PHYSICAL BROADCAST CHANNEL (PBCH) TRANSMISSION AND RECEPTION ON A SHARED COMMUNICATION MEDIUM

• US 20170222771A1
• Filed: 01/26/2017
• Published: 08/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: LUO, Tao, CHENDAMARAI KANNAN, Arumugam, KADOUS, Tamer Adel, PATEL, Chirag Sureshbhai
• Granted Patent: US 11,296,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 20/18 Arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0083 Formatting with frames or packets; Protocol or part of protocol for error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0032 Distributed allocation, i.e. involving a plurality of allocating devices, each making partial allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/0048 Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/10 using broadcasted information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Techniques for broadcast channel management on a shared communication medium are disclosed. An access terminal may be configured to identify a subframe number associated with a given subframe based not only on a subframe number indicator but also a reference boundary. Conversely, an access point may be configured to set a subframe number indicator for a given subframe based not only on its subframe number but also a reference boundary.

Claims

1. A communication method, comprising:

receiving, via a broadcast channel, a subframe number indicator for a corresponding subframe in which the broadcast channel is received;

determining a reference boundary for the subframe number indicator within a corresponding radio frame that includes the subframe; and

identifying a subframe number associated with the subframe based on the subframe number indicator and the reference boundary.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying comprises interpreting the subframe number indicator as an offset within the radio frame with respect to the reference boundary.

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

receiving a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) short code; and

determining the reference boundary based on a value of the SSS short code.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the determining further comprises:

setting the reference boundary to a first subframe within a first portion of the radio frame based on a first value of the SSS short code; and

setting the reference boundary to a second subframe within a second portion of the radio frame based on a second value of the SSS short code.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, for a numbering of subframes within the radio frame of 0 through 9, the first subframe corresponds to subframe 0 and the second subframe corresponds to subframe 5.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the broadcast channel is received within a Discovery Reference Signal (DRS) Transmission Window (DTxW).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the DTxW spans a number of subframes that is greater than a number of subframes that can be uniquely conveyed by the subframe number indicator.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the subframe number indicator corresponds to three bits and the DTxW spans more than eight subframes.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting one or more timing parameters based on the identified subframe number.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising detecting a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), wherein the adjusting is further based on the detecting.

11. A communication apparatus, comprising:

at least one transceiver configured to receive, via a broadcast channel, a subframe number indicator for a corresponding subframe in which the broadcast channel is received;

at least one processor; and

at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one processor and the at least one memory being configured to;

determine a reference boundary for the subframe number indicator within a corresponding radio frame that includes the subframe, and

identify a subframe number associated with the subframe based on the subframe number indicator and the reference boundary.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor are configured to identify the subframe number by interpreting the subframe number indicator as an offset within the radio frame with respect to the reference boundary.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein:

the at least one transceiver is further configured to receive a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) short code; and

the at least one memory and the at least one processor are further configured to determine the reference boundary based on a value of the SSS short code.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor are further configured to:

set the reference boundary to a first subframe within a first portion of the radio frame based on a first value of the SSS short code; and

set the reference boundary to a second subframe within a second portion of the radio frame based on a second value of the SSS short code.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein, for a numbering of subframes within the radio frame of 0 through 9, the first subframe corresponds to subframe 0 and the second subframe corresponds to subframe 5.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one transceiver is further configured to receive the broadcast channel within a Discovery Reference Signal (DRS) Transmission Window (DTxW).

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the DTxW spans a number of subframes that is greater than a number of subframes that can be uniquely conveyed by the subframe number indicator.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the subframe number indicator corresponds to three bits and the DTxW spans more than eight subframes.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one memory and the at least one processor are further configured to adjust one or more timing parameters based on the identified subframe number.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein:

the at least one transceiver is further configured to detect a Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS); and

the at least one memory and the at least one processor are further configured to determine adjust the one or more timing parameters based on the detecting.

21. A communication apparatus, comprising:

means for receiving, via a broadcast channel, a subframe number indicator for a corresponding subframe in which the broadcast channel is received;

means for determining a reference boundary for the subframe number indicator within a corresponding radio frame that includes the subframe; and

means for identifying a subframe number associated with the subframe based on the subframe number indicator and the reference boundary.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for identifying comprises means for interpreting the subframe number indicator as an offset within the radio frame with respect to the reference boundary.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the means for determining comprises:

means for receiving a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) short code; and

means for determining the reference boundary based on a value of the SSS short code.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for determining further comprises:

means for setting the reference boundary to a first subframe within a first portion of the radio frame based on a first value of the SSS short code; and

means for setting the reference boundary to a second subframe within a second portion of the radio frame based on a second value of the SSS short code.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein, for a numbering of subframes within the radio frame of 0 through 9, the first subframe corresponds to subframe 0 and the second subframe corresponds to subframe 5.

26. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code, which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations for communication, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

code for receiving, via a broadcast channel, a subframe number indicator for a corresponding subframe in which the broadcast channel is received;

code for determining a reference boundary for the subframe number indicator within a corresponding radio frame that includes the subframe; and

code for identifying a subframe number associated with the subframe based on the subframe number indicator and the reference boundary.

27. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the code for identifying comprises code for interpreting the subframe number indicator as an offset within the radio frame with respect to the reference boundary.

28. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the code for determining comprises:

code for receiving a Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS) short code; and

code for determining the reference boundary based on a value of the SSS short code.

29. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 28, wherein the code for determining further comprises:

code for setting the reference boundary to a first subframe within a first portion of the radio frame based on a first value of the SSS short code; and

code for setting the reference boundary to a second subframe within a second portion of the radio frame based on a second value of the SSS short code.

30. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein, for a numbering of subframes within the radio frame of 0 through 9, the first subframe corresponds to subframe 0 and the second subframe corresponds to subframe 5.

31. A communication method, comprising:

identifying a subframe number associated with a corresponding subframe designated to carry a broadcast channel;

determining a reference boundary for the subframe within a corresponding radio frame that includes the subframe;

setting a subframe number indicator for the subframe based on the subframe number and the reference boundary; and

transmitting, via the broadcast channel, the subframe number indicator for the subframe.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the setting comprises calculating the subframe number indicator as an offset within the radio frame with respect to the reference boundary.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the determining comprises setting the reference boundary to a first subframe within a first portion of the radio frame or a second subframe within a second portion of the radio frame.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein, for a numbering of subframes within the radio frame of 0 through 9, the first subframe corresponds to subframe 0 and the second subframe corresponds to subframe 5.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the broadcast channel is transmitted within a Discovery Reference Signal (DRS) Transmission Window (DTxW).

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the DTxW spans a number of subframes that is greater than a number of subframes that can be uniquely conveyed by the subframe number indicator.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the subframe number indicator corresponds to three bits and the DTxW spans more than eight subframes.

38. A communication apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory coupled to the at least one processor, the at least one processor and the at least one memory being configured to;

identify a subframe number associated with a corresponding subframe designated to carry a broadcast channel,

determine a reference boundary for the subframe within a corresponding radio frame that includes the subframe, and

set a subframe number indicator for the subframe based on the subframe number and the reference boundary; and

at least one transceiver configured to transmit, via the broadcast channel, the subframe number indicator for the subframe.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the at least one processor and the at least one memory are configured to set the subframe number indicator by calculating the subframe number indicator as an offset within the radio frame with respect to the reference boundary.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the at least one processor and the at least one memory are further configured to set the reference boundary to a first subframe within a first portion of the radio frame or a second subframe within a second portion of the radio frame.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein, for a numbering of subframes within the radio frame of 0 through 9, the first subframe corresponds to subframe 0 and the second subframe corresponds to subframe 5.

42. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the at least one transceiver is further configured to transmit the broadcast channel within a Discovery Reference Signal (DRS) Transmission Window (DTxW).

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the DTxW spans a number of subframes that is greater than a number of subframes that can be uniquely conveyed by the subframe number indicator.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the subframe number indicator corresponds to three bits and the DTxW spans more than eight subframes.

45. A communication apparatus, comprising:

means for identifying a subframe number associated with a corresponding subframe designated to carry a broadcast channel;

means for determining a reference boundary for the subframe within a corresponding radio frame that includes the subframe;

means for setting a subframe number indicator for the subframe based on the subframe number and the reference boundary; and

means for transmitting, via the broadcast channel, the subframe number indicator for the subframe.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the means for setting comprises means for calculating the subframe number indicator as an offset within the radio frame with respect to the reference boundary.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the means for determining comprises means for setting the reference boundary to a first subframe within a first portion of the radio frame or a second subframe within a second portion of the radio frame.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein, for a numbering of subframes within the radio frame of 0 through 9, the first subframe corresponds to subframe 0 and the second subframe corresponds to subframe 5.

49. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising code, which, when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations for communication, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

code for identifying a subframe number associated with a corresponding subframe designated to carry a broadcast channel;

code for determining a reference boundary for the subframe within a corresponding radio frame that includes the subframe;

code for setting a subframe number indicator for the subframe based on the subframe number and the reference boundary; and

code for transmitting, via the broadcast channel, the subframe number indicator for the subframe.

50. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the code for setting comprises code for calculating the subframe number indicator as an offset within the radio frame with respect to the reference boundary.

51. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 49, wherein the code for determining comprises code for setting the reference boundary to a first subframe within a first portion of the radio frame or a second subframe within a second portion of the radio frame.

52. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 51, wherein, for a numbering of subframes within the radio frame of 0 through 9, the first subframe corresponds to subframe 0 and the second subframe corresponds to subframe 5.