Dynamic uplink access signaling via layer-1 broadcast channels

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus are disclosed. A wireless device is in communication with a network node. The wireless device includes processing circuitry configured to receive a resource indication of at least first and second sets of uplink random access resources. The processing circuitry is configured to receive a dynamic indication associated with a random access procedure. The processing circuitry is configured to initiate, based on the dynamic indication, the random access procedure using one of the first set of uplink random access resources and the second set of uplink random access resources.

Description

[0001] DYNAMIC UPLINK ACCESS SIGNALING VIA LAYER-1 BROADCAST CHANNELS

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0003] The present disclosure relates to wireless communications, and in particular, to dynamic uplink access signaling via Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) layer 1 broadcast channels.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] The Third Generation Partnership Project (3 GPP) has developed and is developing standards for Fourth Generation (4G) (also referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE)) and Fifth Generation (5G) (also referred to as New Radio (NR)) wireless communication systems. Such systems provide, among other features, broadband communication between network nodes, such as base stations, and mobile wireless devices (WD), as well as communication between network nodes and between wireless devices. Sixth Generation (6G) wireless communication systems are also under development.

[0006] NR supports lean carrier design minimizing always-on signaling. FIG. 1 is a diagram of example signaling in NR where a cell supporting initial access transmits a synchronization signal (SS) block (SSB) periodically, and an SS block consists of primary and secondary synchronization signals and a primary broadcast channel (PBCH).

[0007] The master information block (MIB) is always transmitted on the broadcast channel (BCH) with a periodicity (e.g., of 80 ms) and repetitions made within that periodicity, and it includes parameters that are needed to acquire system information block 1 (SIB 1 ) from the cell. The first transmission of the MIB is scheduled in pre- determined subframes as defined in specification and repetitions are scheduled according to the period of SSB.

[0008] The SIB1 is transmitted on the downlink scheduling (DL-SCH) resources with a periodicity (e.g., of 160 ms) and variable transmission repetition periodicity within that periodicity. The default transmission repetition periodicity of SIB1 can be a first value (e.g., 20ms) but the actual transmission repetition periodicity is up to network implementation. In some cases, for SSB and control resource set (CORESET) multiplexing pattern 1, the SIB1 repetition transmission period is 20 ms. For SSB and CORESET multiplexing pattern 2 / 3, SIB1 transmission repetition period is the same as the SSB period (3GPP Technical Standard (TS) 38.213 (e.g., version 15.14.0 (Rel 15), version 16.9.0 (Rel 16)), clause 13).

[0009] SIB1 includes information regarding the availability and scheduling (e.g., mapping of SIBs to system information (SI) message, periodicity, Si-window size) of other SIBs with an indication whether one or more SIBs are only provided on-demand and, in that case, the configuration needed by the wireless device to perform the SI request. SIB1 is cell-specific SIB.

[0010] The PBCH payload in NR includes both physical layer generated signals and MIB information scheduled from higher layers. The contents of NR-PBCH can be as follows : System frame number;

[0011] Pdcch-ConfigSIBl;

[0012] Subcarrier spacing common;

[0013] SS / PBCH block index; cellBarred; intraFreqReselection; spare (or unused bit, e.g., as in 3GPP Technical Releases 15 and 16 (3GPP Rel-15 / 16);

[0014] Half-frame indication;

[0015] Dmrs-TypeA-Position;

[0016] Ssb-SubcarrierOffset;

[0017] BCCH-BCH-MessageType;

[0018] CRC bits.

[0019] The following information may be transmitted by means of the DCI format 1 0 with cyclic redundancy code (CRC) scrambled by Si-radio network temporary identifier (RNTI):

[0020] - Frequency domain resource assignment ~ log2( Ngg,BWP(Ngg,BWP+ l) / 2) bits: DL,Bwpis the size f C0RESET 0KD “

[0021] - Time domain resource assignment - for example, 4 bits as defined in Clause 5.1.2.1 of 3GPP TS 38.214 (e.g., version 15.16.0 (Rel 15), version 16.9.0 (Rel 16));

[0022] - VRB-to-PRB mapping - for example, 1 bit according to Table 7.3.1.2.2-5;

[0023] - Modulation and coding scheme - for example, 5 bits as defined in Clause 5.1.3 of 3GPP TS 38.214 (e.g., version 15.16.0 (Rel 15), version 16.9.0 (Rel 16)), using Table 5.1.3.1-1;

[0024] - Redundancy version - for example, 2 bits as defined in Table 7.3.1.1.1-2;

[0025] - System information indicator - for example, 1 bit as defined in Table 7.3.1.2.1-2;

[0026] - Reserved bits - for example, 17 bits for operation in a cell with shared spectrum channel access in frequency range 1 or for operation in a cell in frequency range 2-2; otherwise 15 bits.

[0027] Table 7.3.1.2.1-2

[0028] Referring to the example diagram of FIG. 2, random access channel (RACH) resources are configured via higher layers (e.g., system information) and typical RACH resources may occur periodically as shown in FIG. 2, where each cell corresponds to a slot or a subframe. After sending a RACH, the wireless device monitors for a RACH response in a search space (e.g., ra-searchSpace, that is configured by higher layers), and if it does not receive a response within a pre-determined amount of time, the wireless device tries to send the RACH again.

[0029] For wireless devices in Idle / inactive mode, the RACH resources are configured in a semi-static manner, which means the network node has to use SI change to adapt the RACH resources (e.g., to make them sparse in time domain, etc.) to adapt to traffic load. In scenarios where load can change quickly, this can become inefficient.

[0030] SUMMARY

[0031] A method is needed where RACH resources can be adapted more quickly without requiring an expensive SI update procedure. At the same time, a method is needed such that the adaptation indication does not unnecessarily increase the system overhead or wireless device power consumption. Some embodiments advantageously provide methods, network nodes and wireless devices for dynamic uplink access signaling via OSI layer 1 broadcast channels.

[0032] Dynamic indication of RACH resources using reserved bits in the PBCH and / or using reserved bits in physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) that carries downlink control information (DCI) with CRC scrambled by SI-RNTI is provided. In the case of paging, one or more specific RACH resources are indicated in the PDCCH that carries the DCI scrambled by paging related RNTI (Paging / paging early indicator (P / PEI)-RNTI) to be used for paging response.

[0033] Some embodiments include a method in a wireless device including transmitting a RACH based on dynamic indication of RACH resources using reserved bits in PBCH and / or using reserved bits in PDCCH that carriers DCI with CRC scrambled by SI-RNTI, P-RNTI, or PEI-RNTI.

[0034] Reduced network node energy consumption can be achieved by dynamically assigning RACH resources based on traffic load, and by piggy-backing the dynamic RACH resource indication on existing persistent signaling (such as PBCH, PDCCH that carries DCI with CRC scrambled by SI-RNTI). In the case of paging, the wireless device that is paged may be immediately made aware of the RACH related resources to be used for paging response and as a result, even if the network node is currently configured with a limited set of resources during energy saving periods, the wireless device can access the cell faster than the configuration currently provided for other types of access.

[0035] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a wireless device is provided. Wireless device is configured to receive a resource indication of at least first and second sets of uplink random access resources. Wireless device is configured to receive a dynamic indication associated with a random access procedure. Wireless device is configured to initiate, based on the dynamic indication, the random access procedure using one of the first set of uplink random access resources and the second set of uplink random access resources.

[0036] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is received in a physical broadcast channel, PBCH.

[0037] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits of the PBCH.

[0038] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is received in downlink control information, DCI, carried in a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH.

[0039] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the DCI that is scrambled by at least one of a system information radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI, paging RNTI, P-RNTI, and a paging early indication RNTI, PEI-RNTI.

[0040] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits in the PDCCH.

[0041] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is a paging message.

[0042] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is included in a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, message.

[0043] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the random access procedure is initiated by causing transmission of a random access preamble message using the second set of random access resources based on the dynamic indication indicating the second set of random access resources is available.

[0044] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first set of uplink random access resources are always-available resources; and the second set of uplink random access resources are dynamically available resources. According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the resource indication is received in system information broadcast by the network node (16).

[0045] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, at least one of the first and second sets of uplink random access resources is configured with a validity duration, the validity duration being measured from a reference point and indicating a duration for which the respective set of resources is available.

[0046] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the validity duration is at least one of a time and a number of instances of random access resources after the reference point.

[0047] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a network node is provided. Network node is configured to configure the wireless device with a resource indication corresponding to first and second sets of uplink random access resources. Network node is configured to cause transmission of a dynamic indication that is configured to cause the wireless device to initiate a random access procedure using one of the first set of uplink random access resources and the second set of uplink random access resources indicated in the dynamic indication. Network node is configured to receive random access signaling associated with random access procedure.

