System and method of configurable sequence usage for transmission reception points

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided that allow a transmit receive point (TRP) that is a member of a group of TRPs to convey a characteristic of the group through the transmission of a synchronization sequence. A transmit receive point in a first group of TRPs transmits with a first synchronization sequence. A TRP in a second group of TRPs transmits with a second synchronization sequence, the first and second synchronization sequences being different from each other. The TRPs of the first group share a common first characteristic and the TRPs of the second group share a common second characteristic. The transmission of the first synchronization sequence conveys the first common characteristic, and the transmission of the second synchronization sequence conveys the second common characteristic.

1 . A method comprising:
 each of at least one transmit receive point (TRP) in a first group of TRPs transmitting with a first synchronization sequence;   at least one TRP in a second group of TRPs transmitting with a second synchronization sequence, the first and second synchronization sequences being different from each other;   the transmission of the first synchronization sequence conveying a first common characteristic shared by the TRPs of the first group, and the transmission of the second synchronization sequence conveying a second common characteristic shared by the TRPs of the second group.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first group of TRPs and the second group of TRPs all have a common cell identifier. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 assigning the first synchronization sequence to the first group; 
 assigning the second synchronization sequence to the second group; 
 selecting the at least one transmit receive point of the first group to transmit with the first synchronization sequence; 
 selecting the at least one transmit receive point of the second group to transmit with the second synchronization sequence; 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first common characteristic shared by the first group of TRPs is that they are high power TRPs, and the second common characteristic shared by the second group of TPRs is that they are low power TRPs. 
     
     
         5 . A method comprising:
 at least one transmit receive point (TRP) in a first group of TRPs transmitting with a first synchronization sequence of a first group of synchronization sequences;   at least one TRP in a second group of TRPs transmitting with a second synchronization sequence of a second group of synchronization sequences, the first and second group of synchronization sequences being disjoint;   the transmission of the first synchronization sequence conveying a first common characteristic shared by the TRPs of the first group, and the transmission of the second synchronization sequence conveying a second common characteristic shared by the TRPs of the second group.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the first group of TRPs and the second group of TRPs all have a common cell identifier. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  further comprising:
 assigning the first group of synchronization sequences to the first group; 
 assigning the second group of synchronization sequences to the second group; 
 selecting the at least one transmit receive point of the first group to transmit with a synchronization sequence from the first group of synchronization sequences; 
 selecting the at least one transmit receive point of the second group to transmit with a synchronization sequence from the second group of synchronization sequences. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the first common characteristic shared by the first group of TRPs is that they are high power TRPs, and the second common characteristic shared by the second group of TPRs is that they are low power TRPs. 
     
     
         9 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of transmit receive points (TRPs);   at least one TRP in a first group of TRPs of said plurality of TRPs configured to transmit with a first synchronization sequence;   at least one TRP in a second group of TRPs of said plurality of TRPs configured to transmit with a second synchronization sequence, the first and second synchronization sequences being different from each other;   the transmission of the first synchronization sequence conveying a first common characteristic shared by the TRPs of the first group, and the transmission of the second synchronization sequence conveying a second common characteristic shared by the TRPs of the second group.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a controller that configures each TRP to belong to the first group of TRPs or the second group of TRPs. 
 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 a user equipment (UE) detecting a synchronization sequence; and   based on information associating each of a plurality of synchronization sequences with a respective common characteristic shared by TRPs that transmit the synchronization sequence, the UE determining a characteristic of a source of the detected synchronization sequence based on the detected synchronization sequence.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 determining a cell ID based on transmissions by TRPs, wherein a common cell ID is used for at least two groups of TRPs that transmit different synchronization sequences. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein determining the characteristic comprises:
 if the synchronization sequence is a first sequence, the UE determining a high power TRP transmitted the synchronization sequence; 
 if the synchronization sequence is a second sequence, the UE determining a lower power TRP transmitted the synchronization sequence. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein determining the characteristic comprises:
 if the synchronization sequence is a sequence of a first group of synchronization sequences, the UE determining a high power TRP transmitted the synchronization sequence; 
 if the synchronization sequence is a sequence of a second group of synchronization sequences, the UE determining a lower power TRP transmitted the synchronization sequence. 
 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 the UE adjusting power control based on the determination of whether a high power TRP or a low power TRP transmits the synchronization sequence. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the UE adjusting power control comprises the UE adjusting initial transmit power. 
     
     
         17 . A user equipment comprising:
 a transmitter and a receiver;   a synchronization sequence detector for detecting a synchronization sequence in a received signal;   a characteristic determiner that, based on information associating each of a plurality of synchronization sequences with a respective common characteristic shared by TRPs that transmit the synchronization sequence, determines a characteristic of a source of the detected synchronization sequence based on the detected synchronization sequence.   
     
     
         18 . The UE of  claim 17  wherein the characteristic determiner is configured to:
 if the synchronization sequence is a first sequence, determine a high power TRP transmitted the synchronization sequence; 
 if the synchronization sequence is a second sequence, determine a lower power TRP transmitted the synchronization sequence. 
 
     
     
         19 . The UE of  claim 17  wherein the characteristic determiner is configured to:
 if the synchronization sequence is a sequence of a first group of synchronization sequences, determine a high power TRP transmitted the synchronization sequence; 
 if the synchronization sequence is a sequence of a second group of synchronization sequences, determine a lower power TRP transmitted the synchronization sequence. 
 
     
     
         20 . The UE of  claim 18  further comprising:
 a power controller that adjust UE transmit power based on the determination of whether a high power TRP or a low power TRP transmitted the synchronization sequence. 
 
     
     
         21 . The UE of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a power controller that adjust UE transmit power based on the determination of whether a high power TRP or a low power TRP transmitted the synchronization sequence.