PRACH Resource Allocation via DL Beam Association in Carrier Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, particularly in New Radio (NR) systems with carrier aggregation, there is a challenge in effectively handling Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) resources on secondary cells (SCells), which affects communication efficiency and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A base station (BS) configures and manages PRACH resources on a SCell by transmitting RRC messages, downlink beam management reference signals, and associating them with transmission beams, allowing for measurement reports from user equipment (UE) to determine optimal PRACH resources, ensuring efficient resource allocation and communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If PRACH resources are configured on SCell in carrier aggregation, then communication efficiency and system capacity are improved, but the complexity of determining and allocating PRACH resources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the UE measures DL beam quality and reports measurements to the network, which then uses this feedback to determine appropriate PRACH resources. This feedback loop enables dynamic adaptation of PRACH allocation based on actual channel conditions, improving communication efficiency while managing complexity through intelligent resource selection rather than exhaustive configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key parameters including associating PRACH resources with specific DL beams, using PRACH mask indices to indicate available resources, and selecting resources based on measured beam qualities. These parameter changes enable flexible and adaptive PRACH resource determination on SCell, resolving the contradiction between improved productivity and reduced complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple DL Tx beams are used for beam management, then coverage and reliability are improved, but the difficulty of determining appropriate PRACH resources increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the PRACH resources into multiple occasions and associates them with different DL beams. Each PRACH resource is linked to specific beam measurements, allowing the UE to select appropriate resources based on which beam provides the best quality. This segmentation approach maintains reliability through multiple beam options while simplifying the detection process by providing clear associations between beams and resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by configuring DL beam management reference signals and associations with PRACH resources before the actual random access procedure. The network pre-establishes the relationships between beams and PRACH occasions, and the UE performs measurements in advance to determine the best resource. This preliminary preparation reduces the difficulty of real-time PRACH resource detection while maintaining high reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
A base station (BS) for handling Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) resources on a SCell in carrier aggregation comprises at least one storage device storing instructions of transmitting a radio resource control (RRC) message configuring the SCell to a communication device, wherein the RRC message comprises a DL beam management (BM) reference signal (RS) configuration and an association between a plurality of PRACH resources and a plurality of DL Tx beams; transmitting a plurality of DL BM RSs by using the plurality of DL Tx beams on the SCell, respectively; receiving a measurement report of the plurality of DL BM RSs; determining a DL Tx beam according to the measurement report; transmitting a Physical DL Control Channel (PDCCH) order by using the DL Tx beam, wherein the PDCCH order comprises a PRACH mask index indicating at least one PRACH resource; and determining a PRACH resource according to the measurement report.