Uplink Random Access Channel Data Encoding via Timing Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communications networks, such as LTE, are inefficient for transmitting small messages due to high signaling requirements for requesting uplink resources, which is not optimal for machine-type communication (MTC) applications that require less data and are delay-tolerant.
Innovation Solution
A mobile communications terminal is configured to transmit user data by selecting the timing of random access messages within the uplink random access channel, allowing data to be encoded using techniques such as sub-frame selection, preamble positioning, and block resource selection, reducing the need for conventional signaling and improving data efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional uplink resource allocation signaling is used for MTC terminals, then reliable communication can be established, but signaling overhead increases and efficiency decreases for small data transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines user data and random access messages into a single uplink transmission. The mobile terminal multiplexes small data packets with random access preambles or messages, allowing both control information and user data to be transmitted simultaneously over the uplink random access channel, thereby eliminating separate signaling overhead for resource allocation requests.
Solution Approach 2:
The uplink random access channel is made multi-functional by enabling it to carry both traditional random access messages for resource allocation and small user data packets. This universal usage of the same channel for multiple purposes reduces the need for dedicated signaling resources while maintaining reliable communication establishment.
2Reliability
If LTE network architecture is used for MTC applications, then robust communication can be achieved, but terminal complexity and resource allocation overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile terminal autonomously selects and transmits small data packets directly using uplink random access resources without requiring complex interaction with the network for resource allocation. The terminal self-manages the transmission by embedding data within random access messages, reducing the complexity of resource management procedures while maintaining reliable delivery through the robust LTE air interface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional random access channel is used only for control messages, then protocol simplicity is maintained, but data transmission capability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The random access channel is enhanced to serve dual purposes: traditional control messaging for resource allocation and small user data transmission. By allowing the same channel to handle both functions, the system gains versatility for MTC applications without significantly increasing protocol complexity, as the underlying random access procedure remains largely unchanged.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the control plane function (random access for resource allocation) with the user plane function (small data transmission) by multiplexing data packets within random access messages. This combination allows the protocol to maintain relative simplicity while expanding data transmission capabilities for machine-type communications.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile communications terminal for communicating data to/from one or more base stations of a mobile communications network, the one or more base stations being arranged to provide a radio interface to communicate with mobile communications terminals. The mobile communications terminal being arranged to communicate with the one or more base stations via the radio interface, the communicating including using an uplink random access channel of the radio interface to transmit random access messages to the one or more base stations and communicating user data via the uplink random access channel by transmitting one or more of the random access messages at a selected timing within the uplink random access channel, the timing being selected by the first mobile communications terminal to represent at least part of the user data.