Random Access Procedure Timing Alignment in Transparent Relay Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current random access procedure in mobile communication systems involving transparent relay stations is prolonged due to the base station waiting for timer T to timeout before selecting a service node, leading to increased procedure duration for user terminals.

Innovation Solution

The method involves the base station calculating and transmitting Timing Alignment (TA) directly to the random access node upon detecting a Preamble, selecting a service node after receiving detection information from transparent relay stations, and notifying the node through a contention resolution message, allowing for immediate uplink timing advance adjustment and collision detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the base station waits for timer T to timeout before selecting a service node, then the service node selection can be made based on complete detection information from all transparent relay stations, but the random access procedure duration is prolonged

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice node selection accuracyVSAvoidrandom access procedure duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary service node selection based on detection information received so far, before timer T expires. This allows the random access procedure to continue with a selected service node while still accepting late-arriving detection information, thus reducing the procedure duration without completely sacrificing selection accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The service node selection is made dynamic by allowing updates even after initial selection. The base station can adjust the service node selection if detection information arrives after the initial selection, making the system adaptable to timing variations in information arrival from different relay stations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If the base station selects service node after timer T timeout, then all detection information is available for selection, but the uplink timing advance adjustment is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice node selection accuracyVSAvoiduplink timing advance adjustment speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary service node selection and notifies the random access node before timer T expires. This enables the random access node to perform uplink timing advance adjustment earlier, improving the speed of synchronization establishment while the base station retains the option to update the selection if better information arrives later.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of time

If the base station notifies random access node of service node selection before timer T timeout, then the procedure duration is reduced, but the selection may be based on incomplete detection information

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverandom access procedure durationVSAvoidservice node selection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The service node selection is made dynamic by allowing updates even after initial selection. The base station can adjust the service node selection if detection information arrives after the initial selection, making the system adaptable to timing variations in information arrival from different relay stations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the base station can receive late-arriving detection information and update the service node selection accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that while early notification reduces procedure duration, the system can still improve selection accuracy if additional information becomes available.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2217029B1Method of processing in random access procedure
Publication Date: 2019.02.27 CHINA ACAD OF TELECOMM TECH
  • EP2217029B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2217029B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2217029B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention proposes a method processing in random access procedure, comprising the following steps: when a Preamble transmitted by a random access node is detected by a base station, the base station calculating TA according to the Preamble detected by itself and transmitting it to the random access node; the base station receiving random access detection information reported from a transparent relay station and selecting a service node for the random access node; the base station receiving an uplink signaling transmitted by the random access node after the random access node adjusted the uplink timing advance according to TA calculated by the base station, and notifying the random access node of the access condition through a contention resolution message according to the selected service node, and the random access node performing an access procedure based on the access condition. According to the present invention, the duration of the random access procedure can be shortened, and the service QOS can be improved, which gives the user better service experience.