RACH Reference Slot Configuration for Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in higher frequency bands, face challenges in maintaining RACH communication capacity due to bandwidth constraints, leading to reduced system performance and increased power consumption for user equipment (UE) during initial access.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of additional RACH reference slots within a configuration period, allowing for more RACH slots to be configured, which enables better utilization of time-domain resources and maintains or increases RACH communication capacity by distributing RACH communications across additional slots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If additional RACH reference slots are configured in the time domain, then RACH communication capacity is increased, but device complexity and configuration overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The RACH configuration is segmented into multiple reference slots in the time domain, where each reference slot can be independently configured and activated. This allows the system to divide the RACH resources across multiple time slots, increasing overall capacity while maintaining manageable configuration complexity through modular structure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from frequency-domain RACH multiplexing to time-domain multiplexing by introducing multiple RACH reference slots across different time positions. This dimensional shift from frequency to time domain allows capacity expansion without being constrained by bandwidth limitations, while the time-domain structure provides natural segmentation for configuration management
2Productivity
If RACH communications are concentrated in fewer slots, then device power consumption is reduced, but RACH communication capacity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
RACH communications are distributed across multiple periodic reference slots in the time domain, creating a periodic structure where UEs can transmit RACH preambles at scheduled intervals. This periodic distribution allows UEs to concentrate their transmission activity in specific time slots rather than continuously monitoring, thereby managing power consumption while increasing overall system capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically allocates RACH resources across multiple time-domain reference slots, allowing flexible distribution of RACH communications. This dynamic time-domain resource allocation enables the system to adapt to varying traffic conditions, distributing RACH attempts across multiple slots to increase capacity while allowing UEs to enter low-power states between active RACH slots
Data Source
AI summary
A base station may select whether to configure one or more second RACH reference slots associated with a plurality of first RACH reference slots in a RACH configuration period. The one or more second RACH reference slots may be new RACH reference slots, and the plurality of first RACH reference slots may be previously existing RACH reference slots. The base station may identify, upon selecting to configure the one or more second RACH reference slots, a RACH reference slot configuration including the one or more second RACH reference slots associated with the plurality of first RACH reference slots in the RACH configuration period. The base station may transmit, to at least one UE, an indication of the RACH reference slot configuration including the one or more second RACH reference slots associated with the plurality of first RACH reference slots.