Random Access Resource Determination in Multi-Beam 5G Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing random access methods in wireless communication systems, particularly in 5G networks, face inefficiencies and resource wastage when a terminal is within coverage of multiple beams, leading to potential delays and conflicts in resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
The method involves configuring different or same random access masks for various association relationships between downlink signals and random access occasions, allowing the network device to indicate a random access occasion using a random access mask, and enabling the terminal to determine the appropriate random access resource based on the received indication information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing random access resource determining method is used when terminal is within coverage of multiple beams, then random access can be performed, but resource waste and access delay occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the random access resources by associating different downlink signals (SSBs) with different random access occasions through random access masks. Each downlink signal covers specific beams, and terminals use different random access resources based on which downlink signal they receive, thereby segmenting the overall random access resources to avoid waste and conflicts in multi-beam scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by configuring different random access masks for different association relationships between downlink signals and random access occasions. Each downlink signal has its specific random access resource configuration optimized for its coverage area, allowing localized optimization of random access resources rather than using a uniform approach across all beams.
2Reliability
If existing random access method is used in multi-beam system, then terminal can access network device, but access delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-configuring the association relationship between downlink signals and random access occasions through random access masks before the actual random access process. The terminal determines the appropriate random access occasion in advance based on the received downlink signal and the pre-configured mask, avoiding unnecessary searching and reducing access delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by having the network device indicate the random access mask to the terminal through downlink signaling. The terminal uses this feedback information to determine the correct random access occasion, creating a closed-loop system that ensures the terminal selects the appropriate resource based on the actual downlink signal received.
3Measurement precision
If random access masks are configured for different association relationships, then random access occasion can be accurately indicated, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using a unified random access mask configuration approach that can handle different association relationships between downlink signals and random access occasions. The same random access mask mechanism serves multiple purposes: indicating random access occasions for different downlink signals, managing multi-beam scenarios, and reducing resource waste, thereby simplifying the overall system rather than requiring separate mechanisms for each scenario.
Data Source
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AI summary
A random access method and apparatus are provided. In the random access method, when an association relationship between a downlink signal and a random access occasion is that one downlink signal corresponds to a plurality of random access occasions, a first random access occasion that is in the plurality of random access occasions and that is specifically used to send a random access preamble is determined based on first indication information. When the association relationship between a downlink signal and a random access occasion is that a plurality of downlink signals correspond to one random access occasion, a downlink signal may be determined in the plurality of downlink signals based on second indication information, a random access occasion corresponding to the downlink signal may be used as a first random access occasion, and a random access preamble may be sent via the first random access occasion. According to the foregoing random access method, the first random access occasion can be relatively accurately determined, and then a random access resource used for random access can be relatively precisely determined.