[0048] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is transmitted in a physical broadcast channel, PBCH.

[0049] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits of the PBCH.

[0050] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is transmitted in downlink control information, DCI, carried in the physical downlink control channel, PDCCH.

[0051] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is included in the DCI that is scrambled by at least one of a system information radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI, and a paging RNTI, P-RNTI.

[0052] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits in the PDCCH.

[0053] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is a paging message.

[0054] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is included in a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, message.

[0055] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the random access procedure is initiated by causing transmission of a random access preamble message using the second set of random access resources based on the dynamic indication indicating the second set of random access resources is available.

[0056] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first set of uplink random access resources are always-available resources; and the second set of uplink random access resources are dynamically available resources.

[0057] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the resource indication is transmitted in system information broadcast by the network node.

[0058] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, at least one of the first and second sets of uplink random access resources is configured with a validity duration, the validity duration being measured from a reference point and indicating a duration for which the respective set of resources is available.

[0059] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the validity duration is at least one of a time and a number of instances of random access resources after the reference point.

[0060] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method implemented in a wireless device is provided. The method includes receiving a resource indication of at least first and second sets of uplink random access resources. The method includes receiving a dynamic indication associated with a random access procedure. The method includes initiating, based on the dynamic indication, the random access procedure using one of the first set of uplink random access resources and the second set of uplink random access resources.

[0061] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is received in a physical broadcast channel, PBCH.

[0062] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits of the PBCH.

[0063] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is received in downlink control information, DCI, carried in a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH.

[0064] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the DCI that is scrambled by at least one of a system information radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI, paging RNTI, P-RNTI, and a paging early indication RNTI, PEI-RNTI.

[0065] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits in the PDCCH.

[0066] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is a paging message.

[0067] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is included in a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, message.

[0068] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the random access procedure is initiated by causing transmission of a random access preamble message using the second set of random access resources based on the dynamic indication indicating the second set of random access resources is available.

[0069] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first set of uplink random access resources are always-available resources; and the second set of uplink random access resources are dynamically available resources.

[0070] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the resource indication is received in system information broadcast by the network node (16).

[0071] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, at least one of the first and second sets of uplink random access resources is configured with a validity duration, the validity duration being measured from a reference point and indicating a duration for which the respective set of resources is available.

[0072] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the validity duration is at least one of a time and a number of instances of random access resources after the reference point.

[0073] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method implemented in a network node is provided. The method includes configuring the wireless device with a resource indication corresponding to first and second sets of uplink random access resources. The method includes causing transmission of a dynamic indication that is configured to cause the wireless device to initiate a random access procedure using one of the first set of uplink random access resources and the second set of uplink random access resources indicated in the dynamic indication. The method includes receiving random access signaling associated with random access procedure.

[0074] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is transmitted in a physical broadcast channel, PBCH.

[0075] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits of the PBCH.

[0076] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is transmitted in downlink control information, DCI, carried in the physical downlink control channel, PDCCH.

[0077] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is included in the DCI that is scrambled by at least one of a system information radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI, and a paging RNTI, P-RNTI.

[0078] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits in the PDCCH.

[0079] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is a paging message.

[0080] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the dynamic indication is included in a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, message.

[0081] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the random access procedure is initiated by causing transmission of a random access preamble message using the second set of random access resources based on the dynamic indication indicating the second set of random access resources is available.

[0082] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the first set of uplink random access resources are always-available resources; and the second set of uplink random access resources are dynamically available resources.

[0083] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the resource indication is transmitted in system information broadcast by the network node.

[0084] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, at least one of the first and second sets of uplink random access resources is configured with a validity duration, the validity duration being measured from a reference point and indicating a duration for which the respective set of resources is available.

[0085] According to one or more embodiments of this aspect, the validity duration is at least one of a time and a number of instances of random access resources after the reference point.

[0086] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0087] A more complete understanding of the present embodiments, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

[0088] FIG. 1 is an illustration of resource timing;

[0089] FIG. 2 is an illustration of uplink resources;

[0090] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an example network architecture illustrating a communication system connected via an intermediate network to a host computer according to the principles in the present disclosure;

[0091] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a host computer communicating via a network node with a wireless device over an at least partially wireless connection according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0092] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for executing a client application at a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0093] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for receiving user data at a wireless device according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0094] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for receiving user data from the wireless device at a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0095] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating example methods implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a network node and a wireless device for receiving user data at a host computer according to some embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0096] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example process in a network node for dynamic uplink access signaling via layer 1 broadcast channels;

[0097] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example process in a wireless device for dynamic uplink access signaling via layer 1 broadcast channels;

[0098] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example process in a network node for dynamic uplink access signaling via layer 1 broadcast channels according to principles disclosed herein;

[0099] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example process in a wireless device for dynamic uplink access signaling via layer 1 broadcast channels according to principles disclosed herein;

[0100] FIG. 13 is a diagram of random access signaling;

[0101] FIG. 14 is a flowchart of an example process in a wireless device according to principles disclosed herein;

[0102] FIG. 15 is a diagram of PBCH transmissions;

[0103] FIG. 16 is a flowchart of another example process in a wireless device according to principles disclosed herein;

[0104] FIG. 17 is a flowchart of another example process in a wireless device according to principles disclosed herein; and

[0105] FIG. 18 is a flowchart of another example process in a wireless device according to principles disclosed herein.

[0106] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0107] Before describing in detail example embodiments, it is noted that the embodiments reside primarily in combinations of apparatus components and processing steps related to dynamic uplink access signaling via layer 1 broadcast channels. Accordingly, components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

[0108] As used herein, relational terms, such as “first” and “second,” “top” and “bottom,” and the like, may be used solely to distinguish one entity or element from another entity or element without necessarily requiring or implying any physical or logical relationship or order between such entities or elements. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the concepts described herein. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and / or “including” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0109] In embodiments described herein, the joining term, “in communication with” and the like, may be used to indicate electrical or data communication, which may be accomplished by physical contact, induction, electromagnetic radiation, radio signaling, infrared signaling or optical signaling, for example. One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that multiple components may interoperate and modifications and variations are possible of achieving the electrical and data communication.

[0110] In some embodiments described herein, the term “coupled,” “connected,” and the like, may be used herein to indicate a connection, although not necessarily directly, and may include wired and / or wireless connections.

[0111] In some embodiments, the general description elements in the form of “one of A and B” corresponds to A or B. In some embodiments, at least one of A and B corresponds to A, B or AB, or to one or more of A and B, or one or both of A and B . In some embodiments, at least one of A, B and C corresponds to one or more of A, B and C, and / or A, B, C or a combination thereof.

[0112] The term “network node” used herein can be any kind of network node comprised in a radio network which may further comprise any of base station (BS), radio base station, base transceiver station (BTS), base station controller (BSC), radio network controller (RNC), g Node B (gNB), evolved Node B (eNB or eNodeB), Node B, multi-standard radio (MSR) radio node such as MSR BS, multi-cell / multicast coordination entity (MCE), integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node, relay node, donor node controlling relay, radio access point (AP), transmission points, transmission nodes, Remote Radio Unit (RRU) Remote Radio Head (RRH), a core network node (e.g., mobile management entity (MME), self-organizing network (SON) node, a coordinating node, positioning node, MDT node, etc.), an external node (e.g., 3rd party node, a node external to the current network), nodes in distributed antenna system (DAS), a spectrum access system (SAS) node, an element management system (EMS), etc. The network node may also comprise test equipment. The term “radio node” used herein may be used to also denote a wireless device (WD) such as a wireless device (WD) or a radio network node.

[0113] In some embodiments, the non-limiting terms wireless device (WD) or a user equipment (UE) are used interchangeably. The wireless device herein can be any type of wireless device capable of communicating with a network node or another wireless device over radio signals, such as wireless device (WD). The wireless device may also be a radio communication device, target device, device to device (D2D) wireless device, machine type wireless device or wireless device capable of machine to machine communication (M2M), low-cost and / or low-complexity wireless device, a sensor equipped with wireless device, Tablet, mobile terminals, smart phone, laptop embedded equipped (LEE), laptop mounted equipment (LME), USB dongles, Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), an Internet of Things (loT) device, or a Narrowband loT (NB-IOT) device, etc.

[0114] Also, in some embodiments the generic term “radio network node” is used. It can be any kind of a radio network node which may comprise any of base station, radio base station, base transceiver station, base station controller, network controller, RNC, evolved Node B (eNB), Node B, gNB, Multi-cell / multicast Coordination Entity (MCE), IAB node, relay node, access point, radio access point, Remote Radio Unit (RRU) Remote Radio Head (RRH).

