Method of reducing access time to UTRAN in UMTS

• US 20030139170A1
• Filed: 12/09/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Heo, Won-Suk
• Granted Patent: US 7,301,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/008 with additional processing of random access related information at receiving side
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access

Abstract

A method of reducing access time to a UTRAN in UMTS. Upon receipt of a preamble signature from a UE, the UTRAN determines whether the preamble signature is in current use. If the preamble signature corresponds to an available RACH, the UTRAN transmits a positive AICH to the UE. If the preamble signature corresponds to an RACH in current use, the UTRAN determines whether there is a signature corresponding to an available RACH. If all signatures are in use, the UTRAN transmits a negative AICH to the UE.

Claims

1. A method of reducing access time to a UTRAN (UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network) in a UMTS(Universal Mobile Telecommunication System) when a UE (User Equipment) attempts an access to the UTRAN via an RACH (Random Access Channel) in the UMTS system having at least one UTRAN and at least one UE to which at least one RACH is available, comprising the steps of:

determining whether a preamble signature is in current use upon receipt of the preamble signature from the UE;

transmitting a positive AICH (Access Indicator Channel) to the UE if the preamble signature corresponds to an available RACH;

determining whether there is a signature corresponding to an available RACH if the preamble signature corresponds to an RACH in current use; and

transmitting a negative AICH to the UE if all signatures are in use.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if there is an available signature neither the positive AICH nor the negative AICH is transmitted to the UE.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of, upon receipt of more than one preamble signature corresponding to the same RACH, transmitting the positive AICH for one of the signatures if the RACH is available, and transmitting the negative AICH for the other signatures only if there are no available RACHs.