IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,250,170
Granted Patent B2
US 12,250,170 · App. 18/302,085 · Granted Mar 11, 2025

SSB transmissions in unlicensed spectrum

Inventors: Peter Alriksson (Hörby, SE); Stephen Grant (Pleasanton, CA); Gen Li (Beijing, CN)
Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (Publ)
H04L5/0048H04W56/001H04W72/30H04W74/0816H04L27/2613
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,250,170
App. No.
18/302,085
Granted
Mar 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method is implemented in a wireless transceiver device arranged to operate in a cellular wireless communication network and capable of operating in an unlicensed spectrum where listen-before-talk is employed. The method includes determining a first parameter, for the unlicensed operation, indicative on provision of synchronisation signal blocks, and determining quasi-co-location, QCL, relationship between one or more synchronisation signal and physical broadcast channel, SS/PBCH, blocks each having a first index, by determining a second index for the one or more SS/PBCH blocks by applying a modulo operation on the first index, respectively, based on the first parameter, where the QCL relationship is determined to occur if the second indices coincide. A computer program for implementing the method in a wireless transceiver and such a transceiver are also disclosed.

Claims (40)

1. A method implemented in a wireless transceiver device arranged to operate in a cellular wireless communication network and capable of operating in a spectrum where listen-before-talk is employed, the method comprising

determining a first parameter indicative on provision of synchronisation signal blocks, the determining of the first parameter comprising receiving at least a part of the first parameter from a master information block (MIB) or physical broadcast channel (PBCH) payload, or a combination of the two; and

determining a quasi-co-location (QCL) relationship between two or more synchronisation signal and physical broadcast channel (SS/PBCH) blocks of a plurality of SS/PBCH blocks, each SS/PBCH block having a first index, the plurality of SS/PBCH blocks comprising at least a first SS/PBCH block and a second SS/PBCH block, the QCL relationship being determined to occur if at least a first result of a modulo operation of the first index of the first SS/PBCH block and the first parameter coincides with a second result of the modulo operation of the first index of the second SS/PBCH block and the first parameter.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising determining a frame timing based on the first index associated with a detected SS/PBCH block.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of the QCL relationship comprises:

determining one or more desired second indices from transmission history;

determining a second index for each one of two or more received SS/PBCH blocks as the first index modulo the first parameter; and

comparing the second indices associated with at least two of the two or more received SS/PBCH blocks.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising determining a QCL shift indicator, and wherein the determining of the QCL relationship comprises:

determining one or more desired second indices from transmission history;

determining a second index for each one of two or more received SS/PBCH blocks as the first index modulo the first parameter minus the determined QCL shift when the second index becomes positive and as the first index modulo the first parameter minus the determined QCL shift plus the first parameter otherwise; and

comparing the second indices associated with at least two of the two or more received SS/PBCH blocks.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the determining of the QCL shift indicator comprises receiving the QCL shift indicator through user-specific Radio Resource Control signalling.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the determining of the QCL shift indicator comprises receiving the QCL shift indicator through broadcast system information.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising receiving an indication of a number of transmitted SS/PBCH blocks per burst.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the receiving of the indication of the number comprises receiving the number from a System Information Block (SIB).

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the number is conveyed in a field used for ssb-PositionInBurst of a ServingCellConfigCommonSIB.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the receiving of the indication of the number comprises receiving the number from the MIB or PBCH payload, or the combination of the two.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the receiving of the indication of the number comprises receiving the number through user-specific Radio Resource Control signalling.

12. A wireless transceiver device arranged to operate in a cellular wireless communication network and capable of operating in a spectrum where listen-before-talk is employed, the wireless transceiver device comprising:

a transceiver arranged to receive and transmit signals, including receiving synchronisation signals and control signals; and

a signal handling circuit arranged to:

determine a first parameter indicative on provision of synchronisation signal blocks, the determining of the first parameter comprising receiving at least a part of the first parameter from a master information block (MIB) or physical broadcast channel (PBCH) payload, or a combination of the two; and

determine a quasi-co-location (QCL) relationship between two or more synchronisation signal and physical broadcast channel (SS/PBCH) blocks of a plurality of SS/PBCH blocks, each SS/PBCH block having a first index, the plurality of SS/PBCH blocks comprising at least a first SS/PBCH block and a second SS/PBCH block, the QCL relationship being determined to occur if at least a first result of a modulo operation of the first index of the first SS/PBCH block and the first parameter coincides with a second result of the modulo operation of the first index of the second SS/PBCH block and the first parameter.