[0115] Note that although terminology from one particular wireless system, such as, for example, 3GPP LTE and / or New Radio (NR), may be used in this disclosure, this should not be seen as limiting the scope of the disclosure to only the aforementioned system. Other wireless systems, including without limitation Wide Band Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), may also benefit from exploiting the ideas covered within this disclosure.

[0116] Note further, that functions described herein as being performed by a wireless device or a network node may be distributed over a plurality of wireless devices and / or network nodes. In other words, it is contemplated that the functions of the network node and wireless device described herein are not limited to performance by a single physical device and, in fact, can be distributed among several physical devices.

[0117] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

[0118] Some embodiments provide dynamic uplink access signaling via layer 1 broadcast channels.

[0119] Returning now to the drawing figures, in which like elements are referred to by like reference numerals, there is shown in FIG. 3 a schematic diagram of a communication system 10, according to an embodiment, such as a 3 GPP-type cellular network that may support standards such as LTE and / or NR (5G), which comprises an access network 12, such as a radio access network, and a core network 14. The access network 12 comprises a plurality of network nodes 16a, 16b, 16c (referred to collectively as network nodes 16), such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area 18a, 18b, 18c (referred to collectively as coverage areas 18). Each network node 16a, 16b, 16c is connectable to the core network 14 over a wired or wireless connection 20. A first wireless device (WD) 22a located in coverage area 18a is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding network node 16a. A second wireless device 22b in coverage area 18b is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding network node 16b. While a plurality of wireless devices 22a, 22b (collectively referred to as wireless devices 22) are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole wireless device is in the coverage area or where a sole wireless device is connecting to the corresponding network node 16. Note that although only two wireless devices 22 and three network nodes 16 are shown for convenience, the communication system may include many more wireless devices 22 and network nodes 16.

[0120] Also, it is contemplated that a wireless device 22 can be in simultaneous communication and / or configured to separately communicate with more than one network node 16 and more than one type of network node 16. For example, a wireless device 22 can have dual connectivity with a network node 16 that supports LTE and the same or a different network node 16 that supports NR. As an example, wireless device 22 can be in communication with an eNB for LTE / E-UTRAN and a gNB for NR / NG-RAN.

[0121] The communication system 10 may itself be connected to a host computer 24, which may be embodied in the hardware and / or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. The host computer 24 may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The connections 26, 28 between the communication system 10 and the host computer 24 may extend directly from the core network 14 to the host computer 24 or may extend via an optional intermediate network 30. The intermediate network 30 may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network. The intermediate network 30, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet. In some embodiments, the intermediate network 30 may comprise two or more subnetworks (not shown).

[0122] The communication system of FIG. 3 as a whole enables connectivity between one of the connected wireless devices 22a, 22b and the host computer 24. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection. The host computer 24 and the connected wireless devices 22a, 22b are configured to communicate data and / or signaling via the OTT connection, using the access network 12, the core network 14, any intermediate network 30 and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. The OTT connection may be transparent in the sense that at least some of the participating communication devices through which the OTT connection passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, a network node 16 may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from a host computer 24 to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected wireless device 22a. Similarly, the network node 16 need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the wireless device 22a towards the host computer 24.

[0123] A network node 16 is configured to include a configuration unit 32 which is configured to configure the wireless device with an indication of random access channel, RACH, resources using bits in a downlink channel, the indication being scrambled by a system information-radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI. A wireless device 22 is configured to include a determination unit 34 which is configured to determine one of the first set and the second set to use for random access uplink signaling based at least in part on the indication.

[0124] Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the wireless device 22, network node 16 and host computer 24 discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to FIG. 4. In a communication system 10, a host computer 24 comprises hardware (HW) 38 including a communication interface 40 configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 10. The host computer 24 further comprises processing circuitry 42, which may have storage and / or processing capabilities. The processing circuitry 42 may include a processor 44 and memory 46. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 42 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and / or control, e.g., one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 44 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) memory 46, which may comprise any kind of volatile and / or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (Random Access Memory) and / or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

[0125] Processing circuitry 42 may be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein and / or to cause such methods, and / or processes to be performed, e.g., by host computer 24. Processor 44 corresponds to one or more processors 44 for performing host computer 24 functions described herein. The host computer 24 includes memory 46 that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 48 and / or the host application 50 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 44 and / or processing circuitry 42, causes the processor 44 and / or processing circuitry 42 to perform the processes described herein with respect to host computer 24. The instructions may be software associated with the host computer 24.

[0126] The software 48 may be executable by the processing circuitry 42. The software 48 includes a host application 50. The host application 50 may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as a wireless device 22 connecting via an OTT connection 52 terminating at the wireless device 22 and the host computer 24. In providing the service to the remote user, the host application 50 may provide user data which is transmitted using the OTT connection 52. The “user data” may be data and information described herein as implementing the described functionality. In one embodiment, the host computer 24 may be configured for providing control and functionality to a service provider and may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. The processing circuitry 42 of the host computer 24 may enable the host computer 24 to observe, monitor, control, transmit to and / or receive from the network node 16 and or the wireless device 22.

[0127] The communication system 10 further includes a network node 16 provided in a communication system 10 and including hardware 58 enabling it to communicate with the host computer 24 and with the wireless device 22. The hardware 58 may include a communication interface 60 for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of the communication system 10, as well as a radio interface 62 for setting up and maintaining at least a wireless connection 64 with a wireless device 22 located in a coverage area 18 served by the network node 16. The radio interface 62 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and / or one or more RF transceivers. The communication interface 60 may be configured to facilitate a connection 66 to the host computer 24. The connection 66 may be direct or it may pass through a core network 14 of the communication system 10 and / or through one or more intermediate networks 30 outside the communication system 10.

[0128] In the embodiment shown, the hardware 58 of the network node 16 further includes processing circuitry 68. The processing circuitry 68 may include a processor 70 and a memory 72. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 68 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and / or control, e.g., one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 70 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) the memory 72, which may comprise any kind of volatile and / or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (Random Access Memory) and / or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

[0129] Thus, the network node 16 further has software 74 stored internally in, for example, memory 72, or stored in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the network node 16 via an external connection. The software 74 may be executable by the processing circuitry 68. The processing circuitry 68 may be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein and / or to cause such methods, and / or processes to be performed, e.g., by network node 16. Processor 70 corresponds to one or more processors 70 for performing network node 16 functions described herein. The memory 72 is configured to store data, programmatic software code and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 74 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 70 and / or processing circuitry 68, causes the processor 70 and / or processing circuitry 68 to perform the processes described herein with respect to network node 16. For example, processing circuitry 68 of the network node 16 may include a configuration unit 32 which is configured to configure the wireless device with an indication of random access channel, RACH, resources using bits in a downlink channel, the indication being scrambled by a system information-radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI.

[0130] The communication system 10 further includes the wireless device 22 already referred to. The wireless device 22 may have hardware 80 that may include a radio interface 82 configured to set up and maintain a wireless connection 64 with a network node 16 serving a coverage area 18 in which the wireless device 22 is currently located. The radio interface 82 may be formed as or may include, for example, one or more RF transmitters, one or more RF receivers, and / or one or more RF transceivers.

[0131] The hardware 80 of the wireless device 22 further includes processing circuitry 84. The processing circuitry 84 may include a processor 86 and memory 88. In particular, in addition to or instead of a processor, such as a central processing unit, and memory, the processing circuitry 84 may comprise integrated circuitry for processing and / or control, e.g., one or more processors and / or processor cores and / or FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuitry) adapted to execute instructions. The processor 86 may be configured to access (e.g., write to and / or read from) memory 88, which may comprise any kind of volatile and / or nonvolatile memory, e.g., cache and / or buffer memory and / or RAM (Random Access Memory) and / or ROM (Read-Only Memory) and / or optical memory and / or EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory).

[0132] Thus, the wireless device 22 may further comprise software 90, which is stored in, for example, memory 88 at the wireless device 22, or stored in external memory (e.g., database, storage array, network storage device, etc.) accessible by the wireless device 22. The software 90 may be executable by the processing circuitry 84. The software 90 may include a client application 92. The client application 92 may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via the wireless device 22, with the support of the host computer 24. In the host computer 24, an executing host application 50 may communicate with the executing client application 92 via the OTT connection 52 terminating at the wireless device 22 and the host computer 24. In providing the service to the user, the client application 92 may receive request data from the host application 50 and provide user data in response to the request data. The OTT connection 52 may transfer both the request data and the user data. The client application 92 may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

[0133] The processing circuitry 84 may be configured to control any of the methods and / or processes described herein and / or to cause such methods, and / or processes to be performed, e.g., by wireless device 22. The processor 86 corresponds to one or more processors 86 for performing wireless device 22 functions described herein. The wireless device 22 includes memory 88 that is configured to store data, programmatic software code and / or other information described herein. In some embodiments, the software 90 and / or the client application 92 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 86 and / or processing circuitry 84, causes the processor 86 and / or processing circuitry 84 to perform the processes described herein with respect to wireless device 22. For example, the processing circuitry 84 of the wireless device 22 may include a determination unit 34 which is configured to determine one of the first set and the second set to use for random access uplink signaling based at least in part on the indication.

