Random Access Resource Time Alignment in 5G NR

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Solution Overview

Problem

In New Radio (NR) technology, there is a conflict between the time the base station sends a downlink signal and the time the terminal sends an uplink random access preamble, due to the short period for sending downlink signals, which can lead to overlapping communication times.

Innovation Solution

A method where the terminal determines available random access resources based on time location information for both random access and downlink signals, ensuring non-overlapping times, and uses these resources to send a random access preamble, or punctures overlapping resources to avoid conflicts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the base station sends downlink signals in a short period (5ms window), then the downlink signal transmission efficiency is improved, but the time for sending downlink signals conflicts with the time for sending uplink random access preambles

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedownlink signal transmission efficiencyVSAvoidrandom access communication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the time resources by dividing the 5ms window into distinct downlink signal transmission periods and uplink random access preamble periods. This segmentation allows downlink signals to be sent in specific slots while reserving other slots for uplink random access, preventing time conflicts between the two functions while maintaining high downlink transmission efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically adjusts the time locations of downlink signals and random access resources based on actual transmission needs. The network device can flexibly configure which slots within the 5ms window are used for downlink signals versus random access, allowing adaptive optimization of both downlink efficiency and random access reliability under different traffic conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Area of stationary object

If downlink signals are sent in nearly all slots in one system frame, then the downlink signal coverage is improved, but the conflict with uplink random access preamble time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedownlink signal coverageVSAvoidtime conflict with uplink random access
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves the conflict by transitioning from a one-dimensional time conflict to a two-dimensional time-frequency resource allocation. By carefully selecting which slots within the 5ms window are used for downlink signals versus random access, the system achieves both wide downlink coverage and reliable random access without time conflicts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3965520A1Random access method, apparatus, and system
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3965520A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3965520A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3965520A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

This application provides a communication method, an apparatus, and a communications system. The communication method comprises: sending information for random access resources to a terminal; wherein a time location for at least one actually available random access resource in the random access resources does not precede a time location for the at least one SS/PBCH block, and the at least one actually available random access resource comprises a random access resource whose time location is after the time location for the at least one SS/PBCH block; and receiving a random access preamble from the terminal based on the at least one actually available random access resource.