Patent Description:
The following abbreviations are herewith defined, at least some of which are referred to within the following description: Third Generation Partnership Project ("3GPP"), Positive-Acknowledgment ("ACK"), Binary Phase Shift Keying ("BPSK"), Clear Channel Assessment ("CCA"), Cyclic Prefix ("CP"), Cyclical Redundancy Check ("CRC"), Channel State Information ("CSI"), Common Search Space ("CSS"), Discrete Fourier Transform Spread ("DFTS"), Downlink Control Information ("DCI"), Downlink ("DL"), Downlink Pilot Time Slot ("DwPTS"), Enhanced Clear Channel Assessment ("eCCA"), Enhanced Mobile Broadband ("eMBB"), Evolved Node B ("eNB"), European Telecommunications Standards Institute ("ETSI"), Frame Based Equipment ("FBE"), Frequency Division Duplex ("FDD"), Frequency Division Multiple Access ("FDMA"), Guard Period ("GP"), Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request ("HARQ"), Internet-of Things ("IoT"), Licensed Assisted Access ("LAA"), Load Based Equipment ("LBE"), Listen-Before-Talk ("LBT"), Long Term Evolution ("LTE"), Multiple Access ("MA"), Modulation Coding Scheme ("MCS"), Machine Type Communication ("MTC"), Multiple Input Multiple Output ("MIMO"), Multi User Shared Access ("MUSA"), Narrowband ("NB"), Negative-Acknowledgment ("NACK") or ("NAK"), Next Generation Node B ("gNB"), Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access ("NOMA"), Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing ("OFDM"), Primary Cell ("PCell"), Physical Broadcast Channel ("PBCH"), Physical Downlink Control Channel ("PDCCH"), Physical Downlink Shared Channel ("PDSCH"), Pattern Division Multiple Access ("PDMA"), Physical Hybrid ARQ Indicator Channel ("PHICH"), Physical Random Access Channel ("PRACH"), Physical Resource Block ("PRB"), Physical Uplink Control Channel ("PUCCH"), Physical Uplink Shared Channel ("PUSCH"), Quality of Service ("QoS"), Quadrature Phase Shift Keying ("QPSK"), Radio Resource Control ("RRC"), Random Access Procedure ("RACH"), Random Access Response ("RAR"), Radio Network Temporary Identifier ("RNTI"), Reference Signal ("RS"), Resource Spread Multiple Access ("RSMA"), Round Trip Time ("RTT"), Receive ("RX"), Sparse Code Multiple Access ("SCMA"), Scheduling Request ("SR"), Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access ("SC-FDMA"), Secondary Cell ("SCell"), Shared Channel ("SCH"), Signal-to-Interference-Plus-Noise Ratio ("SINR"), System Information Block ("SIB"), Transport Block ("TB"), Transport Block Size ("TBS"), Time-Division Duplex ("TDD"), Time Division Multiplex ("TDM"), Transmission Time Interval ("TTI"), Transmit ("TX"), Uplink Control Information ("UCI"), User Entity/Equipment (Mobile Terminal) ("UE"), Uplink ("UL"), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System ("UMTS"), Uplink Pilot Time Slot ("UpPTS"), Ultra-reliability and Low-latency Communications ("URLLC"), and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access ("WiMAX"). As used herein, "HARQ-ACK" may represent collectively the Positive Acknowledge ("ACK") and the Negative Acknowledge ("NACK"). ACK means that a TB is correctly received while NACK (or NAK) means a TB is erroneously received.

In certain wireless communications networks, multiple transmission beams may be used. In such configurations, coverage of the multiple transmission beams from different cells may overlap. <CIT> discloses a device and method of configurable synchronization signal and channel design.

In the following, any method and/or apparatus referred to as embodiments but nevertheless do not fall within the scope of the appended claims are to be understood as examples helpful in understanding the invention.

Apparatuses for synchronization signal block reception are disclosed. Methods and systems also perform the functions of the apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a receiver that receives multiple synchronization signal blocks having different power levels. It is an object of the present invention to improve upon the prior art.

