User Equipment RACH Reporting for NB-IoT Coverage and EDT

Solution Overview

Problem

In NB-IoT networks, existing technologies face challenges in achieving precise random access channel (RACH) performance and reporting, particularly due to the inability to distinguish between different coverage enhancement levels and early data transmission (EDT) configurations, leading to inaccurate RACH parameter adjustments.

Innovation Solution

A method where user equipment (UE) reports RACH performance data to the base station, including information on enhanced coverage levels and EDT, allowing for precise RACH parameter adjustments based on detailed RACH reports.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If generic RACH reporting is used in NB-IoT networks, then the reporting process is simple, but the RACH parameter adjustment accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereporting process complexityVSAvoidRACH parameter adjustment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The RACH report is segmented into multiple independent fields including coverage enhancement level indicator, early data transmission indicator, preamble transmission counter, and contention detection indicator. Each field captures specific aspects of RACH performance, allowing the base station to perform targeted parameter adjustments for different coverage levels and transmission types, thereby improving measurement precision without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds new dimensions to the RACH reporting by introducing coverage enhancement level indicators and early data transmission indicators alongside traditional RACH metrics. This multi-dimensional reporting structure enables differentiated parameter adjustments across various NB-IoT operational modes, transforming a single-dimension generic report into a multi-dimensional precise measurement system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Measurement precision

If differentiated RACH reporting for different coverage levels and EDT is implemented, then RACH parameter adjustment accuracy improves, but the reporting complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRACH parameter adjustment accuracyVSAvoidreporting process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The RACH report is segmented into multiple independent fields including coverage enhancement level indicator, early data transmission indicator, preamble transmission counter, and contention detection indicator. Each field captures specific aspects of RACH performance, allowing the base station to perform targeted parameter adjustments for different coverage levels and transmission types, thereby improving measurement precision without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces new reportable parameters specific to NB-IoT features: coverage enhancement level indicators (ce-LevelIndicator) and early data transmission indicators (edtIndicator). These additional parameters enable the system to differentiate and optimize RACH performance across various operational modes, achieving precise parameter adjustment by expanding the parameter space of the reporting mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3817443B1Method executed by user equipment, and user equipment

Publication Date: 2023.07.19 SHARP KK

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AI summary

A method performed by user equipment, comprising: receiving a random access channel (RACH) report request from a base station; and reporting, by the user equipment, a RACH report to the base station upon receiving the RACH report request from the base station, the RACH report indicating RACH performance of the user equipment for an enhanced coverage level and/or early data transmission (EDT).