RACH Occasion Segmentation for Mixed-Resolution ADC Modes

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in optimizing random access channel procedures to efficiently manage different resolution levels of analog to digital converters (ADCs) for improved communication performance.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method and apparatus that utilize configuration information to identify and communicate using sets of random access channel occasions (ROs) associated with either low-resolution or high-resolution ADCs, depending on the network node's mode, to enhance communication efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single set of RACH occasions is used for all communication modes, then the procedure is simple, but communication performance deteriorates when ADC resolution varies

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveRACH procedure complexityVSAvoidcommunication performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the RACH occasions into multiple distinct sets (first set for low-resolution ADC mode, second set for high-resolution ADC mode). Each set contains RACH occasions configured with specific parameters appropriate for its corresponding ADC resolution level, allowing the system to segment the communication procedure based on hardware capabilities and achieve reliable communication across varying conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple sets of RACH occasions are configured for different ADC resolutions, then communication performance improves, but configuration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication performanceVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary configuration by pre-defining multiple sets of RACH occasions with their respective parameters before actual communication occurs. The network node is configured in advance with knowledge of which RACH occasion set corresponds to which ADC resolution level, enabling efficient selection during operation without requiring complex real-time reconfiguration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the network node switches between different ADC resolution modes, then energy efficiency improves, but timing synchronization becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidtiming synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments RACH occasions into distinct temporal groups associated with different ADC resolution modes. By separating low-resolution and high-resolution RACH occasions in time, the system maintains clear timing boundaries and synchronization markers, making it easier to manage transitions between modes without causing timing conflicts or synchronization loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4413817B1Four-step random access channel procedure
Publication Date: 2025.11.19 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP4413817B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4413817B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4413817B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a network node may transmit configuration information associated with identifying a plurality of sets of random access channel (RACH) occasions (ROs), wherein a first set of ROs, of the plurality of sets of ROs, is associated with a first set of parameters for a low-resolution analog to digital converter (ADC) and a first mode of the network node, and a second set of ROs, of the plurality of sets of ROs, is associated with a second set of parameters for a high-resolution ADC and a second mode of the network node. The network node may communicate, when operating in a particular mode of the network node, using a particular set of ROs, of the plurality of sets of ROs, associated with the particular mode of the network node. Numerous other aspects are described.