PRACH Resource Allocation for Base Station Energy-Saving Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication systems face challenges in reducing power consumption at base stations, particularly in energy-saving modes, due to inefficient management of physical random access channel (PRACH) resources.

Innovation Solution

A method for a user equipment (UE) to receive and determine available PRACH resources based on the energy-saving state of a base station, and transmit PRACH accordingly, utilizing separate resource pools and signaling mechanisms for energy-saving and non-energy-saving states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the base station monitors all PRACH resources continuously, then the reliability of random access is improved, but the power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverandom access reliabilityVSAvoidbase station power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The base station dynamically adjusts its monitoring behavior based on operational state. In normal operation, it monitors all PRACH resources for reliable random access. In energy-saving mode, it transitions to monitoring only a subset of PRACH resources, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining essential access functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The PRACH resources are segmented into multiple groups or subsets. Instead of monitoring all resources uniformly, the base station divides them and selectively monitors only certain segments during energy-saving mode, reducing the monitoring load and power consumption while still providing acceptable random access service.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Use of energy by moving object

If the base station enters energy-saving mode with reduced PRACH monitoring, then the power consumption is reduced, but the random access performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebase station power consumptionVSAvoidrandom access throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

During energy-saving mode, the base station performs partial monitoring of PRACH resources rather than complete monitoring. This partial action is sufficient to handle typical random access loads while significantly reducing power consumption. The system accepts that extreme performance levels cannot be maintained but achieves adequate performance with lower energy expenditure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The base station implements periodic switching between full monitoring mode and reduced monitoring mode. During energy-saving operation, it monitors PRACH resources at reduced frequency or only during specific periods, balancing power consumption reduction with maintaining acceptable random access performance when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12574975B2Communication method, user equipment, base station and storage medium

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

The disclosure relates to a fifth generation (5G) or sixth generation (6G) communication system for supporting a higher data transmission rate. A communication method, a user equipment (UE), a base station, and a storage medium are provided. The method includes receiving, by a UE, information related to physical random access channel (PRACH) resources, determining available PRACH resources in an energy saving state and/or non-energy saving state of a base station, and then transmitting a PRACH to the base station based on the available PRACH resources and the state of the base station. The method may reduce the amount of PRACH resources to be monitored by the base station, thereby achieving the purpose of saving power on the base station side.