RANDOM ACCESS PROCEDURE AND BROADCAST PRIORITIZATION FOR MACHINE TYPE COMMUNICATIONS (MTC)

• US 20160227582A1
• Filed: 01/28/2016
• Published: 08/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: VAJAPEYAM, Madhavan Srinivasan, XU, Hao, GAAL, Peter, CHEN, Wanshi, RICO ALVARINO, Alberto, FAKOORIAN, Seyed Ali Akbar
• Granted Patent: US 10,555,345 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/281 taking into account user or data type priority
• 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

Certain aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communications, and more specifically to random access procedures and/or prioritization of broadcast transmissions in machine type communications (MTC) devices and enhanced MTC (eMTC). An example method generally includes determining a plurality of subframes in which the UE may transmit a bundled random access channel (RACH) message to a base station (BS), determining, within the subframes, at least one narrowband region for transmitting the bundled RACH message, determining a bundling size for the bundled RACH message, the bundling size indicating a number of the plurality of subframes in which the bundled RACH message is transmitted, and transmitting the bundled RACH message in the narrowband region of the plurality of subframes, based at least in part on the determined bundling size.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communications by a user equipment (UE), comprising:

determining a plurality of subframes in which the UE may transmit a bundled random access channel (RACH) message to a base station (BS);

determining, within the plurality of subframes, at least one narrowband region for transmitting the bundled RACH message;

determining a bundling size for the bundled RACH message, the bundling size indicating a number of the plurality of subframes in which the bundled RACH message is transmitted; and

transmitting the bundled RACH message in the at least one narrowband region of the plurality of subframes, based at least in part on the determined bundling size.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of subframes is determined based at least in part on particular subframes available as starting subframes of the bundled RACH message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the bundling size for the bundled RACH message is determined based at least in part on broadcast signaling from the BS.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the bundling size for the bundled RACH message is determined based at least in part on a location of the at least one narrowband region or a starting subframe of the bundled RACH message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bundling size for the bundled RACH message is determined based at least in part on an estimated coverage enhancement target.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the bundling size for the bundled RACH message is determined based at least in part on success or failure of the BS to successfully decode a previous bundled RACH message.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the success or failure is determined based at least in part on successfully decoding a random access response message from the BS for a previously transmitted bundled RACH message.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising, in response to failure of the BS to successfully decode the previous bundled RACH message, at least one of:

increasing the bundling size for the bundled RACH message relative to a bundling size for the previous bundled RACH message;

or

increasing transmit power for the bundled RACH message relative to a transmit power for the previous bundled RACH message.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a bundled random access response message from the BS.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of a narrowband region or a bundling size of a control portion of the bundled random access response message is based at least in part on a determination of at least one property from the selected bundled RACH message.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one property comprises at least one of the at least one narrowband region or the bundling size of the bundled RACH message.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein timing of the bundled random access response message is based at least in part on the bundling size of the bundled RACH message.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the bundled random access response message indicates at least one of a narrowband region or bundling size for the UE to transmit a connection request message.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the bundled random access response message indicates at least one of a narrowband region or bundling size for the UE to receive a contention resolution message from the BS.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the bundled random access response message provides a grant for transmitting a connection request message, the grant indicating information for at least one of:

a transport block size (TBS), bundling length, subband hopping indicator, and transmission power control (TPC).

16. The method of claim 9, wherein timing of transmitting a connection request message is based at least in part on a bundling size of at least one of the bundled random access response message or the connection request message.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of a narrowband region or bundling size of a contention resolution message from the BS is determined based at least in part on at least one of a narrowband region or bundling size of the bundled random access response message.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

applying a priority of the UE for determining a type of message to acquire from the BS, wherein the type of message comprises one of a random access response message, paging message, or broadcast message carrying system information; and

monitoring for the type of message from the BS, based at least in part on the priority of the UE.

19. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for determining a plurality of subframes in which the apparatus may transmit a bundled random access channel (RACH) message to a base station (BS);

means for determining, within the plurality of subframes, at least one narrowband region for transmitting the bundled RACH message;

means for determining a bundling size for the bundled RACH message, the bundling size indicating a number of the plurality of subframes in which the bundled RACH message is transmitted; and

means for transmitting the bundled RACH message in the at least one narrowband region of the plurality of subframes, based at least in part on the determined bundling size.

