COMMON SYNCHRONIZATION CHANNEL DESIGN FOR NARROWBAND COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20170094621A1
• Filed: 08/29/2016
• Published: 03/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Xu, Hao, Rico Alvarino, Alberto, Montojo, Juan, Wei, Yongbin, Lei, Jing, Wang, Renqiu, Fakoorian, Seyed Ali Akbar, Gaal, Peter, Chen, Wanshi
• Granted Patent: US 11,212,760 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/38 Arrangements for distribution where lower stations, e.g. receivers, interact with the broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/125 by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0007 the frequencies being orthogonal, e.g. OFDM(A), DMT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0053 Allocation of signaling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0064 Rate requirement of the data, e.g. scalable bandwidth, data priority
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/00 Arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter synchronisation of generators of electric oscillations or pulses H03L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0209 in terminal devices terminal devices per se H04W88/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0473 the resource being transmission power
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Narrowband communications in a wireless communications system may include a common synchronization signal, such as a primary synchronization signal (PSS), secondary synchronization signal (SSS), or physical broadcast channel (PBCH). Content of the common synchronization signal may indicate a location of narrowband data transmissions in a narrowband region of a system bandwidth. The location of the narrowband region may be in-band within one or more wideband transmissions, within a guard-band bandwidth adjacent to the wideband transmissions bandwidth, or within a stand-alone bandwidth that is non-adjacent to the wideband transmissions. The common synchronization signal may be located within a predefined search frequency and may include an anchor synchronization channel present in certain resources of allocated narrowband communications resources. Narrowband data region resources may be distributed in other portions of the narrowband communications resources, and may be allocated to different users to provide transmit diversity.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication in a system that supports narrowband transmissions in a narrowband region of a system bandwidth, comprising:

identifying anchor resources within a wideband bandwidth of one or more wideband transmissions for transmission of at least a portion of a synchronization signal comprising synchronization information for device discovery, wherein the anchor resources comprise one or more resource blocks (RBs) located at a predefined resource location within the wideband bandwidth; and

transmitting at least a portion of the synchronization signal via the anchor resources.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined resource location comprises an RB located at a fixed offset from a center frequency of the wideband bandwidth.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor resources are used to transmit one or more of the synchronization signal, a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), or a system information block (SIB) for use in device discovery.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor resources comprise the anchor resources comprise information indicating second resources for narrowband transmissions, and wherein the second resources are selected to provide one or both of frequency diversity or load balancing.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second resources are located in a different narrowband region than the anchor resources.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein one or more of a periodicity or a power spectral density (PSD) of the synchronization signal is determined based on a location of the anchor resources.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the synchronization signal comprises physical broadcast channel (PBCH) information, and wherein content of the PBCH information indicates a location of the narrowband region within the wideband bandwidth, within a guard-band bandwidth adjacent to the wideband bandwidth, or within a stand-alone bandwidth that is independent of the wideband bandwidth.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the PBCH comprises one or more of an indication of the location of the narrowband region, a modified system frame number for the narrowband transmissions, or SIB information, and wherein the indication comprises one or more of a direct indication of the location of the narrowband region.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor resources are used to transmit a physical downlink control channel, wherein the physical downlink control channel comprises one or more of an indication of a location of the narrowband region, a modified system frame number for the narrowband transmissions, or SIB information.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor resources comprise a plurality of symbols of an RB punctured by a legacy reference signal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor resources are selected to avoid resource locations for one or more of a legacy reference signal or legacy control signal.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying that a location of the narrowband region is in-band within the wideband bandwidth; and

selecting narrowband resources distributed in the wideband bandwidth for transmission of the narrowband transmissions, the narrowband resources distributed to provide transmit diversity.