[0134] In some embodiments, the inner workings of the network node 16, wireless device 22, and host computer 24 may be as shown in FIG. 4 and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of FIG. 3. In FIG. 4, the OTT connection 52 has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between the host computer 24 and the wireless device 22 via the network node 16, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from the wireless device 22 or from the service provider operating the host computer 24, or both. While the OTT connection 52 is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network).

[0135] The wireless connection 64 between the wireless device 22 and the network node 16 is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to the wireless device 22 using the OTT connection 52, in which the wireless connection 64 may form the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of some of these embodiments may improve the data rate, latency, and / or power consumption and thereby provide benefits such as reduced user waiting time, relaxed restriction on file size, better responsiveness, extended battery lifetime, etc.

[0136] In some embodiments, a measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 52 between the host computer 24 and wireless device 22, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and / or the network functionality for reconfiguring the OTT connection 52 may be implemented in the software 48 of the host computer 24 or in the software 90 of the wireless device 22, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which the OTT connection 52 passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software 48, 90 may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of the OTT connection 52 may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect the network node 16, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to the network node 16. Some such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary wireless device signaling facilitating the host computer’s 24 measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. In some embodiments, the measurements may be implemented in that the software 48, 90 causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using the OTT connection 52 while it monitors propagation times, errors, etc.

[0137] Thus, in some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes processing circuitry 42 configured to provide user data and a communication interface 40 that is configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to the wireless device 22. In some embodiments, the cellular network also includes the network node 16 with a radio interface 62. In some embodiments, the network node 16 is configured to, and / or the network node’s 16 processing circuitry 68 is configured to perform the functions and / or methods described herein for preparing / initiating / maintaining / supporting / ending a transmission to the wireless device 22, and / or preparing / terminating / maintaining / supporting / ending in receipt of a transmission from the wireless device 22.

[0138] In some embodiments, the host computer 24 includes processing circuitry 42 and a communication interface 40 that is configured to a communication interface 40 configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a wireless device 22 to a network node 16. In some embodiments, the wireless device 22 is configured to, and / or comprises a radio interface 82 and / or processing circuitry 84 configured to perform the functions and / or methods described herein for preparing / initiating / maintaining / supporting / ending a transmission to the network node 16, and / or preparing / terminating / maintaining / supporting / ending in receipt of a transmission from the network node 16.

[0139] Although FIGS. 3 and 4 show various “units” such as configure unit 32, and determination unit 34 as being within a respective processor, it is contemplated that these units may be implemented such that a portion of the unit is stored in a corresponding memory within the processing circuitry. In other words, the units may be implemented in hardware or in a combination of hardware and software within the processing circuitry.

[0140] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIGS. 3 and 4, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a wireless device 22, which may be those described with reference to FIG. 4. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (Block S100). In an optional substep of the first step, the host computer 24 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application 50 (Block SI 02). In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the wireless device 22 (Block SI 04). In an optional third step, the network node 16 transmits to the wireless device 22 the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer 24 initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block SI 06). In an optional fourth step, the wireless device 22 executes a client application, such as, for example, the client application 92, associated with the host application 50 executed by the host computer 24 (Block S108).

[0141] FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 3, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a wireless device 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In a first step of the method, the host computer 24 provides user data (Block SI 10). In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer 24 provides the user data by executing a host application, such as, for example, the host application 50. In a second step, the host computer 24 initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the wireless device 22 (Block SI 12). The transmission may pass via the network node 16, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In an optional third step, the wireless device 22 receives the user data carried in the transmission (Block SI 14).

[0142] FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 3, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a wireless device 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In an optional first step of the method, the wireless device 22 receives input data provided by the host computer 24 (Block SI 16). In an optional substep of the first step, the wireless device 22 executes the client application 92, which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer 24 (Block SI 18). Additionally or alternatively, in an optional second step, the wireless device 22 provides user data (Block S120). In an optional substep of the second step, the wireless device provides the user data by executing a client application, such as, for example, client application 92 (Block S122). In providing the user data, the executed client application 92 may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the wireless device 22 may initiate, in an optional third substep, transmission of the user data to the host computer 24 (Block S124). In a fourth step of the method, the host computer 24 receives the user data transmitted from the wireless device 22, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure (Block S126).

[0143] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an example method implemented in a communication system, such as, for example, the communication system of FIG. 3, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system may include a host computer 24, a network node 16 and a wireless device 22, which may be those described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. In an optional first step of the method, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the network node 16 receives user data from the wireless device 22 (Block S128). In an optional second step, the network node 16 initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer 24 (Block S130). In a third step, the host computer 24 receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the network node 16 (Block SI 32).

[0144] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example process in a network node 16 for dynamic uplink access signaling via layer 1 broadcast channels. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of network node 16 such as by one or more of processing circuitry 68 (including the configuration unit 32), processor 70, radio interface 62 and / or communication interface 60. Network node 16 such as via processing circuitry 68 and / or processor 70 and / or radio interface 62 and / or communication interface 60 is configured to configure the wireless device with an indication of random access channel, RACH, resources using bits in a downlink channel, the indication being scrambled by a system information-radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI (Block SI 34).

[0145] In some embodiments, the indication is configured in one of a physical broadcast channel, PBCH, a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, and a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH. In some embodiments, the indication indicates an availability of at least one of two sets of resources. In some embodiments, the indication is configured in a paging-related message. In some embodiments, the indication is configured in system information, SI.

[0146] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example process in a wireless device 22 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of wireless device 22 such as by one or more of processing circuitry 84 (including the determination unit 34), processor 86, radio interface 82 and / or communication interface 60. Wireless device 22 such as via processing circuitry 84 and / or processor 86 and / or radio interface 82 is configured to receive an indication of a first set of uplink random access resources and a second set of uplink random access resources (Block SI 36). The process also includes determining one of the first set and the second set to use for random access uplink signaling based at least in part on the indication (Block SI 38).

[0147] In some embodiments, the method also includes monitoring a random access response, RAR, message in response to the indication. In some embodiments, the indication is configured in one of a physical broadcast channel, PBCH, and a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, carrying downlink control information, DCI, contents scrambled by a system information radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI. In some embodiments, the indication is configured in a paging-related message.

[0148] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example process in a wireless device 22 according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of wireless device 22 such as by one or more of processing circuitry 84 (including the determination unit 34), processor 86, radio interface 82 and / or communication interface 60. Wireless device 22 is configured to receive a resource indication of at least first and second sets of uplink random access resources (Block S140). Wireless device 22 is configured to receive a dynamic indication associated with a random access procedure (Block SI 42). Wireless device 22 is configured to initiate, based on the dynamic indication, the random access procedure using one of the first set of uplink random access resources and the second set of uplink random access resources (Block S144).

[0149] In at least one embodiment, the dynamic indication is received in a physical broadcast channel, PBCH.

[0150] In at least one embodiment, the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits of the PBCH.

[0151] In at least one embodiment, the dynamic indication is received in downlink control information, DCI, carried in a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH.

[0152] In at least one embodiment, the DCI that is scrambled by at least one of a system information radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI, paging RNTI, P-RNTI, and a paging early indication RNTI, PEI-RNTI.

[0153] In at least one embodiment, the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits in the PDCCH.

[0154] In at least one embodiment, the dynamic indication is a paging message.

[0155] In at least one embodiment, the dynamic indication is included in a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, message.

[0156] In at least one embodiment, the random access procedure is initiated by causing transmission of a random access preamble message using the second set of random access resources based on the dynamic indication indicating the second set of random access resources is available.

[0157] In at least one embodiment, the first set of uplink random access resources are always- available resources; and the second set of uplink random access resources are dynamically available resources.

[0158] In at least one embodiment, the resource indication is received in system information broadcast by the network node 16.

[0159] In at least one embodiment, at least one of the first and second sets of uplink random access resources is configured with a validity duration, the validity duration being measured from a reference point and indicating a duration for which the respective set of resources is available.

[0160] In at least one embodiment, the validity duration is at least one of a time and a number of instances of random access resources after the reference point.