20-36. -36. (canceled)

37. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

determine a plurality of subframes in which the apparatus may transmit a bundled random access channel (RACH) message to a base station (BS);

determine, within the plurality of subframes, at least one narrowband region for transmitting the bundled RACH message; and

determine a bundling size for the bundled RACH message, the bundling size indicating a number of the plurality of subframes in which the bundled RACH message is transmitted;

a transmitter configured to transmit the bundled RACH message in the at least one narrowband region of the plurality of subframes, based at least in part on the determined bundling size; and

a memory coupled with the at least one processor.

38. A computer-readable medium for wireless communication by a user equipment (UE), the computer-readable medium having computer executable code stored thereon, comprising:

code for determining a plurality of subframes in which the UE may transmit a bundled random access channel (RACH) message to a base station (BS);

code for determining, within the plurality of subframes, at least one narrowband region for transmitting the bundled RACH message;

code for determining a bundling size for the bundled RACH message, the bundling size indicating a number of the plurality of subframes in which the bundled RACH message is transmitted; and

code for transmitting the bundled RACH message in the at least one narrowband region of the plurality of subframes, based at least in part on the determined bundling size.

39. A method for wireless communications by a base station (BS), comprising:

determining a plurality of subframes in which a user equipment (UE) may transmit a bundled random access channel (RACH) message to the BS;

determining, within the plurality of subframes, at least one narrowband region for receiving the bundled RACH message;

determining a bundling size for the bundled RACH message, the bundling size indicating a number of the plurality of subframes in which the bundled RACH message is transmitted by the UE; and

receiving the bundled RACH message in the at least one narrowband region of the plurality of subframes, based at least in part on the determined bundling size.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the plurality of subframes is determined based at least in part on particular subframes available as starting subframes of the bundled RACH message.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the bundling size for the bundled RACH message is determined based at least in part on broadcast signaling from the BS.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the bundling size for the bundled RACH message is determined based at least in part on a location of the at least one narrowband region or a starting subframe of the bundled RACH message.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the bundling size for the bundled RACH message is determined based at least in part on an estimated coverage enhancement target.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein the bundling size for the bundled RACH message is determined based at least in part on success or failure of the BS to successfully decode a previous bundled RACH message.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the success or failure is determined based at least in part on the UE successfully decoding a random access response message from the BS for a previous bundled RACH message.

46. The method of claim 39, further comprising transmitting a bundled random access response message from the BS.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein at least one of a narrowband region or a bundling size of a control portion of the bundled random access response message is determined based at least in part on a determination of at least one property from the bundled RACH message.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the at least one property from the bundled RACH message comprises at least one of the at least one narrowband region or the bundling size of the bundled RACH message.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein timing of the random access response message is based at least in part on the bundling size of the bundled RACH message.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein the bundled random access response message indicates at least one of a narrowband region or bundling size for the UE to transmit a connection request message.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the bundled random access response message indicates at least one of a narrowband region or bundling size for the UE to receive a contention resolution message from the BS.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein the bundled random access response message provides a grant for transmitting a connection request message, the grant indicating information for at least one of:

a transport block size (TBS), bundling length, subband hopping indicator, and transmission power control (TPC).

53. The method of claim 46, wherein timing of receiving a connection request message is based at least in part on a bundling size of at least one of the bundled random access response message or the connection request message.

54. The method of claim 46, wherein at least one of a narrowband region or bundling size of a contention resolution message from the BS is determined based at least in part on at least one of a narrowband region or bundling size of the bundled random access response message.

55. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

means for determining a plurality of subframes in which a user equipment (UE) may transmit a bundled random access channel (RACH) message to the apparatus;

means for determining, within the plurality of subframes, at least one narrowband region for receiving the bundled RACH message;

means for determining a bundling size for the bundled RACH message, the bundling size indicating a number of the plurality of subframes in which the bundled RACH message is transmitted by the UE; and

means for receiving the bundled RACH message in the at least one narrowband region of the plurality of subframes, based at least in part on the determined bundling size.