13. The wireless transceiver device of claim 12 , wherein the signal handling circuit is further arranged to determine a frame timing based on the first index associated with a detected SS/PBCH block.

14. The wireless transceiver device of claim 12 , wherein determining the QCL relationship comprises:

determining one or more desired second indices from transmission history;

determining a second index for each one of two or more a received SS/PBCH blocks as the first index modulo the first parameter; and

comparing the second indices associated with at least two of the two or more received SS/PBCH blocks.

15. The wireless transceiver device of claim 12 , wherein the signal handling circuit is further arranged to determine a QCL shift indicator, and wherein the determining of the QCL relationship comprises:

determining one or more desired second indices from transmission history;

determining a second index for each one of two or more received SS/PBCH blocks as the first index modulo the first parameter minus the determined QCL shift when the second index becomes positive and as the first index modulo the first parameter minus the determined QCL shift plus the first parameter otherwise; and

comparing the second indices associated with at least two of the two or more received SS/PBCH blocks.

16. The wireless transceiver device of claim 15 , wherein determining the QCL shift indicator comprises receiving the QCL shift indicator through user-specific Radio Resource Control signalling.

17. The wireless transceiver device of claim 15 , wherein determining the QCL shift indicator comprises receiving the QCL shift indicator through broadcast system information.

18. The wireless transceiver device of claim 12 , wherein the signal handling circuit is further arranged to receive an indication of a number of transmitted SS/PBCH blocks per burst.

19. The wireless transceiver device of claim 18 , wherein the receiving of the indication of the number comprises receiving the number from a System Information Block (SIB).

20. The wireless transceiver device of claim 19 , wherein the number is conveyed in a field used for ssb-PositionInBurst of a ServingCellConfigCommonSIB.

21. The wireless transceiver device of claim 18 , wherein the receiving of the indication of the number comprises receiving the number from the MIB or PBCH payload, or the combination of the two.

