Random Access Timing Offsets for Lower Wireless Signaling Overhead

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional random access procedures in wireless communication systems face issues such as increased latency, high signaling overhead, and inefficient resource utilization due to listen-before-talk processes and large cell sizes, leading to increased access delay and resource waste.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where a wireless communication device is provided with information about a time offset to start monitoring for a second message after the transmission of a first message, reducing the need for extensive listen-before-talk processes and optimizing the random access procedure by using a combination of time offsets and reduced bit indications for System Frame Number (SFN) to minimize collision and overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional random access procedures are used with listen-before-talk processes, then collision avoidance is improved, but access delay increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollision avoidanceVSAvoidaccess delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network side determines and pre-configures the RAR window start offset and duration before the random access procedure begins. This preliminary configuration allows the UE to directly calculate when to monitor for RAR without performing listen-before-talk processes, thereby reducing access delay while maintaining collision avoidance through pre-planned resource allocation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a pre-configured time offset parameter as an intermediary between the preamble transmission and RAR monitoring. This offset parameter mediates the timing relationship, allowing the system to skip intermediate listen-before-talk steps while ensuring proper timing alignment for collision-free communication

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If extensive listen-before-talk processes are performed, then resource collision is reduced, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource collision reductionVSAvoidsignaling overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the listen-before-talk process from the random access procedure entirely. By using pre-configured time offsets determined by the network side, the system eliminates the need for UE to perform LBT, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining resource collision reduction through centralized timing control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The UE uses the pre-configured RAR window start offset and duration parameters to autonomously determine when to monitor for RAR messages. This self-service approach eliminates the need for additional signaling exchanges that would otherwise be required for LBT coordination, reducing overhead while maintaining reliable resource allocation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Area of stationary object

If large cell sizes are used, then coverage area is improved, but access delay increases due to propagation time

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage areaVSAvoidaccess delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the timing parameters by introducing pre-configured RAR window start offsets that account for large propagation delays in extensive cell sizes. The network side determines these offsets based on cell size and propagation characteristics, allowing UEs in large cells to monitor for RAR at the correct time without experiencing increased access delay

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Adaptability or versatility

If traditional random access procedures are used, then compatibility with existing systems is maintained, but resource utilization efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem compatibilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the RAR window timing dynamic and adaptable by allowing the network side to configure different start offsets and durations based on specific deployment scenarios. This dynamic configuration maintains compatibility with existing systems while optimizing resource utilization efficiency for particular network conditions such as non-terrestrial networks or large cell sizes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12395861B2Methods and apparatus for reducing overhead in a random access procedure

Publication Date: 2025.08.19 ZTE CORP

AI summary

A method and apparatus for reducing overhead in a random access procedure is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a wireless communication node includes: transmitting first information to a wireless communication device; receiving a first message from the wireless communication device for an access of the wireless communication device to the wireless communication node; and transmitting a second message to the wireless communication device in response to the first message. The first information comprises information about a time offset for the wireless communication device to start monitoring for the second message after the time offset from an end of a transmission of the first message.