Random Access Beam Determination in 5G NR User Equipment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current random access mechanisms in NR technology lack efficiency, particularly in beamforming, which affects user experience and signal coverage in mobile communications systems.
Innovation Solution
A method where user equipment sends a preamble sequence in a beam sweeping manner or using a preferred beam, with the network devices providing a random access response that includes information for determining the optimal beam and time-frequency resources for subsequent message transmission, reducing air interface signaling and improving efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If beamforming mechanism is introduced to concentrate energy and enhance signal coverage, then signal coverage is improved, but random access mechanism efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the random access procedure into multiple messages (Msg1, Msg3, Msg5) transmitted through different beams. The preamble is sent in Msg1 using beam sweeping, while subsequent messages use determined optimal beams. This segmentation allows efficient resource allocation and beam management, resolving the contradiction between coverage and efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary beam determination during the random access procedure. The network device determines the optimal beam for the UE based on the received preamble, and this beam information is cached for subsequent communications. This preliminary action eliminates the need for repeated beam searching, improving random access efficiency while maintaining coverage.
2Device complexity
If traditional random access procedure is used without beam determination, then device complexity is reduced, but random access performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the network device automatically determines the optimal beam and caches the beam information for subsequent messages. The UE simply follows the beam indication from the network without complex beam selection logic. This self-service approach maintains low device complexity while significantly improving random access performance through optimized beam usage.
3Quantity of substance
If beam information is not cached for subsequent messages, then memory resources are saved, but air interface signaling increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a beam indication message as an intermediary to transfer beam information from the network device to the UE. Instead of repeatedly signaling beam parameters in each message, the network device sends a compact beam indication that references cached beam information. This intermediary mechanism efficiently utilizes memory resources while minimizing air interface signaling overhead.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a random access method, including the following processing: sending, by user equipment, a preamble sequence; receiving, by the user equipment, a random access response, where the random access response includes information for sending a message 3, and the information for sending the message 3 is used by the user equipment to determine a beam for sending the message 3; determining, by the user equipment based on the information for sending the message 3, the beam for sending the message 3; and sending, by the user equipment, the message 3 by using the determined beam.