Synchronization signal block beam sweep enabled directional repeater
Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products for a synchronization signal block beam sweep enabled smart meter. A method may include receiving information on an allocation of a plurality of synchronization signal blocks from a network element. One or more synchronization signal blocks may be received from the network element. The one or more synchronization signal blocks may be configured with corresponding random access channel opportunities. The one or more synchronization signal blocks may be repeated in specific angular directions. A correct synchronization signal block beam may be configured at a correct time based on the random access channel opportunities. An indication may be received from the network element of which user equipment within a sector of a repeater element has connected on which random access channel opportunities.
1 . An apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory comprising computer program code,
the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured, with the at least one processor to cause the apparatus at least to;
receive information on an allocation of a plurality of synchronization signal blocks from a network element;
receive one or more synchronization signal blocks from the network element, wherein the one or more synchronization signal blocks are configured with corresponding random access channel opportunities,
wherein each of the one or more synchronization signal blocks are configured with a unique set of allocated preambles and a unique random access channel opportunity corresponding to specific allocated physical resource blocks,
wherein the one or more synchronization signal blocks comprise repeated synchronization signal blocks corresponding to a same synchronization signal block beam transmitted from the network element and received with a highest reference signal received power, signal-to-noise ratio, and signal-to-noise and interference ratio;
perform, using the one or more synchronization signal blocks, a synchronization signal block sweep within a sector covered by a repeater element,
wherein performing the synchronization signal block sweep comprises using synchronization signal blocks corresponding to a second portion of a synchronization signal block burst that is different from a first portion used for legacy beam sweeping by the network element,
wherein performing the synchronization signal block sweep comprises using a subset of the one or more synchronization signal blocks that are allocated to the repeater element and repeating a same synchronization signal block beam for sweeping within the sector covered by the repeater element;
repeat the one or more synchronization signal blocks in specific angular directions,
wherein repeating the one or more synchronization signal blocks comprises repeating static synchronization signal blocks using a same spatial filter and same transmit power level in consecutive repeated synchronization signal block beams;
configure a correct synchronization signal block beam at a correct time based on the random access channel opportunities,
wherein configuring the correct synchronization signal block beam comprises configuring a beam corresponding to a random access channel opportunity timing indicated by a ssb-PositionsInBurst configuration received from the network element;
receive a preamble from a user equipment based on the correct synchronization signal block beam,
wherein the preamble is received at a specific resource allocated for the random access channel opportunities;
receive from the network element, an indication of which user equipment within the sector of the repeater element has connected on which random access channel opportunities;
receive an indication from the network element of which user equipment in the sector of the repeater element has reported a synchronization signal block indicator for radio resource control based on a reference signal received power, a signal-to-noise ratio, and a signal-to-noise and interference ratio; and
receive an indication from the network element of which user equipment in the sector of the repeater element has transmitted a preamble allocated to a specific synchronization signal block for initial access.