Methods to support orthogonal cover code on UL channel in IoT ntn
OCC-based solutions for UL channels in NB-IoT NTN improve system capacity and access efficiency by generating new Temporary C-RNTIs, extending contention resolution timers, and employing fallback mechanisms, addressing UL capability limitations in NTN.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/CN2024/094927
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-05-23
- Publication Date
- 2025-11-27
AI Technical Summary
The UL capability of NB-IoT in Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) is severely suppressed due to large repetition numbers, limiting system capacity in vast geographic areas with massive IoT device access, necessitating improved multiplexing methods for UL channels.
Implementing orthogonal cover codes (OCC) for UL channels, including generating new Temporary C-RNTIs for Msg3 and Msg4 messages, extending contention resolution timers, and employing fallback mechanisms to legacy access when necessary, along with OCC sequence overlays and threshold-based access initiation.
Enhances system capacity by allowing multiple UEs to access the network efficiently while minimizing contention resolution wait times and ensuring successful communication even in challenging radio conditions.
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Figure CN2024094927_27112025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
METHODS TO SUPPORT ORTHOGONAL COVER CODE ON UL CHANNEL IN IOT NTNFIELD
[0001] This disclosure relates generally to wireless communications and, more particularly, to methods and apparatus for supporting for orthogonal cover code (OCC) on UL channel in IoT NTN.BACKGROUND
[0002] NB-IoT / eMTC was specified in 3GPP Rel-13 in the purpose of providing a new access system with low complexity and low throughput to address the requirements of cellular internet of things (IoT) . In 3GPP Rel-17, to enable IoT operation in remote areas with low / no cellular connectivity for many different industries, NB-IoT / eMTC support for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) were studied and specified.
[0003] In the NB-IoT NTN deployment, the coverage area can be as large as hundreds of thousand square kilometers. In such huge geography area, the number of IoT devices that need to access the satellite will be massive. In another hand, the UL capability of NB-IoT is severely suppressed by large repetition number due to the limited link budget. To enlarge the system capacity, multiplexing of UEs by usage of orthogonal cover codes (OCC) for UL channel is proposed in 3GPP as a Release 19 IoT NTN work item.SUMMARY
[0004] The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects in order to provide a basic understanding of such aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of all contemplated aspects, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of all aspects nor delineate the scope of any or all aspects. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
[0005] Various aspects of the present disclosure relate to supporting for orthogonal cover code (OCC) on UL channel in IoT NTN. The concepts and methods can also apply to NR (new radio access technology, or 5G technology) , 6G or other radio access technology.
[0006] In an aspect of the disclosure, before UE sends Msg3 using OCC, UE can generate a new Temporary C-RNTI. When UE sends Msg3, the newly generated Temporary C-RNTI is used to scramble the Msg3.
[0007] In an aspect of the disclosure, before UE receives Msg4 using OCC, UE can generate a new Temporary C-RNTI. UE will monitor the PDCCH addressed with the newly generated Temporary C-RNTI for Msg4.
[0008] In an aspect of the disclosure, because Msg3 in random access using OCC is multiplexed by multiple UEs, network will have to send multiple contention resolution MAC CEs. Accordingly, the time duration of MAC contention resolution timer will be extended.
[0009] In an aspect of the disclosure, to avoid the long wait for contention resolution, the network can respond the UE to stop monitoring contention solution ID explicitly.
[0010] In an aspect of the disclosure, if UE fails the random access procedure using OCC, it can fall back to legacy random access (i.e., the non-OCC method) .
[0011] In an aspect of the disclosure, before initiating random access procedure using OCC, a threshold must be met.
[0012] In an aspect of the disclosure, one value from the orthogonal sequence overlays to each repetition unit in NPRACH transmission. The repetition number should be an integer multiple of the orthogonal sequence length. The orthogonal sequence length can be 2, 4 or 8.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] Figure. 1 is a diagram illustrating UE generate a new Temporary C-RNTI before UE sends Msg3 using OCC.
[0014] Figure. 2 is a diagram illustrating UE generate a new Temporary C-RNTI after UE sends Msg3 using OCC.DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of various configurations and is not intended to represent the only configurations in which the concepts described herein may be practiced. The detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well known structures and components are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.
