Utilization of SSB resources
Based on a configuration of a pre-allocated sequence of first SSBs of a first predetermined number, which comprise second SSBs of a second predetermined number and third SSBs of a third predetermined number, a network apparatus of an access network of a cellular communication system determines (S 503 ) a usage for resources associated with the third SSBs. According to the configuration of the pre-allocated sequence of first SSBs, the second SSBs are to be utilized in a beam management procedure including an initial access procedure and the third SSBs are not necessarily to be utilized in the beam management procedure including the initial access procedure which enables UEs to gain initial access to the cellular communication system via the access network. The network apparatus broadcasts (S 505 ) the usage in the beam management procedure.
1 . An apparatus, comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program code for a gNB of a Radio Access Network (RAN), wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
based on a configuration of a pre-allocated sequence of first synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) comprising 64 SSBs,
wherein the first SSBs comprise 32 second SSBs and 32 third SSBs, and
wherein the second SSBs are utilized in a beam management procedure, and the third SSBs are not utilized in the beam management procedure,
determine a usage for resources associated with the third SSBs, wherein the usage comprises:
a first usage comprising allocating a first set of resources associated with the third SSBs to transmit reference signals with a wide beam to cover a sector that is covered by the apparatus;
a second usage comprising configuring a second set of resources associated with the third SSBs to repeat at least a part of a predetermined sweep pattern associated with the second SSBs; and
a third usage comprising allocating a third set of resources associated with the third SSBs to transmit the reference signals with the wide beam to cover the sector that is covered by the apparatus, and a fourth set of resources associated with the third SSBs, the fourth set being different from the third set, to repeat at least the part of the predetermined sweep pattern associated with the second SSBs;
cause a transmitter to broadcast, to one or more user equipment (UEs), an indication of the determined usage in the beam management procedure, wherein the indication of the usage is included in one of a system information block 2 (SIB2) message indicated in at least one of the first SSBs in an initial access procedure, or in a message transmitted in a radio resource control (RRC) connected mode of the beam management procedure, and wherein the initial access procedure enables a UE of the one or more UEs to gain access to a cellular communication system comprising the RAN; and
cause the transmitter to transmit, to the one or more UEs, within a predetermined time period, the second SSBs using narrow beams in predefined directions, and the resources associated with the third SSBs, configured according to the determined usage, wherein the transmission of the second SSBs is repeated with a predetermined time interval.
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the computer program code, when executed by the at least one processor, further causes the apparatus to:
coordinate, with one or more potential target access nodes of the RAN, the usage of the resources associated with the third SSBs to repeat the predetermined sweep pattern.
3 . The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein
the message transmitted in the RRC connected mode comprises an information element associated with a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) operation.
4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the computer program code, when executed by the at least one processor, further causes the apparatus to:
use feedback from the one or more UEs to acquire information on whether the one or more UEs are utilizing a configuration of the resources associated with the third SSBs, the configuration being associated with the determined usage; and
based on the acquired information, re-determine the usage for one or more of the resources associated with the third SSBs.
5 . An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including a computer program code for a user equipment (UE),
wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code being configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to:
receive, from a gNB, an indication of usage for resources associated with third synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) in a beam management procedure, wherein:
a pre-allocated sequence of first SSBs comprises 64 SSBs,
the first SSBs
comprise 32 second SSBs and 32 the third SSBs,
according to a configuration of the pre-allocated sequence of the first SSBs, the second SSBs are utilized in the beam management procedure, and the third SSBs are not utilized in the beam management procedure, wherein the usage indicated to the apparatus comprises:
a first usage in which a first set of resources associated with the third SSBs are used to receive reference signals transmitted with a wide beam to cover a sector of a gNB operating in a frequency range 2 (FR2);
a second usage in which a second set of resources associated with the third SSBs are used to receive a repetition of at least a part of a predetermined sweep pattern associated with the second SSBs; and
a third usage in which a third set of resources associated with the third SSBs are used to receive the reference signals transmitted with the wide beam, and for a fourth set of the resources associated with the third SSBs, the fourth set being different from the third set, are used to receive the repetition of at least the part of the predetermined sweep pattern associated with the second SSBs; and
the indication of the usage is received in one of a system information block 2 (SIB2) message during an initial access procedure or in a message during a radio resource control (RRC) connected mode of the beam management procedure, and wherein the initial access procedure enables the apparatus to gain access to a cellular communication system including the gNB; and
perform the beam management procedure based on the received indication of usage, wherein performing the beam management procedure includes measuring the second SSBs transmitted using narrow beams in predefined directions during a predetermined time period and processing the resources associated with the third SSBs as configured according to the received indication of usage, and wherein transmission of the second SSBs and the resources associated with the third SSBs is repeated with a predetermined time interval.
6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the SIB2 message is received based on at least one of the first SSBs before receiving the second and third SSBs.
7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the message transmitted in the RRC connected mode comprises an information element associated with a multiple input multiple output (MIMO) operation.
8 . A method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:
receiving, from a gNB, an indication of usage for resources associated with third synchronization signal blocks (SSBs) in a beam management procedure, wherein:
a pre-allocated sequence of first SSBs comprises 64 SSBs,
the first SSBs comprises 32 second SSBs and 32 the third SSBs,
according to a configuration of the pre-allocated sequence of the first SSBs, the second SSBs are utilized in the beam management procedure, and the third SSBs are not utilized in the beam management procedure,
the usage indicated to the UE comprises:
a first usage in which a first set of the resources associated with the third SSBs are used to receive reference signals transmitted with a wide beam to cover a sector of a gNB operating in a frequency range 2 (FR2);
a second usage in which a second set of the resources associated with the third SSBs are used to receive a repetition of at least a part of a predetermined sweep pattern associated with the second SSBs; and
a third usage in which a third set of the resources associated with the third SSBs are used to receive the reference signals transmitted with the wide beam, and for a fourth set of the resources associated with the third SSBs, the fourth set being different from the third set, and used to receive the repetition of at least the part of the predetermined sweep pattern associated with the second SSBs; and
the indication of the usage is received in one of a system information block 2 (SIB2) message during an initial access procedure, or in a message during a radio resource control (RRC) connected mode of the beam management procedure, and wherein the initial access procedure enables the UE to gain access to a cellular communication system including the gNB; and
performing the beam management procedure based on the received indication of usage, wherein performing the beam management procedure includes measuring the second SSBs transmitted using narrow beams in predefined directions during a predetermined time period and processing the resources associated with the third SSBs configured according to the received indication of usage, and wherein the transmission of the second SSBs and the resources associated with the third SSBs is repeated with a predetermined time interval.