Efficient utilization of ssbs in new radio systems

A method performed by a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

• receiving one or more synchronization signal blocks (SSBs);
• determining an operational frequency band;
• determining a value L corresponding to the operational frequency band, the value L indicating a maximum number of SSBs in a synchronization signal (SS) burst;
• on a condition that the value L is 4 or 8, determining an SSB index based on a physical broadcast channel (PBCH) demodulation reference signal (DMRS) sequence;
• and
• on a condition that the value L is 64, determining the SSB index using both of the PBCH DMRS sequence and a PBCH payload,
• wherein, on the condition that the value L is 64, the SSB index consists of least significant bits (LSBs), and most significant bits (MSBs),
• wherein the LSBs for the SSB index is determined based on the PBCH DMRS sequence, and
• wherein the MSBs for the SSB index is determined based on the PBCH payload.

A gNodeB (gNB) comprising:

• a transceiver;
• and
• circuitry configured to:
• perform a time synchronization between the gNB and a User Equipment (UE) by using synchronization signals, the synchronization signals including Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS),
• wherein the PSS, the SSS and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) are included in a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB);
• and
• determine the number of the SSBs in a synchronization signal burst (SS burst),
• wherein a frequency band is associated with a value L indicating a maximum number of the SSBs in the SS burst,
• wherein, on a condition that the value L is 4 or 8, an SSB index which is index of the SSB is encoded in a PBCH demodulation reference signal (DMRS) sequence,
• wherein, on a condition that the value L is 64, the SSB index is encoded in both of the PBCH DMRS sequence and a PBCH payload,
• wherein, on the condition that the value L is 64, the SSB index consists of least significant bits (LSBs) and most significant bits (MSBs),
• wherein the LSBs for the SSB index is encoded in the PBCH DMRS sequence, and
• wherein the MSBs for the SSB index is encoded in the PBCH payload.

A method performed by a gNodeB (gNB), the method comprising:

• performing a time synchronization between the gNB and a User Equipment (UE) by using synchronization signals, the synchronization signals including Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS) and Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS),
• wherein the PSS, the SSS and a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) are included in a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB);
• and
• determining the number of the SSBs in a synchronization signal burst (SS burst),
• wherein a frequency band is associated with a value L indicating a maximum number of the SSBs in the SS burst,
• wherein, on a condition that the value L is 4 or 8, an SSB index which is index of the SSB is encoded in a PBCH demodulation reference signal (DMRS) sequence,
• wherein, on a condition that the value L is 64, the SSB index is encoded in both of the PBCH DMRS sequence and a PBCH payload,
• wherein, on the condition that the value L is 64, the SSB index consists of least significant bits (LSBs) and most significant bits (MSBs),
• wherein the LSBs for the SSB index is encoded in the PBCH DMRS sequence, and
• wherein the MSBs for the SSB index is encoded in the PBCH payload.