[0016] Several aspects of telecommunication systems will now be presented with reference to various apparatus and methods. These apparatus and methods will be described in the following detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, components, circuits, processes, algorithms, etc. (collectively referred to as “elements” ) . These elements may be implemented using electronic hardware, computer software, or any combination thereof. Whether such elements are implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.
[0017] The described invention operates in the context of 3GPP IoT NTN. The IoT system was specified in 3GPP Rel-13 in the purpose of provide new access system towards low complexity and low throughput to address the requirement of cellular internet of things (IoT) . IoT system is mainly divided into NB-IoT and eMTC, based on different system bandwidth and coverage. In 3GPP Rel-17, to enable IoT operation in remote areas with low / no cellular connectivity for many different industries, NB-IoT / eMTC support for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) was studied and specified.
[0018] In the NB-IoT NTN deployment, the coverage area can be as large as hundreds of thousand square kilometers. In such huge geography area, the number of IoT devices that need to access the satellite will be massive. In another hand, the UL capability of NB-IoT is severely suppressed by large repetition number due to the limited link budget. To meet the need of system capacity, multiplexing of UEs by usage of orthogonal cover codes (OCC) for UL channel is proposed in 3GPP as a Release 19 IoT NTN work item.
[0019] Alternative #1: Before UE sends Msg3 using OCC, UE can generate a new Temporary C-RNTI. It can be based on the Temporary C-RNTI received in Random Access Response. The index of used OCC on NPRACH or NPUSCH can be used as an offset on top of the Temporary C-RNTI received in Random Access Response. For example: New TC-RNTI = OCC_index + TC-RNTI in RAR. The new Temporary C-RNTI can be same as the Temporary C-RNTI received in Random Access Response. When UE sends Msg3, the new Temporary C-RNTI is used to address the Msg3. The network must monitor Msg3 addressed with all the possible Temporary C-RNTI. See Figure 1 as an example.
[0020] Alternative #2: After UE sending Msg3 using OCC and before UE receives Msg4 using OCC, UE can generate a new Temporary C-RNTI. It can be based on the Temporary C-RNTI received in Random Access Response. The index of used OCC on NRACH or NPUSCH can be used as an offset on top of the Temporary C-RNTI received in Random Access Response. For example: New TC-RNTI = OCC_index + TC-RNTI in RAR. The new Temporary C-RNTI can the same as the Temporary C-RNTI received in Random Access Response. Network will send the Msg4 addressed with the new Temporary C-RNTI. UE will monitor the PDCCH addressed with the new Temporary C-RNTI for Msg4. See Figure 2 as an example.
[0021] Alternative #3: Because Msg3 in random access using OCC is multiplexed by multiple UEs, network will have to send multiple contention resolution MAC CEs. Accordingly, the time duration of MAC contention resolution timer can be extended. The timer length to be extended can take the multiplexing UE number into account. For example, if the multiplexing UE number is 4, which means there could be at most 4 Msg4 that network will response to the Msg3 using OCC, the timer length can be 4 times the original value.
[0022] Alternative #4: For a random access using OCC, 2 or 4 OCC can be used. There could be multiple UEs are trying to access the network using a same OCC. Therefore, the number of UEs waiting for contention resolution can be large. But due to the limited radio resource, there could be only a few UEs being able to get through the contention resolution. To avoid the long wait for contention resolution, the network can respond the UE to stop monitoring the contention resolution ID explicitly. This can be done by a new MAC CE. This MAC CE can have a fix size of zero bits. All the UEs receiving this MAC CE but not yet have their contention resolved can stop monitoring contention resolution ID. Alternatively, the MAC CE can have a number of UE records. The UEs fit the records can consider stop monitoring contention resolution ID.
[0023] Alternative #5: If UE fails the random access procedure using OCC, it can fall back to legacy random access (i.e., the non-OCC method) . Despite using OCC on UL transmission can expand the overall system capacity, the UL SNR will deteriorate. So if UE fails to access the network using OCC, UE should be able to try again with the legacy random access, which has less interference and will have a better chance of succeeding. The UE should be able to retain the user data when fails on the random access using OCC if the random access is triggered by the incoming user data, and use it to trigger legacy random access.
