Random Access Resource Selection With Physical Layer Time Delay Constraints

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current cellular radio communication systems face challenges in ensuring the success of random access procedures due to the neglect of time delay limitations by the MAC layer during PRACH resource selection, leading to potential collisions with the physical layer's timing requirements.

Innovation Solution

The method involves a terminal that considers the time delay defined by the physical layer when selecting a random access resource, using a specific formula to determine a subframe that meets the required time difference, ensuring the successful transmission of the physical random access preamble by taking into account the PRACH configuration index, mask index, and uplink/downlink configurations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the MAC layer selects PRACH resources without considering physical layer time delay requirements, then the resource selection flexibility is improved, but the random access success rate deteriorates due to timing collisions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource selection flexibilityVSAvoidrandom access success rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the selection parameters by introducing time delay constraints (k≥6ms) as a new parameter that the MAC layer must consider when selecting PRACH resources. This transforms the resource selection from an unconstrained flexible process to a constrained process that guarantees physical layer timing requirements are met, thereby improving random access success rate while maintaining adequate flexibility through the use of offset values and multiple candidate subframes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the terminal waits for the minimum time delay k before selecting PRACH resources, then the physical layer timing requirements are satisfied, but the access delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetiming requirement satisfactionVSAvoidaccess delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the terminal pre-calculate and identify candidate subframes that satisfy the time delay constraint k≥6ms before actually initiating the random access procedure. The terminal proactively determines the earliest valid PRACH opportunity in advance, rather than waiting passively, thus minimizing the actual access delay while ensuring timing requirements are met.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic selection of offset values within the time delay constraint. The terminal can dynamically choose different offset values (≥6ms) based on current system conditions and available PRACH resources, allowing flexible optimization of access delay while maintaining reliability. This dynamic approach enables the system to adapt to varying conditions rather than using a fixed waiting period.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2410808B1Method and terminal for selecting random access resource
Publication Date: 2020.03.18 ZTE CORP
  • EP2410808B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2410808B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2410808B1 patent drawingFigure 6

AI summary

The present invention discloses a method and terminal for selecting a random access resource, the method includes: the terminal receives the physical downlink control channel signaling sent by a system; the terminal determines the first subframe which meets a condition A and contains a random access resource from the subsequent subframes of the subframe receiving the physical downlink control channel signaling, the condition A is that the time difference between the first subframe and the subframe receiving the physical downlink control channel signaling is greater than or equal to k, k is the time delay defined by the physical layer of the terminal; and the terminal starts a selection on the subframe containing a random access source from the first subframe.