22. The wireless transceiver device of claim 18 , wherein receiving the indication of the number comprises receiving the number through user-specific Radio Resource Control signalling.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 18, 2023
From: ALRIKSSON, PETER; GRANT, STEPHEN; LI, GEN
To: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
Reel/Frame 063355/0457 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation 17267358
Provisional Application 62717090 · Aug 10, 2018
Related Publication 20230254084A1 · Aug 10, 2023
References Cited (50)
US 12058624B2 · Matsumura et al. · 2024 [cited by applicant]
US 20160227476A1 · Yerramalli et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20180220442A1 · Urabayashi et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180368186A1 · Gu et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20180376438A1 · Islam et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 20190021062A1 · Abedini et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190037481A1 · Zhang · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190052337A1 · Kwon et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190191457A1 · Si · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20190297577A1 · Lin et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20190313461A1 · Jung et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20200015214A1 · Si et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200022108A1 · Chen et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200029238A1 · Si et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200053781A1 · Pan et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200120634A1 · Lee et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200154341A1 · Sun et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200187302A1 · Si · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20200267730A1 · Kim et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200288333A1 · Takeda et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200288334A1 · Takeda et al. · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20200413356A1 · Wang · 2020 [cited by examiner]
US 20210006443A1 · Morozov et al. · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20210235419A1 · Si · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20220078686A1 · Yiu · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220132524A1 · Mueck et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220183064A1 · Talarico et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220216929A1 · Matsumura et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20220231810A1 · Matsumura et al. · 2022 [cited by applicant]
WO 2015088951A1 · 2015 [cited by applicant]
WO 2016123037A1 · 2016 [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Nov. 12, 2019 for International Application No. PCT/EP2019/071180 filed on Aug. 7, 2019, consisting of 9-pages. [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG RAN WG1 Meeting NR#3 R1-1715565; Title: On QCL indication and time repetition of SS blocks; Agenda Item: 6.1.6; Source: Huawei, HiSilicon; Document for: Discussion and Decision; Location and Date: Nagoya, Japan… [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG RAN WG1 Meeting #90 R1-1715212; Title: WF on SS block QCL Indication; Agenda Item: 6.1.1.1.1; Source: ZTE, Qualcomm, InterDigital, MediaTek, Sierra Wireless; Document for: Discussion and Decision; Location and … [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 Meeting #95 R1-1813459; Title: On initial access, RRM, mobility and RLM; Agenda Item: 7.2.2.4.2; Source: Ericsson; Document for: Discussion, Decision; Location and Date: Spokane, USA, Nov. 12-16, 2018, … [cited by applicant]
3GPP TS 38.213 V15.2.0 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Physical layer procedures for control (Release 15), Jun. 2018, consisting of 99-pages. [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 Meeting AH#1901 R1-1900999; Title: Enhancements to initial access procedure; Agenda Item: 7.2.2.2.2; Source: Ericsson; Document for: Discussion, Decision; Location and Date: Taipei, Taiwan, Jan. 21-25, … [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 Meeting #94 R1-1809205; Title: On initial access, RRM, mobility and RLM; Agenda Item: 7.2.2.4.2; Source: Ericsson; Document for: Discussion, Decision; Location and Date: Gothenburg, Sweden, Aug. 20-24, … [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 Meeting #94bis R1-1811302; Title: On initial access, RRM, mobility and RLM; Agenda Item: 7.2.2.4.2; Source: Ericsson; Document for: Discussion, Decision; Location and Date: Chengdu, China, Oct. 8-12, 20… [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 Meeting #96 R1-1902884; Title: Enhancements to initial access procedure; Agenda Item: 7.2.2.2.2; Source: Ericsson; Document for: Discussion, Decision; Location and Date: Athens, Greece, Feb. 25-Mar. 1, … [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 Meeting #96b R1-1904336; Title: Enhancements to initial access procedure; Agenda Item: 7.2.2.2.2; Source: Ericsson; Document for: Discussion, Decision; Location and Date: Xi'an, China, Apr. 8-12, 2019, … [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 Meeting #97 R1-1907455; Title: Enhancements to initial access procedure; Agenda Item: 7.2.2.2.2; Source: Ericsson; Document for: Discussion, Decision; Location and Date: Reno, USA, May 13-17, 2019, cons… [cited by applicant]
Indian Office Action dated Jan. 27, 2022 for Patent Application No. 202147009305, consisting of 6-pages. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion dated Jan. 20, 2021 for International Application No. PCT/EP2020/076611 filed Sep. 23, 2020, consisting 11 pages. [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-RAN WG1 Meeting #98 R1-1909299; Title: Enhancements to initial access procedure; Agenda Item: 7.2.2.2.2; Source: Ericsson; Document for: Discussion, Decision; Location and Date: Prague, CZ, Aug. 26-30, 2019, co… [cited by applicant]
3GPP TS 38.213 V15.6.0 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; NR; Physical layer procedures for control (Release 15), Jun. 2019, consisting of 107-pages. [cited by applicant]
Taiwan Office Action with English Summary Translation dated May 8, 2020 for Patent Application No. 108128370, consisting of 13-pages. [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-RAN WG2#101bis R2-1804536; Title: Discussion on Impact of LBT to Minimum System Information for NR-U; Agenda Item: 11.2; Source: OPPO; Document for: Discussion and decision; Date and Location: Apr. 16-20, 2018,… [cited by applicant]
3GPP TSG-RAN WG2#101bis Tdoc R2-1806347; Title: Proposal to progress LTE_Aerial-Core; Agenda Item: 9.18.1; Source: Ericsson; Document for: Discussion, Decision; Date and Location: Apr. 16-20, 2018, consisting of 9-pages. [cited by applicant]
Notice of Allowance dated Aug. 15, 2024 for U.S. Appl. No. 17/761,004, consisting of 36 pages. [cited by applicant]