[0024] Alternative #6: Before initiating random access procedure using OCC, a threshold must be met. The UL SNR will deteriorate due to using OCC. To ensure enough UL link budget, a radio threshold can be used to keep out the UE with low radio condition. A UE can initiate the random access using OCC only if it meets the threshold. The threshold can be a RSRP threshold or a SNR threshold. It can be broadcast in system information. There also can be multiple thresholds in the system information. The threshold can be combined with certain random access resource. For example, if UE meets threshold A, UE is allowed to use random access resource A; if UE meets the threshold B, the UE is allowed to use random access resource B; etc.
[0025] Alternative #7: OCC sequence for NPRACH repetition. The orthogonal sequence wi (m) is given by following tables as examples.
[0026] · where 0≤m<NREP, NREP is the repetition number
[0027] · where i is the index of the orthogonal sequence to use for different UEs,
[0028] · where 0< i < = UE_MAX_OCC
[0029] One value from the OCC sequence overlays to each repetition unit in NPRACH transmission. The repetition number should be an even multiple of the OCC sequence length. For example, if the repetition number is 4, the OCC sequence length can be 2 or 4. If the repetition number is 16, the OCC sequence length can be 2, 4, 8. When the repetition number is 4 and QCC sequence is [1, -1] , repetition 1 is overlaid with 1, repetition 2 is overlaid with -1, repetition 3 is overlaid with 1, repetition 4 is overlaid with -1. UE_MAX_OCC indicates the maximum UEs to enable multiplexing of multiple UEs, UE_MAX_OCC can be predefined value, like 2, 4, 6, 8, 16 or can be configured by DCI or higher layer with RRC or SIB.
[0030] Table 1 Nrep is 2, UE_MAX_OCC is 2
[0031] Table 2 NREP is 4, UE_MAX_OCC is 2
[0032] Table 3 NREP is 4, UE_MAX_OCC is 4
[0033] Table 4 NREP is 8, UE_MAX_OCC is 2
[0034] Table 5 NREP is 8, UE_MAX_OCC is 4
[0035] Table 6 NREP is 16, UE_MAX_OCC is 2
[0036] Table 7 NREP is 16, UE_MAX_OCC is 4
[0037] Table 8 NREP is 32, UE_MAX_OCC is 2
[0038] Table 9 NREP is 32, UE_MAX_OCC is 4
[0039] Various functions in accordance with one or more embodiments or examples described herein can be performed by an exemplary apparatus. For example, the apparatus can be used to implement functions of UEs or BSs in various embodiments and examples described herein. The apparatus can include a general purpose processor or specially designed circuits to implement various functions, components, or processes described herein in various embodiments. The apparatus can include a processing circuitry, a memory, and a radio frequency (RF) module. In various examples, the processing circuitry can include circuitry configured to perform the functions and processes described herein in combination with software or without software. In some other examples, the processing circuitry can be a central processing unit (CPU) configured to execute program instructions to perform various functions and processes described herein. Accordingly, the memory can be configured to store program instructions. The processing circuitry, when executing the program instructions, can perform the functions and processes. The memory can further store other programs or data, such as operating systems, application programs, and the like.
[0040] While aspects of the present disclosure have been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments thereof that are proposed as examples, alternatives, modifications, and variations to the examples may be made. Accordingly, embodiments as set forth herein are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. There are changes that may be made without departing from the scope of the claims set forth below.
Claims
1.A method of wireless communication comprising: before UE sends Msg3 using OCC, UE generates a new Temporary C-RNTI. When UE sends Msg3, the newly generated Temporary C-RNTI is used to scramble the Msg3.2.The method of claim 1, comprising: before UE receives Msg4 using OCC, UE can generate a new Temporary C-RNTI, UE monitors the PDCCH addressed with the newly generated Temporary C-RNTI for Msg4.3.The method of claim 1, comprising: the time duration of MAC contention resolution timer is extended for UL transmission using OCC.4.The method of claim 1, comprising: to avoid the long wait for contention resolution, the network responds the UE to stop monitoring the contention resolution ID explicitly, a new MAC CE is defined for this.5.The method of claim 1, comprising: if UE fails the random access procedure using OCC, it falls back to legacy random access.6.The method of claim 1, comprising: before initiating random access procedure using OCC, a threshold must be met.7.The method of claim 1, comprising: one value from the orthogonal sequence overlays to each repetition unit in NPRACH transmission, the repetition number should be an integer multiple of the orthogonal sequence length, and the orthogonal sequence length is 2, 4 or 8.
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