In one embodiment, the receiver receives power information corresponding to the power levels of the multiple synchronization signal blocks in radio resource control signaling. In a further embodiment, the apparatus includes a processor that determines a normalized reference signal received power corresponding to each synchronization signal block of the multiple synchronization signal blocks using the power information. In certain embodiments, the processor compares the normalized reference signal received power corresponding to each synchronization signal block of the multiple synchronization signal blocks. In various embodiments, the apparatus includes a transmitter that transmits feedback corresponding to the comparison of the normalized reference signal received power corresponding to each synchronization signal block of the multiple synchronization signal blocks. In some embodiments, the receiver receives nominal power information corresponding to the power levels of the multiple synchronization signal blocks in system information blocks.

In certain embodiments, the receiver receives power offset information corresponding to the power levels of the multiple synchronization signal blocks in system information blocks, radio resource control signaling, or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, the receiver receives power information corresponding to channel state information reference signals in radio resource control signaling. In various embodiments, the power information includes nominal power information, power offset information, or some combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a processor that determines a normalized reference signal received power corresponding to channel state information reference signals using the power information. In certain embodiments, the receiver receives channel state information reference signal ports within a channel state information reference signal resource at a same transmission power level. In some embodiments, the receiver receives different channel state information reference signal resources at different transmission power levels. In various embodiments, the receiver receives power information corresponding to channel state information reference signal resources in radio resource control signaling. In one embodiment, the power information includes nominal power information, power offset information, or some combination thereof.

A method for synchronization signal block reception, in one embodiment, includes receiving multiple synchronization signal blocks having different power levels.

In one embodiment, an apparatus for synchronization signal block transmission includes a processor that determines power levels corresponding to each synchronization signal block of multiple synchronization signal blocks transmitted using multiple transmit beams. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a transmitter that transmits the multiple synchronization signal blocks based on the power levels using the multiple transmit beams.

In certain embodiments, the transmitter transmits power information corresponding to the power levels of the multiple synchronization signal blocks in radio resource control signaling. In various embodiments, the transmitter transmits nominal power information corresponding to the power levels of the multiple synchronization signal blocks in system information blocks. In some embodiments, the transmitter transmits power offset information corresponding to the power levels of the multiple synchronization signal blocks in system information blocks, radio resource control signaling, or some combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, the transmitter transmits power information corresponding to channel state information reference signals in radio resource control signaling. In some embodiments, the power information includes nominal power information, power offset information, or some combination thereof. In various embodiments, the transmitter transmits channel state information reference signal ports within a channel state information reference signal resource at a same transmission power level. In one embodiment, the transmitter transmits different channel state information reference signal resources at different transmission power levels. In certain embodiments, the transmitter transmits power information corresponding to channel state information reference signal resources in radio resource control signaling. In various embodiments, the power information includes nominal power information, power offset information, or some combination thereof.

A method for synchronization signal block transmission, in one embodiment, includes determining power levels corresponding to each synchronization signal block of multiple synchronization signal blocks transmitted using multiple transmit beams. In some embodiments, the method includes transmitting the multiple synchronization signal blocks based on the power levels using the multiple transmit beams.

<FIG> depicts an embodiment of a wireless communication system <NUM> for synchronization signal block transmission and/or reception. In one embodiment, the wireless communication system <NUM> includes remote units <NUM> and base units <NUM>. Even though a specific number of remote units <NUM> and base units <NUM> are depicted in <FIG>, one of skill in the art will recognize that any number of remote units <NUM> and base units <NUM> may be included in the wireless communication system <NUM>.

The base units <NUM> may be distributed over a geographic region. In certain embodiments, a base unit <NUM> may also be referred to as an access point, an access terminal, a base, a base station, a Node-B, an eNB, a gNB, a Home Node-B, a relay node, a device, or by any other terminology used in the art. The base units <NUM> are generally part of a radio access network that includes one or more controllers communicably coupled to one or more corresponding base units <NUM>.

