Apple Inc.
Fast Initial Acquisition by Transmitting Non-Orthogonal Synchronization Signal Blocks in 5G New Radio

Abstract:

Systems and methods of initial acquisition in a NR system are described. A UE receives time and frequency superposed SSBs from a gNB. If the PSS and SSS of each SSB is independent of a block index of the SSB, the UE receives an additional reference signal scrambled by a beam index of the SSB and uses the reference signal to discriminate between the SSBs. The reference signal is FDMed within a null-subcarrier region of the SSB or outside of the SSB. If the PSS and SSS of each SSB is scrambled using the block index, the UE separates the PBCH measurements, iteratively identifies a block index associated with a DMRS of the PBCH with the highest L1-RSRP level measurement, decodes and reconstructs the PBCH, and subtracts the reconstructed PBCH from the SSB before transmitting an indication of the PBCH with the highest L1-RSRP level measurement to the gNB.