[0161] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of an example process in a network node 16 for dynamic uplink access signaling via layer 1 broadcast channels. One or more blocks described herein may be performed by one or more elements of network node 16 such as by one or more of processing circuitry 68 (including the configuration unit 32), processor 70, radio interface 62 and / or communication interface 60. Network node 16 is configured to configure the wireless device 22 with a resource indication corresponding to first and second sets of uplink random access resources (Block S146). Network node 16 is configured to cause transmission of a dynamic indication that is configured to cause the wireless device 22 to initiate a random access procedure using one of the first set of uplink random access resources and the second set of uplink random access resources indicated in the dynamic indication (Block SI 48). Network node 16 is configured to receive random access signaling associated with random access procedure (Block SI 50).

[0162] In at least one embodiment, the dynamic indication is transmitted in a physical broadcast channel, PBCH.

[0163] In at least one embodiment, the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits of the PBCH.

[0164] In at least one embodiment, the dynamic indication is transmitted in downlink control information, DCI, carried in the physical downlink control channel, PDCCH.

[0165] In at least one embodiment, the dynamic indication is included in the DCI that is scrambled by at least one of a system information radio network temporary identifier, SI- RNTI, and a paging RNTI, P-RNTI.

[0166] In at least one embodiment, the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits in the PDCCH.

[0167] In at least one embodiment, the dynamic indication is a paging message.

[0168] In at least one embodiment, the dynamic indication is included in a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, message.

[0169] In at least one embodiment, the random access procedure is initiated by causing transmission of a random access preamble message using the second set of random access resources based on the dynamic indication indicating the second set of random access resources is available.

[0170] In at least one embodiment, the first set of uplink random access resources are always- available resources; and the second set of uplink random access resources are dynamically available resources.

[0171] In at least one embodiment, the resource indication is transmitted in system information broadcast by the network node.

[0172] In at least one embodiment, at least one of the first and second sets of uplink random access resources is configured with a validity duration, the validity duration being measured from a reference point and indicating a duration for which the respective set of resources is available.

[0173] In at least one embodiment, the validity duration is at least one of a time and a number of instances of random access resources after the reference point.

[0174] Having described the general process flow of arrangements of the disclosure and having provided examples of hardware and software arrangements for implementing the processes and functions of the disclosure, the sections below provide details and examples of arrangements for dynamic uplink access signaling via layer 1 broadcast channels.

[0175] A cell can serve wireless devices 22 in one or more states such as radio resource control (RRC) idle, RRC inactive or RRC connected modes. To access a cell, an idle mode wireless device 22 typically acquires synchronization signals, master information block, minimum system information, including information regarding random access procedure, paging, etc. The random-access procedure includes wireless device 22 transmitting a randomaccess preamble, receiving a random-access response (RAR) message, transmission of uplink message, including any contention resolution, until the wireless device 22 has a cell RNTI (C- RNTI) assigned. For a connected mode wireless device 22, the network node 16 can use dedicated RRC signaling to configure / reconfigure the wireless device 22 and schedule downlink data transmissions and uplink data receptions for a wireless device 22, etc. In case the wireless device 22 has not received a RAR message, it can transmit RACH again with increased transmit power (e.g., with power ramping).

[0176] Next, techniques are described wherein a network node 16 can reduce energy consumption on the uplink by using a combination of semi-static and dynamically assigned uplink resources for random access. In some embodiments, the dynamically assigned uplink resources could be semi-static configured uplink resources for random access, and whether a wireless device 22 can transmit in these uplink resources is controlled via dynamic signaling from the network node 16. In other words, while the resource occasions are indicated in a semi-static manner, dynamic signaling is utilized to determine whether a wireless device 22 can transmit in one or more of these resource occasions.

[0177] Details of one or more embodiments are described below.

[0178] A method in a wireless device 22 of accessing a cell, e.g., a network node 16, is provided in some embodiments. The wireless device 22 acquires a synchronization signal block and at least a first portion of a system information (e.g., SIB1 or a first system information block, etc.). The first portion of system information contains information for a first set of resources for uplink random access, and a second set of resources for uplink random access. The wireless device 22 determines one set from the two sets based on a criterion and transmits a random-access signal based on the determined set. The determination is based on an explicit indication from a network node 16. The wireless device 22 monitors a random-access response message in response to the transmission. The explicit indication can be one of a primary broadcast channel (PBCH), a PDCCH carrying DCI contents scrambled by a system information RNTI (of SI-RNTI) such as a DCI format 1-0. The explicit indication can further be in a PDCCH carrying DCI contents scrambled by a paging RNTI (P-RNTI or PEI-RNTI). It is noted that the network node 16 can configure more than two sets of resources for uplink random access. Additionally, the network node 16 may configure that a specific set of resources is only to be used for a specific cause. For example, the network node 16 may have configured three set of random-access resources, where the first two are to be used for the dynamics mentioned herein, In some embodiments, the third set is allowed to be used always but only for emergency calls or high-priority access (e.g., when establishment cause is “highPriority Access” or alike), regardless of the dynamic indications mentioned below.

[0179] Higher layer signaling (e.g., first portion of system information) includes an indication of the bitfield within the DCI format 1-0 scrambled by SI-RNTI that indicates the availability and / or unavailability of at least one of the two sets of resources. The indication of the bitfield within the DCI format can be explicit indication (e.g., start and length of the bitfield within the DCI format, etc.) or implicit (e.g., within the reserved bits of SI-RNTI, and length depending on the number of set of resources).

[0180] In one aspect, the paging related message such as the PEI / P-RNTI scrambled PDCCH includes said indication. In one embodiment, the physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) message containing the paging records includes said indication. In another aspect, a specific set of resources are configured in system information or a dedicated configuration for specific wireless devices 22 but just to be used for paging response, i.e., when establishment cause for the wireless device 22 is mobile-terminated access (mt- Access). As such, no explicit indication is necessary in the paging related messages (PDCCH / PDSCH), but the paging message reception by the wireless device 22 itself acts as an indication that specific resources are to be used for responding to the page. In any of these aspects, the network node 16 knows through which resources the wireless device 22 will access the network node 16 and is prepared to receive the random access in those resources. In the case of paging, if a single wireless device 22 is paged by the network node 16, or if multiple wireless devices 22 are co-paged but the network node 16 has configured a specific wireless device 22 with a specific random access resource, based on the first message (preamble transmission), the network node 16 can already deduce which wireless device 22 that is accessing the cell and thereby already prepare for the connected (e.g., gNB can already inform the core network node 16 that wireless device 22 is responding to the page).

[0181] A validity duration can be explicitly configured for which an indicated availability would apply. For example, each set of resources can be configured with a validity duration (e.g., 160 ms). The reference point can be start of the system frame number (SFN) / subframe or transmit time intervals where the signaling is received. For example, for PBCH, the reference point can be the SFN corresponding to the first transmission of the PBCH. For example, for PDCCH-based, the reference point can associated with the SFN corresponding to slot in which the PDCCH is received (e.g., same SFN or most recent or add even SFN). In the case of paging, the reference point may be the frame / subframe / symbol associated with the paging occasion. The indication configured in one or both PBCH and PDCCH-based indications. Furthermore, the network node 16 may decide to provide the indication in all DCIs scrambled with SI-RNTI or only the ones which are associated to specific SIBs, e.g., SIB1.

[0182] In one aspect, the validity duration is in terms of a number of instances of random access resources after the reference point. For example, after a paging message, only a single random access occasion after the paging occasion (PO) reference point may be allowed to be used for paging response.

[0183] In one aspect, the standard determines the default indication method, or that the indication is included, e.g., at least in PBCH or PDCCH-based signaling. In some embodiments, the PDCCH based mechanism is preferred as there are more reserved bits in DCI 1-0 with SI-RNTI, or PEI / P-RNTI compared to PBCH or more limited reserved bits. Particularly the DCI which is associated with SIB1 as this DCI is monitored by a wireless device 22 which just attempts to access the cell.

[0184] In some embodiments, the validity duration is a fixed value configured or preconfigured (e.g., a default value) for the wireless device(s). In another example, the network node 16 can configure multiple validity durations, and the indication bits additionally indicate which validity duration is applicable. In an embodiment, the different validity timers are associated with different access causes. For example, the resources used for paging response may have a more limited validity compared to resources used for other type of access. In an example, the validity duration can be carried in SIB1.

[0185] A first set of resources can be a first set of semi-static resources. This set of resources may be considered as being always available. For example, the first set of resources can be a periodic resource occurring every 40ms. In an example realization, the first set is the same as the existing sets, i.e., a legacy wireless device 22 is also able to use the set. The second set of resources can be a set of dynamically available resources and the availability of these resources for uplink random access preamble transmission is received via dynamic signaling. For example, the second set of resources can be a periodic and occurring every 10ms. Whether the wireless device 22 is allowed to transmit a random-access preamble in a subset of these second set of resources can be indicated to the wireless device 22 via dynamic signaling.