13. A method for wireless communication in a system that supports narrowband transmissions in a narrowband region of a system bandwidth, comprising:

identifying anchor resources within a wideband bandwidth of one or more wideband transmissions that contain at least a portion of a synchronization signal comprising synchronization information for device discovery, wherein the anchor resources comprise one or more resource blocks (RBs) located at a predefined resource location within the wideband bandwidth; and

receiving at least a portion of the synchronization signal via the anchor resources.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the predefined resource location comprises an RB located at a fixed offset from a center frequency of the wideband bandwidth.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the anchor resources are used to receive one or more of the synchronization signal, a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), or a system information block (SIB) for use in initial acquisition of the narrowband transmissions.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the anchor resources comprise information indicating second resources for narrowband transmissions, and wherein the second resources are selected to provide one or both of frequency diversity or load balancing.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second resources are located in a different narrowband region than the anchor resources.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

communicating using the second resources; and

periodically checking the anchor resources based at least in part on a SIB change.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein one or more of a periodicity or a power spectral density (PSD) of the synchronization signal is determined based on a location of the anchor resources.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein the synchronization signal comprises physical broadcast channel (PBCH) information, and wherein content of the PBCH information indicates a location of the narrowband region within the wideband bandwidth, within a guard-band bandwidth adjacent to the wideband bandwidth, or within a stand-alone bandwidth that is independent of the wideband bandwidth.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the PBCH comprises one or more of an indication of the location of the narrowband region, a modified system frame number for the narrowband transmissions, or SIB information, and wherein the indication comprises one or more of a direct indication of the location of the narrowband region.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the anchor resources are used to receive a physical downlink control channel, wherein the physical downlink control channel comprises one or more of an indication of a location of the narrowband region, a modified system frame number for the narrowband transmissions, or SIB information.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the anchor resources comprise a plurality of symbols of an RB punctured by a legacy reference signal.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the anchor resources are selected to avoid resource locations for one or more of a legacy reference signal or legacy control signal.

25. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

identifying, based at least in part on a format of the synchronization signal, that a location of the narrowband region is in-band within a wideband bandwidth of one or more wideband transmission; and

identifying narrowband resources distributed in the wideband bandwidth for receiving the narrowband transmissions, the narrowband resources distributed to provide transmit diversity for the narrowband transmissions.

26. An apparatus for wireless communication in a system that supports narrowband transmissions in a narrowband region of a system bandwidth, comprising:

means for identifying anchor resources within a wideband bandwidth of one or more wideband transmissions for transmission of at least a portion of a synchronization signal comprising synchronization information for device discovery, wherein the anchor resources comprise one or more resource blocks (RBs) located at a predefined resource location within the wideband bandwidth; and

means for transmitting at least a portion of the synchronization signal via the anchor resources.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein

the predefined resource location comprises an RB located at a fixed offset from a center frequency of the wideband bandwidth.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein

the anchor resources are used to transmit one or more of the synchronization signal, a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), or a system information block (SIB) for use in device discovery.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein

the anchor resources comprise information indicating second resources for narrowband transmissions, and wherein the second resources are selected to provide one or both of frequency diversity or load balancing.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein

the second resources are located in a different narrowband region than the anchor resources.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein

one or more of a periodicity or a power spectral density (PSD) of the synchronization signal is determined based on a location of the anchor resources.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein

the synchronization signal comprises physical broadcast channel (PBCH) information, and wherein content of the PBCH information indicates a location of the narrowband region within the wideband bandwidth, within a guard-band bandwidth adjacent to the wideband bandwidth, or within a stand-alone bandwidth that is independent of the wideband bandwidth.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein

the PBCH comprises one or more of an indication of the location of the narrowband region, a modified system frame number for the narrowband transmissions, or SIB information, and wherein the indication comprises one or more of a direct indication of the location of the narrowband region.

34. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein

the anchor resources are used to transmit a physical downlink control channel, wherein the physical downlink control channel comprises one or more of an indication of a location of the narrowband region, a modified system frame number for the narrowband transmissions, or SIB information.

35. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein

the anchor resources comprise a plurality of symbols of an RB punctured by a legacy reference signal.

36. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein

the anchor resources are selected to avoid resource locations for one or more of a legacy reference signal or legacy control signal.

37. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

means for identifying that a location of the narrowband region is in-band within the wideband bandwidth; and

means for selecting narrowband resources distributed in the wideband bandwidth for transmission of the narrowband transmissions, the narrowband resources distributed to provide transmit diversity.

