Configurable SSB to PRACH Preamble Association for 5G Random Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G wireless communication systems, determining the best SSB index for a UE is challenging due to many-to-one associations between SSB and PRACH preambles, leading to inefficient beamforming and potential missed opportunities for communication with silent nodes or in heterogeneous networks.
Innovation Solution
Configuring wireless devices and network nodes to use either one-to-one or many-to-one associations between SSB and PRACH preamble indices, allowing for quasi co-location assumptions or spatial correspondence configurations based on these associations, enabling efficient RAR transmission and reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If many-to-one association between SSB and PRACH preambles is used, then the system can support silent nodes and heterogeneous networks, but beamforming efficiency deteriorates and detection precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the association type configurable rather than fixed. The network can dynamically select between one-to-one and many-to-one associations based on deployment scenarios. This allows the system to adapt beamforming precision requirements to match the operational context, achieving high precision when needed while supporting silent nodes when applicable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the association parameter between SSB and PRACH preambles from a fixed many-to-one relationship to a configurable parameter that can be set as either one-to-one or many-to-one. This parameter change enables the system to optimize beamforming precision by selecting one-to-one association when precise beam identification is required, while allowing many-to-one association to support silent nodes and heterogeneous network scenarios.
2Measurement precision
If one-to-one association between SSB and PRACH preambles is used, then beamforming precision is improved, but adaptability to silent nodes and heterogeneous networks is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the association configuration dynamic, allowing the network to switch between one-to-one and many-to-one associations based on the operational scenario. When high beamforming precision is the priority, the system configures one-to-one association. When supporting silent nodes or heterogeneous networks is the priority, the system configures many-to-one association, thus achieving adaptability across different deployment scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a configurable association parameter that can be changed based on network conditions and deployment requirements. By changing this parameter between one-to-one and many-to-one associations, the system can optimize for either beamforming precision or adaptability to silent nodes and heterogeneous networks, depending on which performance aspect is prioritized in the current scenario.
3Device complexity
If beam correspondence is assumed, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of RAR reception is reduced in heterogeneous networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the beam correspondence assumption configurable rather than mandatory. The network can dynamically determine whether beam correspondence holds and adjust the association configuration accordingly. This allows the system to maintain low device complexity when beam correspondence is valid while ensuring high RAR reception reliability in heterogeneous networks by using many-to-one associations when beam correspondence cannot be guaranteed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the beam correspondence parameter from a fixed assumption to a configurable parameter. By adjusting this parameter based on network conditions, the system can reduce device complexity through simpler beam management when correspondence is valid, while maintaining reliability in heterogeneous networks by configuring many-to-one associations when correspondence cannot be assumed.
4Measurement precision
If SSB-RAR QCL assumption is made, then detection precision is improved, but adaptability to different network configurations is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the QCL assumption dynamic and configurable rather than fixed. The network can adaptively apply SSB-RAR QCL assumptions based on the specific network configuration and deployment scenario. This allows the system to achieve high detection precision when QCL conditions are met while maintaining adaptability to different network configurations by relaxing or removing QCL assumptions when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a configurable QCL parameter that can be changed based on network conditions. By adjusting this parameter, the system can optimize SSB detection precision through QCL assumptions when appropriate, while maintaining flexibility to adapt to various network configurations by modifying or removing QCL requirements when deployment scenarios demand greater adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
According to certain embodiments, a method performed by a wireless device comprises initiating a random access procedure in which the wireless device sends a Physical Random Access Channel, PRACH, preamble to a network node and applying a receiver configuration for receiving an access response. The receiver configuration is determined based at least in part on whether a many-to-one association exists between (a) a downlink signal that can be used for beam selection prior to initiating the random access procedure, and (b) PRACH preamble indices.