IP Library Granted Patent US 12696322
Granted Patent B2
US 12696322 · App. 18/628,321 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Techniques for adaptation of random access configuration in wireless communications

Inventors: Ahmed Attia Abotabl (San Diego, CA); Navid Abedini (Basking Ridge, NJ); Hung Dinh Ly (San Diego, CA)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
H04W74/0833H04W72/0446H04W74/002
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12696322
App. No.
18/628,321
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described that provide for adaptation of a physical random access channel (PRACH) configuration to change a quantity of random access occasions (ROs) available for transmission of a random access message from a user equipment (UE) subsequent to receipt of a signal at the UE. The PRACH configuration may be adapted to provide an increased quantity of ROs for a time duration subsequent to the receipt of the signal at the UE. The timing for starting the adapted PRACH configuration may be at a start of a subsequent RO pattern within an association pattern period, at a start of a subsequent paging association pattern period, or a certain number of milliseconds or frames subsequent to the signaling that indicates the adapted PRACH configuration.

Claims (66)

1 . A user equipment (UE), comprising:

one or more memories storing processor-executable code; and

one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to:

receive a first signal that indicates a first random access configuration including a first pattern of one or more random access occasions that are available for a random access message transmission from the UE during a random access configuration period;

receive, during the random access configuration period, a second signal that indicates a second random access configuration that is an adaptation of the first random access configuration, the second random access configuration to be applied for a time duration that starts at a first time relative to a receipt time of the second signal; and

transmit at least a first random access message in a first random access occasion that is determined based at least in part on the second random access configuration.

2 . The UE of claim 1 , wherein the second random access configuration provides one or more additional random access occasions than initially provided in the first random access configuration.

3 . The UE of claim 1 , wherein, to receive the second signal, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the UE to:

receive one or more of a paging early indication, a paging downlink control information (DCI) transmission, a paging downlink shared channel transmission, or a DCI transmission that provides an updated pattern of random access occasions within the random access configuration period.

4 . The UE of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to:

apply the second random access configuration for one or more random access association pattern periods subsequent to a random access association pattern period in which the second signal is received.

5 . The UE of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to:

apply the second random access configuration for one or more random access association periods subsequent to a random access association period in which the second signal is received.

6 . The UE of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to:

apply the second random access configuration starting at a defined time duration subsequent to receipt of the second signal that indicates the second random access configuration.

7 . The UE of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to:

apply the second random access configuration starting at a defined quantity of radio frames subsequent to a radio frame in which the second signal is received.

8 . The UE of claim 1 , wherein the second random access configuration is applied until receipt of an updated system information block at the UE.

9 . The UE of claim 1 , wherein the second random access configuration is applied until receipt of another signal subsequent to the second signal that updates the first random access configuration at the UE.

10 . The UE of claim 1 , wherein the second random access configuration is applied for a defined time duration or quantity of radio frames subsequent to receipt of the second signal at the UE.

11 . The UE of claim 1 , wherein the second random access configuration is applied for a defined quantity of random access association pattern periods or random access association periods within a random access association pattern period.

12 . The UE of claim 1 , wherein the second random access configuration is applied for a first time duration when an increased quantity of random access occasions is indicated, and is applied for a second time duration when a decreased quantity of random access occasions is indicated, and wherein the first time duration is different than the second time duration.

13 . The UE of claim 1 , wherein the second signal provides an implicit indication or an explicit indication of the second random access configuration.

14 . The UE of claim 13 , wherein when the implicit indication of the second random access configuration is received, the second random access configuration is applied until a successful random access message transmission.

15 . The UE of claim 1 , wherein the second signal provides an update to a random access occasion pattern for two or more random access association periods within a random access association pattern period.

16 . The UE of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to:

initiate, based at least in part on the second signal, a timer associated with the second random access configuration; and

discontinue application of the second random access configuration upon expiration of the timer.

17 . The UE of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the UE to:

activate the second random access configuration starting at a system information modification period subsequent when the second signal is received.