38. An apparatus for wireless communication in a system that supports narrowband transmissions in a narrowband region of a system bandwidth, comprising:

means for identifying anchor resources within a wideband bandwidth of one or more wideband transmissions that contain at least a portion of a synchronization signal comprising synchronization information for device discovery, wherein the anchor resources comprise one or more resource blocks (RBs) located at a predefined resource location within the wideband bandwidth; and

means for receiving at least a portion of the synchronization signal via the anchor resources.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein

the predefined resource location comprises an RB located at a fixed offset from a center frequency of the wideband bandwidth.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein

the anchor resources are used to receive one or more of the synchronization signal, a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), or a system information block (SIB) for use in initial acquisition of the narrowband transmissions.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein

the anchor resources comprise information indicating second resources for narrowband transmissions, and wherein the second resources are selected to provide one or both of frequency diversity or load balancing.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein

the second resources are located in a different narrowband region than the anchor resources.

43. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:

means for communicating using the second resources; and

means for periodically checking the anchor resources based at least in part on a SIB change.

44. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein

one or more of a periodicity or a power spectral density (PSD) of the synchronization signal is determined based on a location of the anchor resources.

45. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein

the synchronization signal comprises:

physical broadcast channel (PBCH) information, and wherein content of the PBCH information indicates a location of the narrowband region within the wideband bandwidth, within a guard-band bandwidth adjacent to the wideband bandwidth, or within a stand-alone bandwidth that is independent of the wideband bandwidth.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein

the PBCH comprises one or more of an indication of the location of the narrowband region, a modified system frame number for the narrowband transmissions, or SIB information, and wherein the indication comprises one or more of a direct indication of the location of the narrowband region.

47. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein

the anchor resources are used to receive a physical downlink control channel, wherein the physical downlink control channel comprises one or more of an indication of a location of the narrowband region, a modified system frame number for the narrowband transmissions, or SIB information.

48. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein

the anchor resources comprise a plurality of symbols of an RB punctured by a legacy reference signal.

49. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein

the anchor resources are selected to avoid resource locations for one or more of a legacy reference signal or legacy control signal.

50. The apparatus of claim 38, further comprising:

means for identifying, based at least in part on a format of the synchronization signal, that a location of the narrowband region is in-band within a wideband bandwidth of one or more wideband transmission; and

means for identifying narrowband resources distributed in the wideband bandwidth for receiving the narrowband transmissions, the narrowband resources distributed to provide transmit diversity for the narrowband transmissions.

51. An apparatus for wireless communication in a system that supports narrowband transmissions in a narrowband region of a system bandwidth, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to;

identify anchor resources within a wideband bandwidth of one or more wideband transmissions for transmission of at least a portion of a synchronization signal comprising synchronization information for device discovery, wherein the anchor resources comprise one or more resource blocks (RBs) located at a predefined resource location within the wideband bandwidth; and

transmit at least a portion of the synchronization signal via the anchor resources.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein

the predefined resource location comprises an RB located at a fixed offset from a center frequency of the wideband bandwidth.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein

the anchor resources are used to transmit one or more of the synchronization signal, a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), or a system information block (SIB) for use in device discovery.

54. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein

the anchor resources comprise information indicating second resources for narrowband transmissions, and wherein the second resources are selected to provide one or both of frequency diversity or load balancing.

55. The apparatus of claim 54, wherein

the second resources are located in a different narrowband region than the anchor resources.

56. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein

one or more of a periodicity or a power spectral density (PSD) of the synchronization signal is determined based on a location of the anchor resources.

57. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein

the synchronization signal comprises physical broadcast channel (PBCH) information, and wherein content of the PBCH information indicates a location of the narrowband region within the wideband bandwidth, within a guard-band bandwidth adjacent to the wideband bandwidth, or within a stand-alone bandwidth that is independent of the wideband bandwidth.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein

the PBCH comprises one or more of an indication of the location of the narrowband region, a modified system frame number for the narrowband transmissions, or SIB information, and wherein the indication comprises one or more of a direct indication of the location of the narrowband region.

59. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein

the anchor resources are used to transmit a physical downlink control channel, wherein the physical downlink control channel comprises one or more of an indication of a location of the narrowband region, a modified system frame number for the narrowband transmissions, or SIB information.

60. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein

the anchor resources comprise a plurality of symbols of an RB punctured by a legacy reference signal.

61. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein

the anchor resources are selected to avoid resource locations for one or more of a legacy reference signal or legacy control signal.

62. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

identify that a location of the narrowband region is in-band within the wideband bandwidth; and

select narrowband resources distributed in the wideband bandwidth for transmission of the narrowband transmissions, the narrowband resources distributed to provide transmit diversity.

63. An apparatus for wireless communication in a system that supports narrowband transmissions in a narrowband region of a system bandwidth, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory and operable, when executed by the processor, to cause the apparatus to;

identify anchor resources within a wideband bandwidth of one or more wideband transmissions that contain at least a portion of a synchronization signal comprising synchronization information for device discovery, wherein the anchor resources comprise one or more resource blocks (RBs) located at a predefined resource location within the wideband bandwidth; and

receive at least a portion of the synchronization signal via the anchor resources.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein

the predefined resource location comprises an RB located at a fixed offset from a center frequency of the wideband bandwidth.

65. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein

the anchor resources are used to receive one or more of the synchronization signal, a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), or a system information block (SIB) for use in initial acquisition of the narrowband transmissions.

66. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein

the anchor resources comprise information indicating second resources for narrowband transmissions, and wherein the second resources are selected to provide one or both of frequency diversity or load balancing.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein

the second resources are located in a different narrowband region than the anchor resources.

68. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

communicating using the second resources; and

periodically check the anchor resources based at least in part on a SIB change.

69. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein

one or more of a periodicity or a power spectral density (PSD) of the synchronization signal is determined based on a location of the anchor resources.

70. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein

the synchronization signal comprises:

physical broadcast channel (PBCH) information, and wherein content of the PBCH information indicates a location of the narrowband region within the wideband bandwidth, within a guard-band bandwidth adjacent to the wideband bandwidth, or within a stand-alone bandwidth that is independent of the wideband bandwidth.

71. The apparatus of claim 70, wherein

the PBCH comprises one or more of an indication of the location of the narrowband region, a modified system frame number for the narrowband transmissions, or SIB information, and wherein the indication comprises one or more of a direct indication of the location of the narrowband region.

72. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein

the anchor resources are used to receive a physical downlink control channel, wherein the physical downlink control channel comprises one or more of an indication of a location of the narrowband region, a modified system frame number for the narrowband transmissions, or SIB information.

73. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein

the anchor resources comprise a plurality of symbols of an RB punctured by a legacy reference signal.

74. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein

the anchor resources are selected to avoid resource locations for one or more of a legacy reference signal or legacy control signal.

75. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to:

identify, based at least in part on a format of the synchronization signal, that a location of the narrowband region is in-band within a wideband bandwidth of one or more wideband transmission; and

identify narrowband resources distributed in the wideband bandwidth for receiving the narrowband transmissions, the narrowband resources distributed to provide transmit diversity for the narrowband transmissions.

76. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing code for wireless communication in a system that supports narrowband transmissions in a narrowband region of a system bandwidth, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to:

identify anchor resources within a wideband bandwidth of one or more wideband transmissions for transmission of at least a portion of a synchronization signal comprising synchronization information for device discovery, wherein the anchor resources comprise one or more resource blocks (RBs) located at a predefined resource location within the wideband bandwidth; and

transmit at least a portion of the synchronization signal via the anchor resources.

77. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing code for wireless communication in a system that supports narrowband transmissions in a narrowband region of a system bandwidth, the code comprising instructions executable by a processor to:

identify anchor resources within a wideband bandwidth of one or more wideband transmissions that contain at least a portion of a synchronization signal comprising synchronization information for device discovery, wherein the anchor resources comprise one or more resource blocks (RBs) located at a predefined resource location within the wideband bandwidth; and

receive at least a portion of the synchronization signal via the anchor resources.