PRACH Configuration Sharing for Collision Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly in LTE and NR, face challenges in avoiding collisions of physical random access channel (PRACH) communications, which can lead to inefficiencies in resource usage and increased interference, especially due to the lack of accounting for new Radio (NR) features like multiple subcarrier spacings and multi-beam transmissions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where base stations share PRACH configuration information, including subcarrier spacing and beam correspondence information, to optimize PRACH configurations and prevent collisions, thereby reducing power and resource wastage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If base stations use traditional PRACH configuration without sharing collision avoidance information, then device complexity is reduced, but PRACH collision rate increases leading to resource wastage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower wastage due to PRACH collisionsVSAvoidcomplexity of PRACH configuration management

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having base stations pre-determine and share collision avoidance information before PRACH communications occur. The first base station determines collision avoidance information including subcarrier spacing and beam correspondence information, then transmits this information to the second base station in advance, enabling the second base station to configure PRACH resources that avoid collisions without adding complex real-time coordination mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses collision avoidance information as an intermediary that mediates between base stations to prevent PRACH collisions. This information acts as a signaling mechanism that carries essential configuration parameters (subcarrier spacing, beam correspondence) between base stations, enabling coordinated resource allocation without requiring complex direct coordination protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If base stations share detailed PRACH configuration information, then PRACH collision avoidance improves, but information overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePRACH collision avoidance capabilityVSAvoidinformation overhead for configuration sharing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential collision avoidance information parameters (subcarrier spacing information and beam correspondence information) from the complete PRACH configuration, rather than sharing all configuration details. This selective extraction reduces information overhead while maintaining the reliability needed for collision avoidance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter set being shared by focusing specifically on subcarrier spacing information and beam correspondence information - the critical parameters for collision avoidance. This parameter selection approach reduces the volume of information exchanged while preserving the essential functionality for preventing PRACH collisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If base stations independently configure PRACH resources, then configuration speed is faster, but resource utilization efficiency decreases due to collisions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilization efficiency of PRACH communicationsVSAvoidtime wastage due to PRACH collisions and retransmissions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by having the first base station determine collision avoidance information based on its PRACH configuration and transmit this information to the second base station. The second base station then uses this feedback information to adjust its PRACH configuration, creating a feedback loop that enables coordinated resource allocation and improves overall resource utilization efficiency while avoiding collisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11606820B2Sharing a physical random access channel (PRACH) configuration for avoiding collisions of PRACH communications

Publication Date: 2023.03.14 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a first base station may determine collision avoidance information for avoiding collisions of physical random access channel communications from one or more user equipment. The collision avoidance information may include subcarrier spacing information and/or beam correspondence information. The first base station may transmit the collision avoidance information to a second base station. Numerous other aspects are provided.