In one implementation, the wireless communication system <NUM> is compliant with the 3GPP protocol, wherein the base unit <NUM> transmits using an OFDM modulation scheme on the DL and the remote units <NUM> transmit on the UL using a SC-FDMA scheme or an OFDM scheme. More generally, however, the wireless communication system <NUM> may implement some other open or proprietary communication protocol, for example, WiMAX, among other protocols.

In one embodiment, a remote unit <NUM> may receive multiple synchronization signal blocks having different power levels (e.g., at least two synchronization signal blocks have different power levels). Accordingly, a remote unit <NUM> may be used for synchronization signal block reception.

In certain embodiments, a base unit <NUM> may determine power levels corresponding to each synchronization signal block of multiple synchronization signal blocks transmitted using multiple transmit beams. In some embodiments, the base unit <NUM> may transmit the multiple synchronization signal blocks based on the power levels using the multiple transmit beams. Accordingly, a base unit <NUM> may be used for synchronization signal block transmission.

<FIG> depicts one embodiment of an apparatus <NUM> that may be used for synchronization signal block reception. The apparatus <NUM> includes one embodiment of the remote unit <NUM>. Furthermore, the remote unit <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, an input device <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a transmitter <NUM>, and a receiver <NUM>. In some embodiments, the input device <NUM> and the display <NUM> are combined into a single device, such as a touchscreen. In certain embodiments, the remote unit <NUM> may not include any input device <NUM> and/or display <NUM>. In various embodiments, the remote unit <NUM> may include one or more of the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, and the receiver <NUM>, and may not include the input device <NUM> and/or the display <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the memory <NUM> stores data relating to synchronization signal blocks.

The transmitter <NUM> is used to provide UL communication signals to the base unit <NUM> and the receiver <NUM> is used to receive DL communication signals from the base unit <NUM>. In some embodiments, the receiver <NUM> may receive multiple synchronization signal blocks having different power levels.

<FIG> depicts one embodiment of an apparatus <NUM> that may be used for synchronization signal block transmission. The apparatus <NUM> includes one embodiment of the base unit <NUM>. Furthermore, the base unit <NUM> may include a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, an input device <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a transmitter <NUM>, and a receiver <NUM>. As may be appreciated, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the input device <NUM>, the display <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, and the receiver <NUM> may be substantially similar to the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the input device <NUM>, the display <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, and the receiver <NUM> of the remote unit <NUM>, respectively.

In some embodiments, the processor <NUM> may be used to determine power levels corresponding to each synchronization signal block of multiple synchronization signal blocks transmitted using multiple transmit beams. In some embodiments, the transmitter <NUM> may be used to transmit the multiple synchronization signal blocks based on the power levels using the multiple transmit beams. Although only one transmitter <NUM> and one receiver <NUM> are illustrated, the base unit <NUM> may have any suitable number of transmitters <NUM> and receivers <NUM>.

In certain embodiments, in response to the powers of synchronization signal blocks ("SS-blocks") transmitted through different TX beams being variable, the base unit <NUM> may control the size and shape of the coverage area by changing the SS-block transmission power. In such embodiments, by controlling the SS-block transmission power, as well as the TX beamforming vectors (direction and shape of the TX beams), the base unit <NUM> may optimize the overall network coverage and network capacity to a desired cell coverage area resulting in less interference and fewer coverage holes. Accordingly, functions such as fractional frequency reuse or coverage enhancement may be implemented more precisely and more optimally by the base unit <NUM>.

In various embodiments, for remote units <NUM> in a connected state (e.g., RRC CONNECTED), because the remote units <NUM> may conduct more detailed measurements based on CSI-RS (in addition to SS-block measurement) and report the measurement results to a base unit <NUM>, the base unit <NUM> may have more detailed information regarding their channel status and may better direct a remote unit <NUM> to handover to a cell, or a particular beam. In certain embodiments, variable power of the SS-block through different DL TX beams may be more useful to optimize a remote unit <NUM> in an idle state than a remote unit <NUM> in a connected state.