18 . A network entity, comprising:

one or more memories storing processor-executable code; and

one or more processors coupled with the one or more memories and individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the network entity to:

output a first signal that indicates a first random access configuration including a first pattern of one or more random access occasions that are available for a random access message transmission from a user equipment (UE) during a random access configuration period;

output, during the random access configuration period, a second signal that indicates a second random access configuration that is an adaptation of the first random access configuration, the second random access configuration to be applied for a time duration that starts at a first time relative to a receipt time of the second signal; and

obtain at least a first random access message from the UE in a first random access occasion that is determined based at least in part on the second random access configuration.

19 . The network entity of claim 18 , wherein the second random access configuration provides one or more additional random access occasions than initially provided in the first random access configuration.

20 . The network entity of claim 18 , wherein, to output the second signal, the one or more processors are individually or collectively operable to execute the code to cause the network entity to:

output one or more of a paging early indication, a paging downlink control information (DCI) transmission, a paging downlink shared channel transmission, or a DCI transmission that provides an updated pattern of random access occasions within the random access configuration period.

21 . The network entity of claim 18 , wherein the one or more processors are individually or collectively further operable to execute the code to cause the network entity to:

apply the second random access configuration for one or more random access association pattern periods subsequent to a random access association pattern period in which the second signal is provided to the UE,

apply the second random access configuration for one or more random access association periods subsequent to a random access association period in which the second signal is provided to the UE, or

apply the second random access configuration starting at a defined time duration subsequent to when the second signal is provided to the UE.

22 . The network entity of claim 18 , wherein the second random access configuration is applied for a first time duration when an increased quantity of random access occasions is indicated, and is applied for a second time duration when a decreased quantity of random access occasions is indicated, and wherein the first time duration is different than the second time duration.

23 . A method for wireless communications at a user equipment (UE), comprising:

receiving a first signal that indicates a first random access configuration including a first pattern of one or more random access occasions that are available for a random access message transmission from the UE during a random access configuration period;

receiving, during the random access configuration period, a second signal that indicates a second random access configuration that is an adaptation of the first random access configuration, the second random access configuration to be applied for a time duration that starts at a first time relative to a receipt time of the second signal; and

transmitting at least a first random access message in a first random access occasion that is determined based at least in part on the second random access configuration.

24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the receiving the second signal comprises:

receiving one or more of a paging early indication, a paging downlink control information (DCI) transmission, a paging downlink shared channel transmission, or a DCI transmission that provides an updated pattern of random access occasions within the random access configuration period.

25 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising:

applying the second random access configuration for one or more random access association pattern periods subsequent to a random access association pattern period in which the second signal is received,

applying the second random access configuration for one or more random access association periods subsequent to a random access association period in which the second signal is received, or

applying the second random access configuration starting at a defined time duration subsequent to receipt of the second signal that indicates the second random access configuration.

26 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the second random access configuration is applied until receipt of an updated system information block at the UE.

27 . A method for wireless communications at a network entity, comprising:

outputting a first signal that indicates a first random access configuration including a first pattern of one or more random access occasions that are available for a random access message transmission from a user equipment (UE) during a random access configuration period;

outputting, during the random access configuration period, a second signal that indicates a second random access configuration that is an adaptation of the first random access configuration, the second random access configuration to be applied for a time duration that starts at a first time relative to a receipt time of the second signal; and

obtaining at least a first random access message from the UE in a first random access occasion that is determined based at least in part on the second random access configuration.

28 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the outputting the second signal comprises:

outputting one or more of a paging early indication, a paging downlink control information (DCI) transmission, a paging downlink shared channel transmission, or a DCI transmission that provides an updated pattern of random access occasions within the random access configuration period.

29 . The method of claim 27 , further comprising:

applying the second random access configuration for one or more random access association pattern periods subsequent to a random access association pattern period in which the second signal is provided to the UE,

applying the second random access configuration for one or more random access association periods subsequent to a random access association period in which the second signal is provided to the UE, or

applying the second random access configuration starting at a defined time duration subsequent to when the second signal is provided to the UE.

30 . The method of claim 27 , wherein the second random access configuration is applied until an updated system information block is provided to the UE, until another signal that updates the first random access configuration is provided to the UE subsequent to the second signal, or for a defined time duration or quantity of radio frames subsequent to when the second signal is provided to the UE.