IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,501,489
Granted Patent B2
US 12,501,489 · App. 18/318,631 · Granted Dec 16, 2025

RACH optimization for NB-IoT NTN GSO

Inventors: Srikanth Menon (Bangalore, IN); Raghuveer Ramakrishna Srinivas Tarimala (Hyderabad, IN)
Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
H04W74/0833H04B7/18513
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,501,489
App. No.
18/318,631
Granted
Dec 16, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

This disclosure provides methods, components, devices and systems for optimized RACH procedures in NTNs including NB-IoT. A UE performs in an NTN one or more of a first or second procedure in an idle mode, or a third procedure in a connected mode. In the first procedure, the UE considers a number of RAPIDs in msg2, and if the number meets a threshold, the UE applies a backoff to delay sending msg1. In the second procedure, if the UE fails to decode msg2 or msg4 after transmitting msg1, the UE applies a backoff before performing subsequent RACH. In the third procedure, following a failure to receive an uplink grant when monitoring a USS and after transmitting msg1 for a SR, the UE continues monitoring the USS for the grant until the start of a RAR window. If the uplink grant is received during this time, the UE cancels msg2 monitoring.

Claims (117)

1 . A method for wireless communication performable at a user equipment (UE), comprising:

performing, in a non-terrestrial network (NTN),

a first procedure in an idle mode, the first procedure comprising:

receiving a first random access response (RAR); and

transmitting a first random access channel (RACH) preamble after a first backoff duration in response to the first RAR including one or more random access preamble identifiers (RAPIDs) meeting or exceeding a threshold quantity of RAPIDs, wherein the RAPIDs included in the first RAR are associated with one or more other UEs.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving the first RAR comprises:

monitoring for the first RAR while the UE is in the idle mode using a random access radio network temporary identifier (RA-RNTI) associated with a RACH preamble of another UE.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first RAR is received in a narrowband physical downlink shared channel (NPDSCH).

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first backoff duration for the first RACH preamble is different than a backoff duration indicated in the first RAR.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing, in the NTN, a second procedure in the idle mode, the second procedure comprising:

transmitting a second RACH preamble; and

transmitting another RACH preamble after a second backoff duration in response to:

a failure to decode a second RAR responsive to transmission of the second RACH preamble, or

a failure to decode a contention resolution message following reception of the second RAR.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the second RACH preamble is transmitted in a narrowband physical RACH (NPRACH).

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the second backoff duration is between consecutive physical RACH (PRACH) transmissions.

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the second backoff duration is randomized.

9 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the second procedure is performed before or after the first procedure.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

performing, in the NTN, a third procedure in a connected mode, the third procedure comprising:

monitoring a user-specific search space (USS) for an uplink grant during a monitoring period;

transmitting a third RACH preamble in response to a failure to receive the uplink grant during the monitoring period; and

continuing to monitor the USS for the uplink grant after transmitting the third RACH preamble until a start time of a RAR window for a third RAR responsive to the third RACH preamble.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the third RACH preamble is transmitted in a narrowband physical RACH (NPRACH).

12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the third RACH preamble is associated with a scheduling request (SR).

13 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving the uplink grant in the USS using a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) associated with the UE; and

refraining from monitoring for the third RAR in response to receiving the uplink grant.

14 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

performing, in the NTN, a second procedure in the idle mode, the second procedure comprising:

transmitting a second RACH preamble; and

transmitting another RACH preamble after a second backoff duration in response to:

a failure to decode a second RAR responsive to transmission of the second RACH preamble, or

a failure to decode a contention resolution message following reception of the second RAR;

wherein the third procedure is performed:

before or after the first procedure;

before or after the second procedure;

before the first procedure and the second procedure; or

after the first procedure and the second procedure.

15 . An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one memory; and

one or more processors communicatively coupled with the at least one memory, the one or more processors operable to cause the apparatus to:

perform, in a non-terrestrial network (NTN),

a first procedure in an idle mode, the one or more processors being operable to cause the apparatus to, in the first procedure:

receive a first random access response (RAR); and

transmit a first random access channel (RACH) preamble after a first backoff duration in response to the first RAR including one or more random access preamble identifiers (RAPIDs) meeting or exceeding a threshold quantity of RAPIDs, wherein the apparatus is a user equipment (UE), and the RAPIDs included in the first RAR are associated with one or more other UEs.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein to receive the first RAR, the one or more processors are operable to cause the apparatus to:

monitor for the first RAR while the apparatus is in the idle mode using a random access radio network temporary identifier (RA-RNTI) associated with a RACH preamble of another apparatus.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to cause the apparatus to:

perform, in the NTN, a second procedure in the idle mode, the one or more processors being operable to cause the apparatus to, in the second procedure:

transmit a second RACH preamble; and

transmit another RACH preamble after a second backoff duration in response to:

a failure to decode a second RAR responsive to transmission of the second RACH preamble, or

a failure to decode a contention resolution message following reception of the second RAR.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are operable to cause the apparatus to perform the second procedure before or after the first procedure.