56-70. -70. (canceled)

71. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

determine a plurality of subframes in which a user equipment (UE) may transmit a bundled random access channel (RACH) message to the apparatus;

determine,

within the plurality of subframes, at least one narrowband region for receiving the bundled RACH message; and

determine a bundling size for the bundled RACH message, the bundling size indicating a number of the plurality of subframes in which the bundled RACH message is transmitted by the UE;

a receiver configured to receive the bundled RACH message in the at least one narrowband region of the plurality of subframes, based at least in part on the determined bundling size; and

a memory coupled with the at least one processor.

72. A computer-readable medium for wireless communications by a base station (BS), the computer-readable medium having computer executable code stored thereon, comprising:

code for determining a plurality of subframes in which a user equipment (UE) may transmit a bundled random access channel (RACH) message to the BS;

code for determining, within the plurality of subframes, at least one narrowband region for receiving the bundled RACH message;

code for determining a bundling size for the bundled RACH message, the bundling size indicating a number of the plurality of subframes in which the bundled RACH message is transmitted by the UE; and

code for receiving the bundled RACH message in the at least one narrowband region of the plurality of subframes, based at least in part on the determined bundling size.

73. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

selecting a random access channel (RACH) preamble from a set of RACH preambles;

transmitting a physical RACH (PRACH) message comprising the RACH preamble;

determining random access response (RAR) resources on which to receive a RAR message based at least in part on the RACH preamble; and

receiving the RAR message on the RAR resources.

74. The method of claim 73, further comprising:

identifying one or more control channel decoding candidates based at least in part on the RACH preamble; and

blindly decoding the one or more control channel candidates.

75. The method of claim 74, wherein identifying the one or more control channel decoding candidates comprises determining at least one of an aggregation level, a RAR message bundling size, or a RAR message packet size.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the aggregation level comprises an enhanced control channel element (ECCE).

77. The method of claim 75, wherein the RAR message packet size is based at least in part on the RACH preamble.

78. The method of claim 73, wherein the RACH preamble is selected based at least in part on a bundling size of the RAR message.

79. The method of claim 73, wherein the RAR resources comprise at least one of a narrowband frequency region of a carrier bandwidth, a starting transmission time, a starting subframe, or a RAR message bundling size.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the RAR message bundling size is independent of a PRACH message bundling size.

81. A method of wireless communication, comprising:

receiving a physical random access channel (PRACH) message comprising a RACH preamble; and

selecting random access response (RAR) resources on which to transmit a RAR message based at least in part on the RACH preamble.

82. The method of claim 81, further comprising determining a bundling size for the RAR message based at least in part on the RACH preamble.

83. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for selecting a random access channel (RACH) preamble from a set of RACH preambles;

means for transmitting a physical RACH (PRACH) message comprising the RACH preamble;

means for determining random access response (RAR) resources on which to receive a RAR message based at least in part on the RACH preamble; and

means for receiving the RAR message on the RAR resources.

84-90. -90. (canceled)

91. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving a physical random access channel (PRACH) message comprising a RACH preamble; and

means for selecting random access response (RAR) resources on which to transmit a RAR message based at least in part on the RACH preamble.

92. (canceled)

93. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

select a random access channel (RACH) preamble from a set of RACH preambles;

transmit, via a transmitter, a physical RACH (PRACH) message comprising the RACH preamble;

determine random access response (RAR) resources on which to receive a RAR message based at least in part on the RACH preamble; and

receive, via a receiver, the RAR message on the RAR resources; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

94-100. -100. (canceled)

101. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a physical random access channel (PRACH) message comprising a RACH preamble;

at least one processor configured to select random access response (RAR) resources on which to transmit a RAR message based at least in part on the RACH preamble; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

102. (canceled)

103. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer executable code stored thereon, comprising:

code for selecting a random access channel (RACH) preamble from a set of RACH preambles;

code for transmitting a physical RACH (PRACH) message comprising the RACH preamble;

code for determining random access response (RAR) resources on which to receive a RAR message based at least in part on the RACH preamble; and

code for receiving the RAR message on the RAR resources.

104-110. -110. (canceled)

111. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer executable code stored thereon, comprising:

code for receiving a physical random access channel (PRACH) message comprising a RACH preamble; and

code for selecting random access response (RAR) resources on which to transmit a RAR message based at least in part on the RACH preamble.

112. (canceled)