IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,546,052
Granted Patent B2
US 11,546,052 · App. 17/068,144 · Granted Jan 3, 2023

Beam configuration and parameter management for non-terrestrial networks

Inventors: Xiao Feng Wang (San Diego, CA); Iyab Issam Sakhnini (San Diego, CA); Jun Ma (San Diego, CA); Peter Gaal (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
H04B7/18589H04B7/1855H04B7/18543H04W56/001H04W68/005H04W74/0833
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,546,052
App. No.
17/068,144
Granted
Jan 3, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for managing beam configurations and parameters for non-terrestrial networks. In some implementations, a UE may detect a synchronization signal block (SSB) transmitted by a satellite via a first beam. Aspects of the present disclosure recognize that each beam may be identified by a unique SSB index based at least in part on a time or frequency on which the SSB is received. Thus, the SSB may be identified based on a frequency-domain SSB index or a time-domain SSB index. The UE may further determine one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam. The UE may generate a mapping between the SSB and the wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam, and thereafter communicate with the satellite using the mapping.

Claims (118)

1. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

detecting a first synchronization signal block (SSB) transmitted by a satellite via a first beam;

determining one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam;

generating a first mapping between the first SSB and the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam; and

communicating with the satellite based at least in part on the first mapping.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first mapping includes a frequency index or a time index associated with the first SSB.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first SSB is frequency-multiplexed with other SSBs transmitted by the satellite, the generating of the first mapping comprising:

determining the frequency index based on a frequency on which the first SSB is detected; and

mapping the frequency index to the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first SSB is time-multiplexed with other SSBs transmitted by the satellite, the generating of the first mapping comprising:

determining the time index based on a time at which the first SSB is detected; and

mapping the time index to the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more wireless communication parameters comprise beam-specific communication parameters.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of the one or more wireless communication parameters comprises:

receiving a master information block (MIB) and one or more a system information blocks (SIBs) from the satellite via the first beam, the one or more wireless communication parameters being determined based at least in part on the received MIB or the one or more SIBs.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more wireless communication parameters include one or more physical random-access channel (PRACH) parameters for the first beam.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more wireless communication parameters include one or more timers or delay-specific configurations.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more wireless communication parameters are determined from a plurality of different SIB s received form the satellite.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more wireless communication parameters includes at least one of an uplink (UL) bandwidth part (BWP) or downlink (DL) BWP for the first beam.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein at least one of the UL BWP or the DL BWP comprises a default BWP to be used for UL or DL communications, respectively, after an active BWP has been inactive for a threshold duration.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the communicating comprises:

accessing the satellite, initially, via the UL BWP for the first beam.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the initial access is performed without receiving BWP switching instructions from the satellite.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the communicating comprises:

receiving DL transmissions from the satellite via the DL BWP for the first beam.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the DL transmissions include system information for a wireless network associated with the satellite.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the DL transmissions indicate at least one of a common search space or a paging search space.

17. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

detecting a second SSB transmitted by the satellite via a second beam;

determining one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the second beam; and

generating a second mapping between the second SSB and the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the second beam.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the second beam are different than the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the second beam includes a UL BWP or a DL BWP for the second beam.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

detecting a change in SSB from the first SSB to the second SSB;

determining that a beam switch has occurred, from the first beam to the second beam, based at least in part on the change in SSB; and

switching communications with the satellite, based on the second mapping, to the UL BWP or the DL BWP for the second beam responsive to determining that the beam switch has occurred.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the change in SSB is detected based at least in part on changes in a transmission configuration indicator (TCI).

22. The method of claim 21 , wherein the changes in the TCI include changes to a quasi-colocation (QCL) type.

23. The method of claim 20 , wherein the change in SSB is detected based at least in part on changes in spatial relation information (SRI).

24. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

determining that a BWP switch has occurred from the UL BWP or the DL BWP for the first beam to the UL BWP or the DL BWP for the second beam; and

implementing a change in SSB from the first SSB to the second SSB responsive to determining that the BWP switch has occurred.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the change in SSB is implemented via changes in SRI.

26. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting changes to the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam; and

updating the mapping based on the changes to the one or more wireless communication parameters.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the detecting of the changes comprises:

receiving SIB updates or paging from the satellite via the first beam, the changes to the one or more wireless communication parameters being detected based on the received SIB updates or paging.

28. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

detecting a second SSB transmitted by the satellite via a second beam;

determining that the second beam shares the one or more communication parameters associated with the first beam; and

mapping the second SSB to the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam.

29. A wireless communication device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors and including instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the wireless communication device to:

detect a first synchronization signal block (SSB) transmitted by a satellite via a first beam;

determine one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam;

generate a first mapping between the first SSB and the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam; and

communicate with the satellite based at least in part on the first mapping.

30. The wireless communication device of claim 29 , wherein the first mapping includes a frequency index or a time index associated with the first SSB.

31. The wireless communication device of claim 30 , wherein the first SSB is frequency-multiplexed with other SSBs transmitted by the satellite, execution of the instructions for generating the first mapping causing the wireless communication device to:

determine the frequency index based on a frequency on which the first SSB is detected; and

map the frequency index to the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam.

