NB-IoT Uplink Grant Assignment Before NPRACH Random Access

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for providing uplink grants in Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IoT) systems either occupy a large amount of air interface resources or are difficult to implement, especially in environments with a large number of terminals, reducing the utilization rate of these resources.

Innovation Solution

A method where a base station determines that a terminal needs to transmit uplink data and assigns an uplink grant before the next time point of NPRACH access, utilizing NPRACH parameters configured by a network management system, and/or uses a time distribution model to predict and assign uplink grants at optimal times, thereby reducing the need for random access processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a terminal acquires an uplink grant by initiating random access, then the terminal can transmit uplink data, but a large number of random access processes occupy a great deal of air interface resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuplink data transmission capabilityVSAvoidair interface resources consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary action by proactively assigning uplink grants to terminals before the terminals need to transmit data. The base station determines which terminals have data to send and assigns uplink grants in advance, eliminating the need for terminals to initiate random access processes and thus reducing air interface resource consumption while maintaining uplink data transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If a terminal triggers multiple Scheduling Requests (SRs) to acquire uplink grant, then the terminal can transmit burst small packet data, but this manner occupies a great deal of air interface resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveburst small packet data transmission capabilityVSAvoidair interface resources consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary action by proactively assigning uplink grants to terminals before the terminals need to transmit data. The base station determines which terminals have data to send and assigns uplink grants in advance, eliminating the need for terminals to initiate random access processes and thus reducing air interface resource consumption while maintaining uplink data transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The base station uses feedback mechanisms to track terminal data transmission needs and proactively assign uplink grants accordingly. By monitoring terminal status and using this feedback information, the base station can efficiently allocate uplink resources without requiring terminals to repeatedly trigger scheduling requests, thereby reducing air interface resource consumption while maintaining burst data transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of manufacture

If the base station uses existing uplink grant assignment methods, then the implementation is simple, but the air interface resource utilization rate is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidair interface resource utilization rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary action by proactively assigning uplink grants to terminals before the terminals need to transmit data. The base station determines which terminals have data to send and assigns uplink grants in advance, eliminating the need for terminals to initiate random access processes and thus reducing air interface resource consumption while maintaining uplink data transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3972372B1Methods for providing uplink grant, base stations, computer readable storage media and devices

Publication Date: 2025.08.20 ZTE CORP

Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6

AI summary

Provided are a method and device for providing an uplink grant, and a base station. The method for providing an uplink grant comprises: a base station determining that a terminal needs to transmit uplink data; and the base station allocating an uplink grant to the terminal before the next time point at which a narrowband physical random access channel (NPRACH) is to be accessed. The invention effectively reduces operations of a random access process, thereby reducing required air interface resources.