Reduced Capability NR Device Identification During Random Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently supporting reduced capability new radio (NR) devices, such as industrial wireless sensors and wearables, due to their lower bandwidth, half-duplex operation, and other complexity reduction features, which affect power consumption, cost, and network performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing techniques for redcap devices to explicitly identify themselves during a random access procedure, using dedicated resources and early indications, such as repurposed system information blocks and PRACH resource sets, to balance power consumption, cost reduction, and network performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If redcap devices use lower bandwidth and half-duplex operation to reduce cost and complexity, then device cost and complexity are reduced, but network access efficiency and power consumption are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having redcap devices explicitly indicate their device type during the random access procedure (in Msg1 or Msg3) before actual data transmission begins. This allows the base station to pre-configure appropriate parameters and allocate resources specifically optimized for redcap devices, thereby improving network access efficiency without requiring increased device complexity. The early identification enables the network to prepare appropriate handling procedures in advance.
2Productivity
If redcap devices transmit explicit device type indications during random access, then network access optimization is improved, but uplink signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the redcap device type indication with existing random access messages (Msg1 preamble or Msg3 uplink transmission) that redcap devices must already send for network access. By combining the device type indication with these mandatory signaling messages, the patent avoids adding separate dedicated signaling overhead. The device type information is embedded within the structure of existing messages, thereby improving network access optimization without significantly increasing uplink signaling overhead.
3Reliability
If base station configures dedicated resources for redcap devices, then network performance is maintained, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by configuring dedicated resources and parameters specifically for redcap devices only when and where needed, rather than uniformly across all devices. The base station identifies redcap devices through their explicit indications during random access, then applies redcap-specific configurations (such as reduced bandwidth parameters, half-duplex settings, or simplified processing requirements) only to these identified devices. This localized approach maintains network performance for redcap devices while avoiding unnecessary complexity in the overall network configuration, as non-redcap devices continue to use standard configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) is configured to receive a system information block (SIB) from a base station and transmit an indication of a reduced capability (redcap) device type to the base station during a random access procedure, wherein the indication is associated with a UE configuration comprising one or more UE complexity reduction features.