Random Access Reception Window Segmentation for Non-Terrestrial Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks, especially in non-terrestrial network scenarios, the long round trip times (RTTs) pose challenges for the random access procedure, leading to inefficiencies and increased power consumption in user equipment (UE) due to the need for longer reception time windows and potential conflicts in RA-RNTI space.
Innovation Solution
A new random access control scheme is proposed, where the reception time window for receiving a response to a random access preamble is set to be at least as long as the difference between minimum and maximum RTTs. This scheme includes configuring a time domain listening pattern for the UE, allowing it to listen only during specific slots within the extended reception time window, thereby conserving power and avoiding conflicts in RA-RNTI space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the reception time window is extended to accommodate long RTTs in non-terrestrial networks, then the random access procedure can successfully handle long round trip times, but user equipment power consumption increases and RA-RNTI space conflicts occur
Solution Approach 1:
The reception time window is divided into multiple slots, and the UE is configured to listen only in specific slots determined by a time domain listening pattern. This segmentation allows the UE to remain inactive during portions of the extended reception window, significantly reducing power consumption while still enabling reliable reception of random access responses despite long RTTs in non-terrestrial networks.
2Reliability
If the reception time window is extended to accommodate long RTTs, then the random access procedure can handle non-terrestrial network delays, but conflicts in RA-RNTI space occur
Solution Approach 1:
The extended reception time window is segmented into multiple slots with a listening pattern that specifies which slots the UE should monitor. This segmentation prevents RA-RNTI space conflicts by ensuring that UEs listen only in designated slots, allowing the system to accommodate long RTTs without requiring expansion of the RA-RNTI space or causing identification conflicts.
3Reliability
If the UE listens continuously during the extended reception time window, then no random access responses are missed, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous listening, the UE is configured with a periodic time domain listening pattern that specifies which slots to monitor within the extended reception window. This periodic action allows the UE to alternate between listening and sleeping states, ensuring that random access responses are not missed while dramatically reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus for use by a communication network control element or function configured to conduct a communication control for a communication with at least one communication element or function in a communication network, the apparatus comprising at least one processing circuitry, and at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processing circuitry, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least: to calculate a reception time window in a random access procedure for a communication element or function in at least one communication area controlled by the communication network control element or function, to provide setting information related to a random access procedure to a communication element or function in the at least one communication area, the setting information including an indication of the calculated reception time window and an indication related to a determination of a receiving pattern of the communication element or function in the reception time window, wherein the receiving pattern indicates communication resources being listened by the communication element or function during the reception time window for receiving a response to the random access related signaling, to receive and process a random access related signaling from the communication element or function, to determine, on the basis of a transmission frame in which the random access related signaling is sent by the communication element or function and the calculated reception time window, the receiving pattern of the communication element or function in the reception time window, to transmit, to the communication element or function, the response to the random access related signaling on the basis of the determined receiving pattern so that the response is received in a communication resource listened by the communication element or function.