Method and apparatus for providing random access window configuration
View Patent ↗An approach is provided for providing random access window configuration by estimating a processing time margin for processing random access preambles received in one or more random access channels. The estimated processing time margin is then used to offset the respective random access window configuration.
1. A method comprising:
initiating transmission of one or more random access preambles in one or more respective random access channels within a single uplink subframe; and
monitoring, with a processor, a physical downlink control channel for a response to the transmission during one or more of a plurality of random access response windows, the one or more random access response windows corresponding to each respective random access channel,
wherein each of the plurality of random access response windows is offset from others of the plurality of random access response windows by an estimated processing time margin for processing the random access preambles and preparing the response.
2. A method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more random access response windows correspond to one or more respective random access channels.
3. A method of claim 1 , wherein the random access channels are established over a radio network that has a long term evolution (LTE) architecture.
4. A method of claim 1 , wherein each of the random access response windows is defined by using a begin window parameter and an end window parameter.
5. A method of claim 4 , wherein the begin window parameter is offset at least in part by the estimated processing time margin, an index corresponding to the respective random access channel, a fixed time interval after the end of the transmission of the respective random access preamble, or a combination thereof.
6. A method of claim 4 , wherein the end window parameter is fixed time interval after the begin time window parameter.
7. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program code,
the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
initiate transmission of one or more random access preambles in one or more
respective random access channels within a single uplink subframe, and
monitor a physical downlink control channel for a response to the transmission during one or more of a plurality of random access response windows, the one or more random access response windows corresponding to each respective random access channel,
wherein each of the plurality of random access response windows is offset from others of the plurality of random access response windows by an estimated processing time margin for processing the random access preambles and preparing the response.
8. An apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the one or more random access response windows correspond to one or more respective random access channels.
9. An apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the random access channels are established over a radio network that has a long term evolution (LTE) architecture.
10. An apparatus of claim 7 , wherein each of the random access response windows is defined by using a begin window parameter and an end window parameter.
11. An apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the begin window parameter is offset at least in part by the estimated processing time margin, an index corresponding to the respective random access channel, a fixed time interval after the end of the transmission of the respective random access preamble, or a combination thereof.
12. An apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the end window parameter is fixed time interval after the begin time window parameter.
13. An apparatus comprising:
at least one processor; and
at least one memory including computer program code,
the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,
receive a plurality of random access preambles corresponding to a plurality of random access channels within a single uplink subframe,
determine an estimated processing time margin for processing the random access preambles and preparing a response, and
determine an offset for each of a plurality of random access response windows from others of the plurality of random access response windows, the random access response windows corresponding to the random access channels, and the offset being based on the estimated processing time margin.
14. An apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to: generate a response to each of the random access preambles.
15. An apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the apparatus is further caused to: initiate transmission of the responses over a downlink control channel.
16. An apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the random access response windows specify a duration for a user equipment to monitor a physical downlink control channel.
17. An apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each random access response window is defined using a begin window parameter and an end window parameter, and the begin window parameter is variably offset.
18. An apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each random access response window is defined using a begin window parameter and an end window parameter, and the begin window parameter is offset by a fixed time interval after the end of the transmission of the respective random access preamble.
19. An apparatus of claim 13 , wherein each random access response window is defined using a begin window parameter and an end window parameter, and the begin window parameter is offset at least in part an index corresponding to the respective random access channel.
20. An apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the offset produces non-overlapping random access response windows.