In some embodiments, a base unit <NUM> may control the individual power levels of SS-blocks transmitted through different TX beams. In various embodiments, besides being used for mobility measurement, SS-blocks may also be used for beam management by remote units <NUM> in a connected state. For example, because SS-blocks may be transmitted in cell-specific manner, they may be used for various steps of a DL beam management process.

In certain embodiments, for remote units <NUM> in a connected state, the remote units <NUM> may have selected (or have been handed over) to a best cell, so cell selection may not be an issue. In one embodiment, beam management may use a remote unit <NUM> to measure reference signal received power ("RSRP") of SS-blocks based on new radio ("NR") secondary synchronization signal ("SSS") (and possibly as well as demodulation reference signal ("DMRS") of PBCH) and report selected beams to the base unit <NUM>. In some embodiments, the remote unit <NUM> may choose a subset of beams based on a measured SS-block RSRP and report the information to the base unit <NUM>. In various embodiments, in response to the SS-blocks being transmitted through different DL TX beams having different TX power, a remote unit <NUM> in a connected state may need to know the power value (or power offset) of different SS-blocks in order to compare their RSRPs. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the base unit <NUM> may include power value (or equivalently power offset values) of the SS-blocks in RRC signaling when configuring an SS-block for a remote unit <NUM> in a connected state.

In certain embodiments, nominal power of SS-blocks may be signaled in SIB. Further, in various embodiments, power offsets of individual SS-blocks may be signaled either in SIB message or RRC signaling. In some embodiments, in response to the SS-block transmission power being known, a remote unit <NUM> may calculate and compare normalized RSRP for the SS-blocks. In one embodiment, normalized RSRP is defined as a measured RSRP normalized with respect to power offset of the SS-blocks (as if the power offset is 0dB for all the SS-blocks).

In certain embodiments, normalized SS-block RSRP power is defined with respect to SS-block transmission power offsets. In such embodiments, a remote unit <NUM> may use normalized SS-block RSRP to compare, select, and provide feedback corresponding to SS-blocks to a base unit <NUM> for beam management.

In various embodiments, besides SS-blocks, CSI-RS may also be used for DL beam management. In such embodiments, in response to both SS-blocks and CSI-RS being configured for remote unit <NUM> beam management, the RSRP of an SS-block may be compared with the RSRP of a CSI-RS port in order to select and provide feedback for a number of good beams out of all configured (SS-block and CSI-RS) beams. In certain embodiments, the remote unit <NUM> may know the transmission power of CSI-RS as well as the transmission power of SS-blocks.

In some embodiments, a same transmission power may be used to transmit all the CSI-RS ports within a CSI-RS resource, while different CSI-RS resources may be transmitted with different TX power levels. In various embodiments, the TX power or power offset of a CSI-RS resource may be signaled by a base unit <NUM> to a remote unit <NUM> in a connected state through RRC signaling in response to CSI-RS resources being configured. In certain embodiments, CSI-RS power (nominal power and offset for individual CSI-RS resources) may be configured by RRC signaling. In one embodiment, similar to SS-blocks, normalized RSRP may be defined for CSI-RS for a remote unit <NUM> to compare the beams between CSI-RS in different CSI-RS resources or between CSI-RS and SS-blocks.

In various embodiments, normalized CSI-RS RSRP power may be defined with respect to SS-block transmission power offsets. In such embodiments, a remote unit <NUM> may use normalized SS-block RSRP to compare, select, and/or provide feedback CSI-RS RSRP to a base unit <NUM> for beam management.

<FIG> is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method <NUM> for synchronization signal block reception. In some embodiments, the method <NUM> is performed by an apparatus, such as the remote unit <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the method <NUM> may be performed by a processor executing program code, for example, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a CPU, a GPU, an auxiliary processing unit, a FPGA, or the like.

