time domain symbols carry the PBCH.

21. The scheduling entity of claim 20, wherein the supplemental channel comprises a supplemental PBCH.

22. The scheduling entity of claim 20, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to:

transmitting the PBCH across a first bandwidth; and

transmitting the PSS and SSS across a second bandwidth, wherein the second bandwidth is narrower than the first bandwidth.

23. The scheduling entity of claim 22, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to:

transmitting the PSS and/or the SSS at a boosted power level higher than a nominal power level.

24. The scheduling entity of claim 23, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to:

indicating to the UE a boosted transmit power level of the PSS and/or the SSS relative to the nominal power level.

25. The scheduling entity of claim 20, wherein the supplemental channel comprises at least one of:

a three-level synchronization signal (TSS) for signaling SS block time indexes;

a Beam Reference Signal (BRS) for facilitating beam refinement;

waking up a radio signal;

a common search space for a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH); or alternatively

A paging signal.

26. The scheduling entity of claim 20, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to:

transmitting the supplemental channel and the PBCH with a same transmission configuration.

27. The scheduling entity of claim 26, wherein the transmission configuration comprises at least one of: an antenna port configuration, a beamforming configuration, a transmit diversity scheme, or a digital scheme.

28. The scheduling entity of claim 20, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to:

and utilizing the DMRS of the PBCH as the reference signal for the supplementary channel.

29. The scheduling entity of claim 28, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to:

indicating to the UE to utilize the DMRS of the PBCH as the reference signal for the supplemental channel.

30. A user equipment, UE, for wireless communication, comprising:

a communication interface;

a memory; and

a processor operatively coupled with the communication interface and the memory, wherein the processor and the memory are configured to:

receiving a plurality of time domain symbols comprising a synchronization signal SS block and a supplemental channel;

the SS blocks include a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH), the SSS being frequency multiplexed with the supplemental channel, and wherein the PSS, the SSS, and the PBCH are located in four consecutive time domain symbols of the plurality of time domain symbols in a time multiplexed manner, and wherein second and fourth time domain symbols of the four consecutive time domain symbols carry the PBCH; and

decoding the plurality of time domain symbols to recover the supplemental channel, the PSS, the SSS, and the PBCH, wherein the PBCH is jointly encoded with the supplemental channel, the supplemental channel comprising encoded bits of the PBCH.

31. The UE of claim 30, wherein the supplemental channel comprises a supplemental PBCH.

32. The UE of claim 31, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to:

jointly decoding the PBCH and the supplemental PBCH.

33. The UE of claim 30, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to:

receiving the PBCH across a first bandwidth; and

receiving the PSS and the SSS across a second bandwidth, wherein the second bandwidth is narrower than the first bandwidth.

34. The UE of claim 30, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to:

receiving the PSS or the SSS at a boosted power level higher than a nominal power level.

35. The UE of claim 34, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to:

receiving an indication from a scheduling entity indicating that a transmit power of at least one of the PSS or the SSS is increased from the nominal power level to the boosted power level.

36. The UE of claim 30, wherein the supplemental channel comprises at least one of:

a three-level synchronization signal (TSS) for signaling SS block time indexes;

a Beam Reference Signal (BRS) for facilitating beam refinement;

waking up a radio signal;

a common search space for a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH); or

A paging signal.

37. The UE of claim 30, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to:

receiving an indication to utilize a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) of the PBCH as a reference signal for the supplemental channel.

38. The UE of claim 30, wherein the processor and the memory are further configured to:

demodulating the supplemental channel using a PBCH demodulation reference Signal (DMRS).