[0186] A further mechanism may also be used when the first set of resources and the second set of resources occur at the same time instance. For example, if those two sets of resources occur at the same time instance, the wireless device 22 may only be allowed to transmit the random-access preamble using one of out of two sets of resources. In one example of realization, the allowed set of resources can be predetermined, e.g., the first set of resources. In another example, the allowed set of resources may be the set of resources that has a longer periodicity. In yet another example, for the case of the first set of resources is a set of semistatic resources and the second set is a set of dynamically available resource set, and the wireless device 22 may only be allowed to transmit the random-access preamble in the first set of resources. In another example, and regardless of each set configurations, the wireless devices 22 that support dynamic indication reception, may only use the second set in case the indication in tells the presence of the second set.

[0187] In another approach, referring to the example diagram of FIG. 13, the first set of resources are not configured and only the dynamic second sets are configured. This can be for specific frequency ranges, carriers or frequency raster, for example. The application of dynamic sets as the only ones can also be limited to a specific RRC state, e.g., only to RRC_connected wireless devices 22. The allowed values can be determined e.g., in the standards. As such a wireless device 22 monitors PBCH, or e.g., the DCI 1-0 scheduling SIB1. The wireless device 22 can then obtain the info regarding SIB1 and the RACH potential occasions, and additionally if one or more sets are active. In some embodiments, the network node 16 has to always activate at least one set, in another example, the network node 16 is also allowed to not activate any sets for a specific time duration, e.g., set in the standard or configured by the network node 16. If the wireless device 22 does not receive any active set, then it has to monitor the other occasions.

[0188] Signaling in PBCH

[0189] The dynamic signaling can be based on a field within a primary broadcast channel. The field can be a RACH availability field. In an embodiment, one or more reserved bits of NR primary broadcast channel is utilized for RACH availability field, including any reserved bits generated by physical layer (e.g., within additional timing related PBCH payload bits). An example of reserved bit is the ‘spare’ bit. In an example, if the field is 1 -bit, then if the wireless device 22 detects a primary broadcast channel information with the RACH availability field set to a first value (e.g., ‘1’), the wireless device 22 assumes that the resources are available for uplink random access preamble transmission. If the wireless device 22 detects a primary broadcast channel information with the RACH availability field set to a second value (e.g., ‘0’), the wireless device 22 assumes that the resources are not available for uplink random access preamble transmission. The RACH availability field reuses one or more spare bits in the PBCH.

[0190] The indication can also be implicit, e.g., a specific combination of one or more fields in the PBCH can indicate additionally that the second set is active, e.g., a specific SFN.

[0191] The monitoring occasions for monitoring the primary broadcast channel containing the RACH availability field can be configured via higher layer signaling. This allows network node 16 to also take the wireless device 22 energy consumption into account rather than needing the wireless device 22 to monitor for the resource availability very often.

[0192] An example procedure is shown and described in FIG. 14. A wireless device 22 acquires an SSB and a first system information block. (Block SI 52). The wireless device 22 determines a first set of RACH resources and a second set of RACH resources and an associated availability field information based on the first system information block (Block SI 54). The wireless device 22 detects a primary broadcast channel (Block SI 56). The wireless device 22 acquires the RACH availability information from the primary broadcast channel (Block SI 58). The wireless device 22 transmits RACH based on the acquired RACH availability information (Block SI 60).

[0193] A wireless device 22 may soft-combine PBCH transmissions across a transmit time interval (i.e. a first transmission and its repetitions). Thus, to ensure that the soft-combining operation is still enabled when RACH availability field is introduced in PBCH, the same availability information is indicated in a first transmission of PBCH and its repetition. In an example, this can imply that the availability information signaling can be changed every periodicity (e.g., 80 ms). An example is shown in FIG. 15.

[0194] In certain embodiments, a similar procedure can be applied for the case where only the second set of resources are configured, i.e. the network node 16 configures dynamic RACH resources and includes associated availability field information in the first system information block. A wireless device 22 may acquire an SSB and a first system information block. The wireless device 22 determines a set of RACH resources and an associated availability field information based on the first system information block. The wireless device 22 detects a primary broadcast channel. The wireless device 22 acquires the RACH availability information from the primary broadcast channel. The wireless device 22 transmits RACH based on the acquired RACH availability information and monitors for a random access response message. An example is shown in FIG. 16. The wireless device 22 acquires an SSB and a first system information block (Block SI 62). The wireless device 22 determines a set of RACH resources and an associated availability field information based on the first system information block (Block SI 64). The wireless device 22 detects a primary broadcast channel (Block SI 66). The wireless device 22 acquires the RACH availability information from the primary broadcast channel (Block SI 68). The wireless device 22 transmits RACH based on the acquired RACH availability information (Block SI 70). Most of the other aspects (validity duration, monitoring occasion configuration, reuse of reserved bit / spare bit) as describe for other embodiments can also be applied for these embodiments.

[0195] Signaling in PCI

[0196] The dynamic signaling can be based on a field within a downlink control information received via PDCCH, the DCI can be based on a DCI format such as DCI format 1-0 with an RNTI, and the RNTI can be an SI-RNTI or a paging related RNTI (PEI- / P-RNTI). The field can be a RACH availability field. In an embodiment, one or more reserved bits of DCI format 1-0 with CRC scrambled by SI-RNTI or PEI- / P-RNTI is utilized for RACH availability field. In an example, if the field is 1 -bit, then if the wireless device 22 detects the DCI format 1-0 with SI-RNTI with the RACH availability field set to a first value (e.g., ‘1’), the wireless device 22 assumes that the resources are available for uplink random access preamble transmission. If the wireless device 22 detects the DCI format 1-0 with SI-RNTI with the RACH availability field set to a second value (e.g., ‘0’), the wireless device 22 assumes that the resources are not available for uplink random access preamble transmission.

[0197] The indication of the bitfield within the DCI format can be explicit indication (e.g., start and length of the bitfield within the DCI format, etc.) or implicit (e.g., within the reserved bits of SI-RNTI, and length depending on the number of set of resources).

[0198] In another example, the indication field is not configured or present, and in this case the indication itself is implicit, e.g., a specific time or frequency resource indication, or modulation and coding scheme (MCS) can indicate validity of the second set. Or for example, the specific RNTI that the PDCCH is associated with acts as the indicator.

[0199] In a further realization, the mapping of the bit(s) in the bitfield to the set of resources may be either in a codepoint manner or in the bitmap manner. For example, In the codepoint approach, the number of bits is [log2A] where Ais the number of resource sets. E.g., for the case of 4 sets of resources are available, bit 00, 01, 10, 11 may represent the applicability of the first, second, third and fourth set of resources, respectively. In another example, in the bitmap approach, the number of bits is the same as the number of the configured resource sets. E.g., for the case of 4 sets of resources are available, the first, second, third, and fourth bits may represent the applicability of the first, second, third, and fourth set of resources, respectively.

[0200] In an example, the RACH availability information is transmitted along with SIB1 scheduling, i.e. when the system information indicator in the DCI is set to ‘O’.

[0201] In another example, the RACH availability information is transmitted along with SIB1 or other SI scheduling, e.g., when the system information indicator in the DCI is set to ‘0’ or ‘F.

[0202] Dynamic indication is used for indicating availability for a set of resources that are available in a dynamic fashion. If a set of resources is available in semi-static manner, there is no need for dynamic indication for such a set of resources.

[0203] The monitoring occasions for monitoring the DCI containing the RACH availability field can be configured via higher layer signaling. This allows network node 16 to also take the wireless device 22 energy consumption into consideration, rather than needing the wireless device 22 to monitor the PDCCH very often.

[0204] For example, the monitoring occasions can be the same as the PDCCH monitoring occasions for remaining minimum system information (RMSI) that are configured via PBCH. For example, these can be configured with the same periodicity as the SSB periodicity such as 20 ms.

[0205] In another example, the monitoring occasions for monitoring the DCI containing the RACH availability field can be explicitly configured via higher layer signaling, wherein the monitoring occasions for monitoring the DCI containing the RACH availability field are a subset of the monitoring occasions for RMSI that are configured via PBCH. For example, the monitoring occasions (Mos) for monitoring the DCI containing the RACH availability field can be once every 40ms, whereas the MOs for monitoring RMSI may be occurring every 20 ms.