32. The wireless communication device of claim 30 , wherein the first SSB is time-multiplexed with other SSBs transmitted by the satellite, execution of the instructions for generating the first mapping causing the wireless communication device to:

determine the time index based on a time at which the first SSB is detected; and

map the time index to the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam.

33. The wireless communication device of claim 29 , wherein the one or more wireless communication parameters comprise beam-specific communication parameters.

34. The wireless communication device of claim 29 , wherein execution of the instructions for determining the one or more wireless communication parameters causes the wireless communication device to:

receive a master information block (MIB) and one or more a system information blocks (SIBs) from the satellite via the first beam, the one or more wireless communication parameters being determined based at least in part on the received MIB or the one or more SIBs.

35. The wireless communication device of claim 34 , wherein the one or more wireless communication parameters include one or more physical random-access channel (PRACH) parameters for the first beam.

36. The wireless communication device of claim 34 , wherein the one or more wireless communication parameters include one or more timers or delay-specific configurations.

37. The wireless communication device of claim 34 , wherein the wireless one or more communication parameters are determined from a plurality of different SIB s received form the satellite.

38. The wireless communication device of claim 34 , wherein the one or more wireless communication parameters includes at least one of an uplink (UL) bandwidth part (BWP) or downlink (DL) BWP for the first beam.

39. The wireless communication device of claim 38 , wherein at least one of the UL BWP or the DL BWP comprises a default BWP to be used for UL or DL communications, respectively, after an active BWP has been inactive for a threshold duration.

40. The wireless communication device of claim 38 , wherein execution of the instructions for communicating with the satellite causes the wireless communication device to:

access the satellite, initially, via the UL BWP for the first beam.

41. The wireless communication device of claim 40 , wherein the initial access is performed without receiving BWP switching instructions from the satellite.

42. The wireless communication device of claim 38 , wherein execution of the instructions for communicating with the satellite causes the wireless communication device to:

receive DL transmissions from the satellite via the DL BWP for the first beam.

43. The wireless communication device of claim 42 , wherein the DL transmissions include system information for a wireless network associated with the satellite.

44. The wireless communication device of claim 42 , wherein the DL transmissions indicate at least one of a common search space or a paging search space.

45. The wireless communication device of claim 38 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the wireless communication device to:

detect a second SSB transmitted by the satellite via a second beam;

determine one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the second beam; and

generate a second mapping between the second SSB and the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the second beam.

46. The wireless communication device of claim 45 , wherein the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the second beam are different than the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam.

47. The wireless communication device of claim 46 , wherein the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the second beam includes a UL BWP or a DL BWP for the second beam.

48. The wireless communication device of claim 47 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the wireless communication device to:

detect a change in SSB from the first SSB to the second SSB;

determine that a beam switch has occurred, from the first beam to the second beam, based at least in part on the change in SSB; and

switch communications with the satellite, based on the second mapping, to the UL BWP or the DL BWP for the second beam responsive to determining that the beam switch has occurred.

49. The wireless communication device of claim 48 , wherein the change in SSB is detected based at least in part on changes in a transmission configuration indicator (TCI).

50. The wireless communication device of claim 49 , wherein the changes in the TCI include changes to a quasi-colocation (QCL) type.

51. The wireless communication device of claim 48 , wherein the change in SSB is detected based at least in part on changes in spatial relation information (SRI).

52. The wireless communication device of claim 47 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the wireless communication device to:

determine that a BWP switch has occurred from the UL BWP or the DL BWP for the first beam to the UL BWP or the DL BWP for the second beam; and

implement a change in SSB from the first SSB to the second SSB responsive to determining that the BWP switch has occurred.

53. The wireless communication device of claim 52 , wherein the change in SSB is implemented via changes in SRI.

54. The wireless communication device of claim 29 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the wireless communication device to:

detect changes to the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam; and

update the mapping based on the changes to the one or more wireless communication parameters.

55. The wireless communication device of claim 54 , wherein execution of the instructions for detecting the changes to the one or more wireless communication parameters causes the wireless communication device to:

receive SIB updates or paging from the satellite via the first beam, the changes to the one or more wireless communication parameters being detected based on the received SIB updates or paging.

56. The wireless communication device of claim 29 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the wireless communication device to:

detect a second SSB transmitted by the satellite via a second beam;

determine that the second beam shares the one or more communication parameters associated with the first beam; and

map the second SSB to the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam.

57. A wireless communication device comprising:

means for detecting a first synchronization signal block (SSB) transmitted by a satellite via a first beam;

means for determining one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam;

means for generating a first mapping between the first SSB and the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam; and

means for communicating with the satellite based at least in part on the first mapping.

58. A non-transitory computer-readable memory comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a wireless communication device, cause the wireless communication device to:

detect a first synchronization signal block (SSB) transmitted by a satellite via a first beam;

determine one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam;

generate a first mapping between the first SSB and the one or more wireless communication parameters associated with the first beam; and

communicate with the satellite based at least in part on the first mapping.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 27, 2021
From: WANG, XIAO FENG; SAKHNINI, IYAB ISSAM; MA, JUN; GAAL, PETER
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 055047/0390 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62923252 · Oct 18, 2019
Related Publication 20210119697A1 · Apr 22, 2021