Signaling of random access preamble parameters in wireless networks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9357564-B2
Application number	US-97023908-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2008
Priority date	Jun 19, 2007
Publication date	May 31, 2016
Grant date	May 31, 2016

Abstract

User equipment (UE)-initiated accesses within a cellular network are optimized to account for cell size and to reduce signaling overhead. A fixed set of preamble parameter configurations for use across a complete range of cell sizes within the cellular network is established and stored within each UE. A UE located in a given cell receives a configuration number transmitted from a nodeB serving the cell, the configuration number being indicative of a size of the cell. The UE selects a preamble parameter configuration from the fixed set of preamble parameter configurations in response to the received configuration number and then transmits a preamble from the UE to the nodeB using the preamble parameter configuration indicated by the configuration number.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for transmitting from user equipment (UE) to base stations (nodeB) in a cellular network, comprising:
maintaining a fixed set of preamble parameter configurations for use across a complete range of cell sizes within the cellular network;
receiving at a UE located in a cell a configuration number transmitted from a nodeB serving the cell;
selecting a preamble parameter configuration specified by the received configuration number from the fixed set of preamble parameter configurations; and
transmitting a preamble from the UE to the nodeB using the preamble parameter configuration indicated by the configuration number.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each preamble parameter configuration of the set of preamble parameter configurations implicitly defines a number of root sequences and a number of cyclic shifts per root sequence.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the fixed set of preamble parameter configurations comprises no more than sixteen preamble parameter configurations and wherein the configuration number is received using no more than four signaling bits.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein transmitting a preamble comprises:
determining the number of root sequences and the number of cyclic shifts of the selected preamble parameter configuration;
mapping a predetermined number of preamble signatures to subsequent cyclic shifts of a given root sequence according to the number of cyclic shifts until the given root sequence is full, for all of the number of root sequences until a last root sequence;
adjusting the number of cyclic shifts mapped onto the last root sequence such that the predetermined number of preamble signatures are mapped; and
selecting one of the mapped preamble signatures for use in transmitting the preamble.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the predetermined number of preamble signatures is sixty-four.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fixed set of preamble parameter configurations sample the continuous cell size range covered by the network in a non-linear way, such that a finer configuration granularity is provided for smaller cells, whereby a broader deployment of smaller cells compared to larger cells is better supported.

7. A user equipment (UE) for use in a cellular network, comprising:
means for storing a fixed set of preamble parameter configurations for use across a complete range of cell sizes within the cellular network;
means for receiving information by the UE within a given cell that designates a particular preamble parameter configuration from the fixed set of preamble parameter configurations;
means for selecting a preamble parameter configuration specified by the received configuration number from the fixed set of preamble parameter configurations; and
means for transmitting a preamble from the UE to the nodeB using the preamble parameter configuration indicated by the configuration number.

8. The UE of claim 7 , wherein each preamble parameter configuration of the set of preamble parameter configurations implicitly defines a number of root sequences and a number of cyclic shifts per root sequence.

9. The UE of claim 8 , wherein the fixed set of preamble parameter configurations comprises no more than sixteen preamble parameter configurations and wherein the configuration number is received using no more than four signaling bits.

10. The UE of claim 8 , wherein the means for transmitting a preamble comprises:
means for determining the number of root sequences and the number of cyclic shifts of the selected preamble parameter configuration;
means for mapping a predetermined number of preamble signatures to subsequent cyclic shifts of a given root sequence according to the number of cyclic shifts until the given root sequence is full, for all of the number of root sequences until a last root sequence;
means for adjusting the number of cyclic shifts mapped onto the last root sequence such that the predetermined number of preamble signatures are mapped; and
means for selecting one of the mapped preamble signatures for use in transmitting the preamble.

11. A cellular telephone for use in a cellular network, comprising:
a receiver connected to an antenna operable to receive information within a given cell that designates a particular configuration number of a fixed set of preamble parameter configurations for use across a complete range of cell sizes within the cellular network;
a processor connected to a storage memory holding instructions for execution by the processor and for holding the fixed set of preamble parameter configurations and connected to obtain signals from the receiver, wherein the processor is operable to select a preamble parameter configuration specified by the received configuration number from the fixed set of preamble parameter configurations; and
a transmitter connected to the processor operable to transmit a signal from the cellular telephone to the NodeB using the selected preamble parameter configuration.

12. The cellular telephone of claim 11 , wherein each preamble parameter configuration of the set of preamble parameter configurations implicitly defines a number of root sequences and a number of cyclic shifts per root sequence.

13. The cellular telephone of claim 12 , wherein the fixed set of preamble parameter configurations comprises no more than sixteen preamble parameter configurations and wherein the configuration number is received using no more than four signaling bits.

14. The cellular telephone of claim 12 , wherein the transmitter comprises:
circuitry for determining the number of root sequences and the number of cyclic shifts of the selected preamble parameter configuration;
circuitry for mapping a predetermined number of preamble signatures to subsequent cyclic shifts of a given root sequence according to the number of cyclic shifts until the given root sequence is full, for all of the number of root sequences until a last root sequence;
circuitry for adjusting the number of cyclic shifts mapped onto the last root sequence such that the predetermined number of preamble signatures are mapped; and
circuitry for selecting one of the mapped preamble signatures for use in transmitting the preamble.

Assignees

• Bertrand Pierre
• Jiang Jing
• Texas Instruments Inc

Inventors

• Bertrand Pierre
• Jiang Jing

Classifications

• H04W74/0833

  Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access · CPC title

• H04W74/04 Primary

  Scheduled access (hybrid access H04W74/02) · CPC title

• H04W88/08

  Access point devices · CPC title

• H04W24/02

  Arrangements for optimising operational condition · CPC title

• H04W74/004 Primary

  in the uplink, i.e. towards network · CPC title