[0206] An example procedure is shown in FIG. 17. The wireless device 22 acquires an SSB and a first system information block (Block SI 72). The wireless device 22 determines a first set of RACH resources and a second set of RACH resources and an associated availability field information based on the first system information block (Block SI 74). The wireless device 22 detects a first PDCCH with DCI associated with an SI-RNTI (Block SI 76). The wireless device 22 acquires the RACH availability information from the PDCCH (Block SI 78). The wireless device 22 transmits RACH based on the acquired RACH availability information (Block SI 80).

[0207] In another example, particularly for the wireless devices 22 which are already camped in the cell, other types of DCIs which are broadcasted, e.g., DCI format 1-0 scrambled with P- RNTI or PEI-RNTI, can also be used to indicate the availability of the second set. This need not necessarily be associated with the resources to be used for paging response, but as a dynamic indication for resources to be used from now on for any type of access. This is particularly useful as such a wireless device 22 may not monitor the PBCH or DCI 1-0 scrambled with SI- RNTI constantly. In case the wireless device 22 is in RRC connected mode, other DCIs including DCIs scrambled with C-RNTI, or group-common RNTIs can also be used.

[0208] In some embodiments, a similar procedure can be applied for the case where only the second set of resources are configured, i.e., the network node 16 configures dynamic RACH resources and includes associated availability field information in the first system information block. Referring to the example procedure of FIG. 18, a wireless device 22 acquires an SSB and a first system information block. The wireless device 22 determines a set of RACH resources and an associated availability field information based on the first system information block. The wireless device 22 detects a first PDCCH with DCI associated with a SI-RNTI. The wireless device 22 acquires the RACH availability information from the PDCCH. The wireless device 22 transmits RACH based on the acquired RACH availability information and monitors for a random access response message. Most of the other aspects (validity duration, monitoring occasion configuration, reuse of reserved bits in DCI 1 0 scrambled by SI-RNTI, etc.) as describe for earlier embodiments can also be applied for these embodiments. An example procedure is shown in FIG. 18. The wireless device 22 acquires an SSB and a first system information block (Block SI 82). The wireless device 22 determines a set of RACH resources and an associated availability field information based on the first system information block (Block SI 84). The wireless device 22 detects a first PDCCH with DCI associated with an SI- RNTI (Block SI 86). The wireless device 22 acquires the RACH availability information from the PDCCH (Block SI 88). The wireless device 22 transmits RACH based on the acquired RACH availability information (Block SI 90).

[0209] Configuration of the first and second set of resources

[0210] The set of resources for uplink random access can include one or more of PRACH preamble formats, PRACH occasions, time-domain PRACH occasions, etc. It may be noted that it is not only the PRACH specifics that can be configured. Configurations for any other type of random-access-related parameters such as number of preamble transmissions, power ramping steps, ra-response window, etc., may also be included in the configuration and configured separately in the first and second set of resources.

[0211] The first set and second set of resources for uplink random access can be independently configured. For example, the first set can be configured to be associated with 4-step RACH procedure, while the second set can be configured to be associated with a 2-step RACH procedure.

[0212] The first set and second set of resources for uplink random access can be associated with a first uplink carrier and a second uplink carrier, respectively (or a first and second uplink serving cells). In this case, the availability field information in the primary broadcast signal or the PDCCH can be on a downlink corresponding to a first carrier or serving cell.

[0213] The indicated availability for a second set of resources may be valid only for a limited duration e.g., a number of slots / subframes as configured by higher layers (e.g., in system information).

[0214] The indicated validity duration may also depend on the method of indication, e.g., if PBCH is used, the validity duration is 100 ms, if DCI 1-0 scrambled with SI-RNTI is used, 200 ms, or if DCI 1-0 scrambled with P-RNTI is used, the validity duration is 1 sec and so on. Some Examples:

[0215] Example Al. A network node 16 configured to communicate with a wireless device 22, the network node 16 configured to, and / or comprising a radio interface 62 and / or comprising processing circuitry 36 configured to configure the wireless device 22 with an indication of random access channel, RACH, resources using bits in a downlink channel, the indication being scrambled by a system information-radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI.

[0216] Example A2. The network node 16 of Example Al, wherein the indication is configured in one of a physical broadcast channel, PBCH, a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, and a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH.

[0217] Example A3. The network node 16 of any of Examples Al and A2, wherein the indication indicates an availability of at least one of two sets of resources.

[0218] Example A4. The network node 16 of any of Examples Al -A3, wherein the indication is configured in a paging-related message.

[0219] Example A5. The network node 16 of any of Examples A1-A4, wherein the indication is configured in system information, SI.

[0220] Example Bl. A method implemented in a network node 16, the method comprising: configuring the wireless device 22 with an indication of random access channel, RACH, resources using bits in a downlink channel, the indication being scrambled by a system information-radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI. Example B2. The method of Example Bl, wherein the indication is configured in one of a physical broadcast channel, PBCH, a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, and a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH.

[0221] Example B3. The method of any of Examples Bl and B2, wherein the indication indicates an availability of at least one of two sets of resources.

[0222] Example B4. The method of any of Examples B1-B3, wherein the indication is configured in a paging-related message.

[0223] Example B5. The method of any of Examples B1-B4, wherein the indication is configured in system information, SI.

[0224] Example Cl. A wireless device 22 configured to communicate with a network node 16, the wireless device configured to, and / or comprising a radio interface 82 and / or processing circuitry 84 configured to receive an indication of a first set of uplink random access resources and a second set of uplink random access resources; and determine one of the first set and the second set to use for random access uplink signaling based at least in part on the indication.

[0225] Example C2. The wireless device 22 of Example Cl, wherein the wireless device 22, radio interface 82 and / or processing circuitry 84 are further configured to monitor a random access response, RAR, message in response to the indication.

[0226] Example C3. The wireless device 22 of any of Examples Cl and C2, wherein the indication is configured in one of a physical broadcast channel, PBCH, and a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, carrying downlink control information, DCI, contents scrambled by a system information radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI.

[0227] Example C4. The wireless device 22 of any of Examples C1-C3, wherein the indication is configured in a paging-related message.

[0228] Example DI. A method implemented in a wireless device 22, the method comprising: receiving an indication of a first set of uplink random access resources and a second set of uplink random access resources; and determining one of the first set and the second set to use for random access uplink signaling based at least in part on the indication.

[0229] Example D2. The method of Example DI, further comprising monitoring a random access response, RAR, message in response to the indication.

[0230] Exampl eD3. The method of any of Examples DI and D2, wherein the indication is configured in one of a physical broadcast channel, PBCH, and a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH, carrying downlink control information, DCI, contents scrambled by a system information radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI.

[0231] ExampleD4. The method of any of Examples D1-D3, wherein the indication is configured in a paging-related message. As will be appreciated by one of skill in the art, the concepts described herein may be embodied as a method, data processing system, computer program product and / or computer storage media storing an executable computer program. Accordingly, the concepts described herein may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects all generally referred to herein as a “circuit” or “module.” Any process, step, action and / or functionality described herein may be performed by, and / or associated to, a corresponding module, which may be implemented in software and / or firmware and / or hardware. Furthermore, the disclosure may take the form of a computer program product on a tangible computer usable storage medium having computer program code embodied in the medium that can be executed by a computer. Any suitable tangible computer readable medium may be utilized including hard disks, CD-ROMs, electronic storage devices, optical storage devices, or magnetic storage devices.

[0232] Some embodiments are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams of methods, systems and computer program products. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and / or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer (to thereby create a special purpose computer), special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram block or blocks.

[0233] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable memory or storage medium that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function / act specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram block or blocks.

[0234] The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions / acts specified in the flowchart and / or block diagram block or blocks.

[0235] It is to be understood that the functions / acts noted in the blocks may occur out of the order noted in the operational illustrations. For example, two blocks shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality / acts involved. Although some of the diagrams include arrows on communication paths to show a primary direction of communication, it is to be understood that communication may occur in the opposite direction to the depicted arrows.

[0236] Computer program code for carrying out operations of the concepts described herein may be written in an object oriented programming language such as Python, Java® or C++. However, the computer program code for carrying out operations of the disclosure may also be written in conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C" programming language. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

[0237] Many different embodiments have been disclosed herein, in connection with the above description and the drawings. It will be understood that it would be unduly repetitious and obfuscating to literally describe and illustrate every combination and subcombination of these embodiments. Accordingly, all embodiments can be combined in any way and / or combination, and the present specification, including the drawings, shall be construed to constitute a complete written description of all combinations and subcombinations of the embodiments described herein, and of the manner and process of making and using them, and shall support claims to any such combination or subcombination.

