TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates generally to signal indication. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to SS/PBCH block frequency location indication in an advanced wireless communication system.

BACKGROUND

For a new radio (NR) licensed spectrum, each synchronization and physical broadcasting channel (PBCH) signal block (SS/PBCH block) comprises one symbol for NR-primary synchronization signal (NR-PSS), two symbols for NR-PBCH, and one symbol for NR-secondary synchronization signal (NR-SSS) and NR-PBCH, where the four symbols are mapped consecutively and time division multiplexed. An NR-SS is a unified design, including the NR-PSS and NR-SSS sequence design, for all supported carrier frequency ranges in the NR. The transmission bandwidth of NR-PSS and NR-SSS is smaller than the transmission bandwidth of the whole SS/PBCH block. For initial cell selection for an NR cell, a UE assumes the default SS burst set periodicity as 20 ms, and for detecting a non-standalone NR cell, network provides one SS burst set periodicity information per frequency carrier to the UE and information to derive measurement timing/duration. Other than a master information block (MIB), the remaining minimum system information (RMSI) is carried by physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) with scheduling info carried by the corresponding physical downlink control channel (PDCCH). A control resource set (CORESET) for receiving common control channels is required to be configured, and can be transmitted in PBCH.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an SS/PBCH block frequency location indication in an advanced wireless communication system.

In one embodiment, a base station (BS) in a wireless communication system is provided. The BS comprises a processor configured to generate a synchronization signal and physical broadcast channel (SS/PBCH) block, identify a first frequency location (GSCN-Current) based on a set of predefined synchronization rasters that is determined by a global synchronization channel number (GSCN) to transmit the SS/PBCH block, determine, based on the GSCN-Current, a configuration for at least one of the SS/PBCH block that is associated with a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) including scheduling information for remaining minimum system information (RMSI) on the GSCN-Current or the SS/PBCH block that is not associated with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI on the GSCN-Current, determine, when the SS/PBCH block is not associated with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI on the GSCN-Current, the configuration to include at least one of a frequency range in which no other SS/PBCH blocks configured with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI are transmitted, the frequency range determined based on the GSCN or a second frequency location on which other SS/PBCH blocks configured with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI are transmitted, the second frequency location determined based on the GSCN, and identify, based on the determined configuration, content of a PBCH included in the SS/PBCH block. The BS further comprises a transceiver operably connected to the processor, the transceiver configured to transmit, to a user equipment (UE), the SS/PBCH block including the PBCH using the GSCN-Current over downlink channels.

In another embodiment, a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system is provided. The UE comprises a transceiver configured to receive, from a base station (BS), a synchronization signal and physical broadcast channel (SS/PBCH) block including the PBCH using a first frequency location (GSCN-Current) over downlink channels, GSCN-Current being based on a set of predefined synchronization rasters that is determined by a global synchronization channel number (GSCN). The UE further comprises a processor operably connected to the transceiver, the processor configured to decode a PBCH included in the SS/PBCH block, identify content of the decoded PBCH, determine a configuration for at least one of the SS/PBCH block that is associated with a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) including scheduling information for remaining minimum system information (RMSI) on the GSCN-Current or the SS/PBCH block that is not associated with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI on the GSCN-Current, and determine, when the SS/PBCH block is not associated with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI on the GSCN-Current, the configuration to include at least one of a frequency range in which no other SS/PBCH blocks configured with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI are transmitted, the frequency range determined based on the GSCN or a second frequency location on which other SS/PBCH blocks configured with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI are transmitted, the GSCN-Current determined based on the GSCN.

In yet another embodiment, a method of a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system is provided. The method comprises receiving, from a base station (BS), a synchronization signal and physical broadcast channel (SS/PBCH) block including the PBCH using a first frequency location (GSCN-Current) over downlink channels, GSCN-Current being based on a set of predefined synchronization rasters that is determined by a global synchronization channel number (GSCN), decoding a PBCH included in the received SS/PBCH block, identifying content of the decoded PBCH, determining a configuration for at least one of the SS/PBCH block that is associated with a physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) including scheduling information for remaining minimum system information (RMSI) on the GSCN-Current, or the SS/PBCH block that is not associated with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI on the GSCN-Current, and determining, when the SS/PBCH block is not associated with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI on the GSCN-Current, the configuration to include at least one of a frequency range in which no other SS/PBCH blocks configured with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI are transmitted, the frequency range determined based on the GSCN, or a second frequency location on which other SS/PBCH blocks configured with the PDCCH including the scheduling information for the RMSI are transmitted, the GSCN-Current determined based on the GSCN.

Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims.

Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document. The term “couple” and its derivatives refer to any direct or indirect communication between two or more elements, whether or not those elements are in physical contact with one another. The terms “transmit,” “receive,” and “communicate,” as well as derivatives thereof, encompass both direct and indirect communication. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrase “associated with,” as well as derivatives thereof, means to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, have a relationship to or with, or the like. The term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation. Such a controller may be implemented in hardware or a combination of hardware and software and/or firmware. The functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. The phrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used, and only one item in the list may be needed. For example, “at least one of: A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C.

Moreover, various functions described below can be implemented or supported by one or more computer programs, each of which is formed from computer readable program code and embodied in a computer readable medium. The terms “application” and “program” refer to one or more computer programs, software components, sets of instructions, procedures, functions, objects, classes, instances, related data, or a portion thereof adapted for implementation in a suitable computer readable program code. The phrase “computer readable program code” includes any type of computer code, including source code, object code, and executable code. The phrase “computer readable medium” includes any type of medium capable of being accessed by a computer, such as read only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), a hard disk drive, a compact disc (CD), a digital video disc (DVD), or any other type of memory. A “non-transitory” computer readable medium excludes wired, wireless, optical, or other communication links that transport transitory electrical or other signals. A non-transitory computer readable medium includes media where data can be permanently stored and media where data can be stored and later overwritten, such as a rewritable optical disc or an erasable memory device.

Definitions for other certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document. Those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

