PRACH Resource Segmentation for MTC UE Access

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Machine Type Communication (MTC) User Equipment (UE) in LTE/LTE-A systems faces challenges in accessing the network due to reduced performance and coverage issues, particularly in environments like basements and corners of walls, necessitating improvements in Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) design to ensure reliable access and coverage.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for configuring random access channel resources involve sending configuration information to MTC UE, which includes time and frequency domain allocation details, allowing for optimized resource usage and multiplexing techniques to support different types of nodes with varying coverage requirements, ensuring effective random access signaling and response.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If MTC UE uses reduced performance configuration (fewer antennas, lower bandwidth, half-duplex mode), then device cost decreases, but coverage performance and access quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice costVSAvoidcoverage performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The PRACH resources are segmented into multiple resource subsets (first subset and second subset) with different configurations. MTC UEs can be assigned to different subsets based on their coverage requirements, allowing low-cost devices to access the network with appropriate resource allocation that compensates for their reduced performance capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key parameters of the PRACH resources including time domain positions, frequency domain positions, and cyclic shifts for different resource subsets. These parameter changes enable MTC UEs with reduced performance to achieve adequate coverage by utilizing resources optimized for their capabilities rather than requiring full-performance device specifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If PRACH resources are allocated to support MTC UE in challenging environments, then access quality improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The PRACH resources are divided into multiple subsets with different configurations tailored to different MTC UE requirements. This segmentation allows the system to support diverse access needs without requiring a completely new complex system, as each subset can be independently configured and managed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The PRACH resource configuration mechanism serves multiple functions: it supports both normal coverage MTC UEs and enhanced coverage MTC UEs, accommodates different bandwidth configurations, and provides flexibility for future extensions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized systems for different MTC scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3032910B1Random access channel resource allocation method and system
Publication Date: 2018.09.05 ZTE CORP
  • EP3032910B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3032910B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3032910B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method and system for configuring random access channel resources are disclosed, which relates to the field of communication and solves the problem of access of the MTC UE in LTE/LET-A systems. The method includes: first nodes sending random access channel resource configuration information to second nodes, wherein the random access channel resource configuration information is indicated by one or a plurality of pieces of random access channel configuration information. The technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the present invention is applicable to LTE/LTE-A networks, thereby implementing the random access channel resource configuration of the MTC UE in the LTE/LTE-A systems.