[0238] Abbreviations that may be used in the preceding description include:

[0239] Abbreviation Explanation

[0240] ACK Acknowledgment

[0241] ACK / NACK Acknowledgment / Not-acknowledgment

[0242] BWP Bandwidth Part

[0243] CSI-RS Channel State Information Reference Signal

[0244] DCI Downlink Control Information

[0245] DRX Discontinuous Reception

[0246] MCS Modulation and Coding Scheme

[0247] MIMO Multiple Input Multiple Output

[0248] NACK Not-acknowledgment

[0249] PDCCH Physical Downlink Control Channel

[0250] PDSCH Physical Shared Data Channel PO Paging Occasion

[0251] PRB Physical Resource Block

[0252] PPM Parts Per Million

[0253] PUCCH Physical Uplink Control Channel

[0254] SE Spectral efficiency

[0255] SFN System Frame Number

[0256] SI System Information

[0257] SSB Synchronization Signal Block

[0258] SNR Signal to Noise Ratio

[0259] TB Transport Block

[0260] TRS Tracking Reference Signal or CSI-RS for tracking

[0261] UCI Uplink Control Information

[0262] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein are not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope of the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A wireless device (22) in communication with a network node (16), the wireless device (22) comprising: processing circuitry (84) configured to: receive a resource indication of at least first and second sets of uplink random access resources; receive a dynamic indication associated with a random access procedure; initiate, based on the dynamic indication, the random access procedure using one of the first set of uplink random access resources and the second set of uplink random access resources.

2. The wireless device (22) of Claim 1, wherein the dynamic indication is received in a physical broadcast channel, PBCH.

3. The wireless device (22) of Claim 2, wherein the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits of the PBCH.

4. The wireless device (22) of Claim 1, wherein the dynamic indication is received in downlink control information, DCI, carried in a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH.

5. The wireless device (22) of Claim 4, wherein the DCI that is scrambled by at least one of a system information radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI, paging RNTI, P- RNTI, and a paging early indication RNTI, PEI-RNTI.

6. The wireless device (22) of Claim 4, wherein the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits in the PDCCH.

7. The wireless device (22) of Claim 1, wherein the dynamic indication is a paging message.

8. The wireless device (22) of Claim 1, wherein the dynamic indication is included in a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, message.

9. The wireless device (22) of any one of Claims 1-3, wherein the random access procedure is initiated by causing transmission of a random access preamble message using thesecond set of random access resources based on the dynamic indication indicating the second set of random access resources is available.

10. The wireless device (22) of any one of Claims 1-8, wherein the first set of uplink random access resources are always-available resources; and the second set of uplink random access resources are dynamically available resources.

11. The wireless device (22) of any one of Claims 1-10, wherein the resource indication is received in system information broadcast by the network node (16).

12. The wireless device (22) of any one of Claims 1-11, wherein at least one of the first and second sets of uplink random access resources is configured with a validity duration, the validity duration being measured from a reference point and indicating a duration for which the respective set of resources is available.

13. The wireless device (22) of Claim 12, wherein the validity duration is at least one of a time and a number of instances of random access resources after the reference point.

14. A network node (16) in communication with a wireless device (22), the network node (16) comprising: processing circuitry (68) configured to: configure the wireless device with a resource indication corresponding to first and second sets of uplink random access resources; cause transmission of a dynamic indication that is configured to cause the wireless device 22 to initiate a random access procedure using one of the first set of uplink random access resources and the second set of uplink random access resources indicated in the dynamic indication; and receive random access signaling associated with random access procedure.

15. The network node (16) of Claim 14, wherein the dynamic indication is transmitted in a physical broadcast channel, PBCH.

16. The network node (16) of Claim 15, wherein the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits of the PBCH.

17. The network node (16) of Claim 14, wherein the dynamic indication is transmitted in downlink control information, DCI, carried in the physical downlink control channel, PDCCH.

18. The network node (16) of Claim 17, wherein the dynamic indication is included in the DCI that is scrambled by at least one of a system information radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI, and a paging RNTI, P-RNTI.

19. The network node (16) of Claim 17, wherein the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits in the PDCCH.

20. The network node (16) of Claim 14, wherein the dynamic indication is a paging message.

21. The network node (16) of Claim 14, wherein the dynamic indication is included in a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, message.

22. The network node (16) of any one of Claims 14-17, wherein the random access procedure is initiated by causing transmission of a random access preamble message using the second set of random access resources based on the dynamic indication indicating the second set of random access resources is available.

23. The network node (16) of any one of Claims 14-21, wherein the first set of uplink random access resources are always-available resources; and the second set of uplink random access resources are dynamically available resources.

24. The network node (16) of any one of Claims 14-23, wherein the resource indication is transmitted in system information broadcast by the network node.

25. The network node (16) of any one of Claims 14-24, wherein at least one of the first and second sets of uplink random access resources is configured with a validity duration, the validity duration being measured from a reference point and indicating a duration for which the respective set of resources is available.

26. The network node (16) of Claim 25, wherein the validity duration is at least one of a time and a number of instances of random access resources after the reference point.

27. A method implemented in a wireless device (22) in communication with a network node (16), the method (22) comprising: receiving (SI 40) a resource indication of at least first and second sets of uplink random access resources; receiving (SI 42) a dynamic indication associated with a random access procedure; initiating (SI 44), based on the dynamic indication, the random access procedure using one of the first set of uplink random access resources and the second set of uplink random access resources.

28. The method of Claim 27, wherein the dynamic indication is received in a physical broadcast channel, PBCH.

29. The method of Claim 28, wherein the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits of the PBCH.

30. The method of Claim 27, wherein the dynamic indication is received in downlink control information, DCI, carried in a physical downlink control channel, PDCCH.

31. The method of Claim 30, wherein the DCI that is scrambled by at least one of a system information radio network temporary identifier, SI-RNTI, paging RNTI, P-RNTI, and a paging early indication RNTI, PEI-RNTI.

32. The method of Claim 30, wherein the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits in the PDCCH.

33. The method of Claim 27, wherein the dynamic indication is a paging message.

34. The method of Claim 27, wherein the dynamic indication is included in a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, message.

35. The method of any one of Claims 27-29, wherein the random access procedure is initiated by causing transmission of a random access preamble message using the second set ofrandom access resources based on the dynamic indication indicating the second set of random access resources is available.

36. The method of any one of Claims 27-34, wherein the first set of uplink random access resources are always-available resources; and the second set of uplink random access resources are dynamically available resources.

37. The method of any one of Claims 27-36, wherein the resource indication is received in system information broadcast by the network node (16).

38. The method of any one of Claims 27-37, wherein at least one of the first and second sets of uplink random access resources is configured with a validity duration, the validity duration being measured from a reference point and indicating a duration for which the respective set of resources is available.

39. The method of Claim 38, wherein the validity duration is at least one of a time and a number of instances of random access resources after the reference point.

40. A method implemented in a network node (16) in communication with a wireless device (22), the method comprising: configuring (S146) the wireless device with a resource indication corresponding to first and second sets of uplink random access resources; causing (S148) transmission of a dynamic indication that is configured to cause the wireless device to initiate a random access procedure using one of the first set of uplink random access resources and the second set of uplink random access resources indicated in the dynamic indication; and receiving (S150) random access signaling associated with random access procedure.

41. The method of Claim 40, wherein the dynamic indication is transmitted in a physical broadcast channel, PBCH.

42. The method of Claim 41, wherein the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits of the PBCH.

43. The method of Claim 40, wherein the dynamic indication is transmitted in downlink control information, DCI, carried in the physical downlink control channel, PDCCH.

44. The method of Claim 43, wherein the dynamic indication is included in the DCI that is scrambled by at least one of a system information radio network temporary identifier, SI- RNTI, and a paging RNTI, P-RNTI.

45. The method of Claim 43, wherein the dynamic indication is included in legacy reserved bits in the PDCCH.

46. The method of Claim 40, wherein the dynamic indication is a paging message.

47. The method of Claim 40, wherein the dynamic indication is included in a physical downlink shared channel, PDSCH, message.

48. The method of any one of Claims 40-43, wherein the random access procedure is initiated by causing transmission of a random access preamble message using the second set of random access resources based on the dynamic indication indicating the second set of random access resources is available.

49. The method of any one of Claims 40-47, wherein the first set of uplink random access resources are always-available resources; and the second set of uplink random access resources are dynamically available resources.

50. The method of any one of Claims 40-49, wherein the resource indication is transmitted in system information broadcast by the network node.

51. The method of any one of Claims 40-50, wherein at least one of the first and second sets of uplink random access resources is configured with a validity duration, the validity duration being measured from a reference point and indicating a duration for which the respective set of resources is available.

52. The method of Claim 51 , wherein the validity duration is at least one of a time and a number of instances of random access resources after the reference point.

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