The method <NUM> may include receiving <NUM> multiple synchronization signal blocks having different power levels.

In one embodiment, the method <NUM> includes receiving power information corresponding to the power levels of the multiple synchronization signal blocks in radio resource control signaling. In a further embodiment, the method <NUM> includes determining a normalized reference signal received power corresponding to each synchronization signal block of the multiple synchronization signal blocks using the power information. In certain embodiments, method <NUM> includes comparing the normalized reference signal received power corresponding to each synchronization signal block of the multiple synchronization signal blocks. In various embodiments, the method <NUM> includes transmitting feedback corresponding to the comparison of the normalized reference signal received power corresponding to each synchronization signal block of the multiple synchronization signal blocks. In some embodiments, the method <NUM> includes receiving nominal power information corresponding to the power levels of the multiple synchronization signal blocks in system information blocks.

In certain embodiments, the method <NUM> includes receiving power offset information corresponding to the power levels of the multiple synchronization signal blocks in system information blocks, radio resource control signaling, or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, the method <NUM> includes receiving power information corresponding to channel state information reference signals in radio resource control signaling. In various embodiments, the power information includes nominal power information, power offset information, or some combination thereof.

In one embodiment, the method <NUM> includes determining a normalized reference signal received power corresponding to channel state information reference signals using the power information. In certain embodiments, the method <NUM> includes receiving channel state information reference signal ports within a channel state information reference signal resource at a same transmission power level. In some embodiments, the method <NUM> includes receiving different channel state information reference signal resources at different transmission power levels. In various embodiments, the method <NUM> includes receiving power information corresponding to channel state information reference signal resources in radio resource control signaling. In one embodiment, the power information includes nominal power information, power offset information, or some combination thereof.

<FIG> is a schematic flow chart diagram illustrating one embodiment of a method <NUM> for synchronization signal block transmission. In some embodiments, the method <NUM> is performed by an apparatus, such as the base unit <NUM>. In certain embodiments, the method <NUM> may be performed by a processor executing program code, for example, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a CPU, a GPU, an auxiliary processing unit, a FPGA, or the like.

The method <NUM> may include determining <NUM> power levels corresponding to each synchronization signal block of multiple synchronization signal blocks transmitted using multiple transmit beams. In some embodiments, the method <NUM> includes transmitting <NUM> the multiple synchronization signal blocks based on the power levels using the multiple transmit beams.

In certain embodiments, the method <NUM> may include transmitting power information corresponding to the power levels of the multiple synchronization signal blocks in radio resource control signaling. In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may include transmitting nominal power information corresponding to the power levels of the multiple synchronization signal blocks in system information blocks. In some embodiments, the method <NUM> may include transmitting power offset information corresponding to the power levels of the multiple synchronization signal blocks in system information blocks, radio resource control signaling, or some combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, the method <NUM> may include transmitting power information corresponding to channel state information reference signals in radio resource control signaling. In some embodiments, the power information includes nominal power information, power offset information, or some combination thereof. In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may include transmitting channel state information reference signal ports within a channel state information reference signal resource at a same transmission power level. In one embodiment, the method <NUM> may include transmitting different channel state information reference signal resources at different transmission power levels. In certain embodiments, the method <NUM> may include transmitting power information corresponding to channel state information reference signal resources in radio resource control signaling. In various embodiments, the power information includes nominal power information, power offset information, or some combination thereof.

Claim 1:
An apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a receiver (<NUM>) that is configured to:
receive a plurality of synchronization signal blocks having different transmitted power levels, the synchronization signal blocks having been transmitted using multiple transmit beams; and
receive power information corresponding to the power levels of the plurality of synchronization signal blocks in radio resource control signaling; characterised by:
a processor (<NUM>) that is configured to determine a respective normalized reference signal received power for each synchronization signal block of the plurality of synchronization signal blocks using the power information, where a normalized reference signal received power is a measured reference signal received power which is normalized with respect to power offset of the synchronization signal block.