System information for narrowband

A user equipment (UE) capable of acquiring system information or a synchronization signal, the UE comprising processing circuitry operable to:

• receive, from a network node, a plurality of subframes, wherein each subframe of the plurality of subframes includes a repetition of either system information or a synchronization signal, the repetition of the system information or synchronization signal is divided into a number (N) of transmission blocks in a frequency domain of a first bandwidth, wherein
• N is an integer greater than one;
• the system information or synchronization signal is provided over a bandwidth wider than an operating range of the UE;
• processing circuitry operable to receive the plurality of subframes comprises processing circuitry operable to acquire at least a portion of the system information or synchronization signal from outside of the operating range of the UE;
• and
• the plurality of subframes comprises at least two non-consecutive subframes separated by a network discontinuous transmission period;
• detect, from the repetition of the system information or synchronization signal, the minimum system information or synchronization signal, wherein the minimum system information or synchronization signal comprises one instance of each of the transmission blocks that the system information or synchronization signal is divided to;
• and
• combine the one instance of each transmission block of N transmission blocks from one or more repetitions of the respective received plurality of subframes to decode the minimum system information or synchronization signal.

A method for use in a network node of transmitting system information or synchronization signals, the method comprising:

• dividing system information or a synchronization signal into a number (N) of transmission blocks in a frequency domain, wherein the minimum system information or synchronization signal comprises one instance of each of the N transmission blocks that the system information or synchronization signal is divided to;
• and
• transmitting a plurality of subframes to a user equipment (UE), each subframe of the plurality of subframes including a repetition of the N transmission blocks in the frequency domain for the UE to detect, from the repetition of the N transmission blocks, the minimum system information or synchronization signal, and combine the one instance of each of the N transmission blocks to decode the minimum system information or synchronization signal, wherein
• the system information or synchronization signal is provided over a bandwidth wider than an operating range of the UE;
• transmitting the plurality of subframes comprises transmitting at least a portion of the system information or synchronization signal from outside of the operating range of the UE;
• and
• the plurality of subframes comprises at least two non-consecutive subframes separated by a network discontinuous transmission period.

A network node capable of transmitting system information or synchronization signals, the network node comprising processing circuitry operable to:

• divide system information or a synchronization signal into a number (N) of transmission blocks in a frequency domain, wherein the minimum system information or synchronization signal comprises one instance of each of the N transmission blocks that the system information or synchronization signal is divided to;
• and
• transmit a plurality of subframes to a user equipment (UE), each subframe of the plurality of subframes including a repetition of the N transmission blocks in the frequency domain for the UE to detect, from the repetition of the N transmission blocks, the minimum system information or synchronization signal, and combine the one instance of each of the N transmission blocks to decode the minimum system information or synchronization signal, wherein
• the system information or synchronization signal is provided over a bandwidth wider than an operating range of the UE;
• processing circuitry operable to transmit the plurality of subframes comprises processing circuitry operable to transmit at least a portion of the system information or synchronization signal from outside of the operating range of the UE;
• and
• the plurality of subframes comprises at least two non-consecutive subframes separated by a network discontinuous transmission period.