PRACH Resource Segmentation for MTC UE Random Access

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for Machine Type Communication (MTC) User Equipment (UE) in LTE/LTE-A systems face challenges in meeting access requirements due to high costs and performance degradation, particularly in scenarios with penetration loss, where conventional LTE UE coverage is compromised, necessitating enhanced uplink and downlink coverage for MTC UE.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for sending and receiving a random access sequence, involving the determination of preset random access resources for the Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH), where random access sequences are sent on these resources, and a random access response is detected within a specified time interval, with mechanisms for retransmission based on resource availability and timing configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If MTC UE adopts low-cost configuration (reduction of receiving antennae, base-band processing bandwidth), then cost is reduced, but coverage performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecostVSAvoidcoverage performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of random access sequence length from conventional values to extended lengths (e.g., 8320 subcarriers instead of 1200), thereby improving uplink coverage for low-cost MTC UE without requiring additional hardware components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the PRACH resource into multiple resource segments (e.g., 4 segments of 2048 subcarriers each) that can be transmitted sequentially, allowing low-cost UEs with limited base-band processing bandwidth to process each segment separately while achieving extended coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If random access sequence length is extended to improve coverage, then coverage performance is improved, but base-band processing bandwidth requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage performanceVSAvoidbase-band processing bandwidth
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The extended random access sequence is divided into multiple resource segments that are transmitted in different time slots. Low-cost MTC UE can process each segment separately with reduced base-band processing bandwidth requirements, while still achieving extended coverage through cumulative transmission

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses periodic transmission of random access sequence segments across multiple subframes, allowing low-cost UEs to process each period with limited bandwidth while achieving extended coverage through repeated transmissions over time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If MTC UE is located in severe scenarios (basement, wall corner), then penetration loss increases, but access quality requirement remains the same

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess qualityVSAvoidpenetration loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the random access sequence length and adjusts PRACH resource parameters to increase transmission energy, thereby compensating for penetration loss in severe scenarios such as basements and wall corners while maintaining access quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-configures multiple PRACH resources and resource segments that can be used for retransmission, allowing MTC UE in severe scenarios to attempt access multiple times with different resources until successful connection is established

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2947945B1Sending method and apparatus, receiving method and apparatus of random access sequence
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 ZTE CORP
  • EP2947945B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2947945B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP2947945B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

A method and device for sending and receiving a random access sequence. wherein the method for sending a random access sequence includes: determining one or more preset random access resources forming a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH); and sending a first random access sequence on the one or more preset random access resources. By the present invention, the problem that an access requirement cannot be met by a random access sequence processing method in a related art is solved, and the effect of improving random access efficiency and accuracy is further achieved.