19 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to cause the apparatus to:

perform, in the NTN, a third procedure in a connected mode, the one or more processors being operable to cause the apparatus to, in the third procedure:

monitor a user-specific search space (USS) for an uplink grant during a monitoring period;

transmit a third RACH preamble in response to a failure to receive the uplink grant during the monitoring period; and

continue to monitor the USS for the uplink grant after transmitting the third RACH preamble until a start time of a RAR window for a third RAR responsive to the third RACH preamble.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to cause the apparatus to;

receive the uplink grant in the USS using a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) associated with the apparatus; and

refrain from monitoring for the third RAR in response to receiving the uplink grant.

21 . The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the one or more processors are further operable to cause the apparatus to:

perform, in the NTN, a second procedure in the idle mode, the one or more processors being operable to cause the apparatus to, in the second procedure:

transmit a second RACH preamble; and

transmit another RACH preamble after a second backoff duration in response to:

a failure to decode a second RAR responsive to transmission of the second RACH preamble, or

a failure to decode a contention resolution message following reception of the second RAR;

wherein the one or more processors are operable to cause the apparatus to perform the third procedure:

before or after the first procedure;

before or after the second procedure;

before the first procedure and the second procedure; or

after the first procedure and the second procedure.

22 . An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for performing, in a non-terrestrial network (NTN),

a first procedure in an idle mode, the means for performing being configured to, in the first procedure:

receive a first random access response (RAR); and

transmit a first random access channel (RACH) preamble after a first backoff duration in response to the first RAR including one or more random access preamble identifiers (RAPIDs) meeting or exceeding a threshold quantity of RAPIDs, wherein the apparatus is a user equipment (UE), and the RAPIDs included in the first RAR are associated with one or more other UEs.

23 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the means for performing is configured to perform the first procedure, and to receive the first RAR, the means for performing is further configured to:

monitor for the first RAR while the apparatus is in the idle mode using a random access radio network temporary identifier (RA-RNTI) associated with a RACH preamble of another apparatus.

24 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the means for performing is further configured to:

perform, in the NTN, a second procedure in the idle mode, the means for performing being configured to, in the second procedure:

transmit a second RACH preamble; and

transmit another RACH preamble after a second backoff duration in response to:

a failure to decode a second RAR responsive to transmission of the second RACH preamble, or

a failure to decode a contention resolution message following reception of the second RAR;

wherein the means for performing is configured to perform the second procedure before or after the first procedure.

25 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the means for performing is further configured to:

perform, in the NTN, a third procedure in a connected mode, the means for performing being configured to, in the third procedure:

monitor a user-specific search space (USS) for an uplink grant during a monitoring period;

transmit a third RACH preamble in response to a failure to receive the uplink grant during the monitoring period; and

continue to monitor the USS for the uplink grant after transmitting the third RACH preamble until a start time of a RAR window for a third RAR responsive to the third RACH preamble;

wherein the means for performing is further configured to:

receive the uplink grant in the USS using a cell radio network temporary identifier (C-RNTI) associated with the apparatus; and

refrain from monitoring for the third RAR in response to receiving the uplink grant.

26 . The apparatus of claim 22 , wherein the means for performing is further configured to:

perform, in the NTN, a second procedure in the idle mode, the means for performing being configured to, in the second procedure:

transmit a second RACH preamble; and

transmit another RACH preamble after a second backoff duration in response to:

a failure to decode a second RAR responsive to transmission of the second RACH preamble, or

a failure to decode a contention resolution message following reception of the second RAR; and

perform, in the NTN, a third procedure in a connected mode, the means for performing being configured to, in the third procedure:

monitor a user-specific search space (USS) for an uplink grant during a monitoring period;

transmit a third RACH preamble in response to a failure to receive the uplink grant during the monitoring period; and

continue to monitor the USS for the uplink grant after transmitting the third RACH preamble until a start time of a RAR window for a third RAR responsive to the third RACH preamble;

wherein the means for performing is configured to perform the third procedure:

before or after the first procedure;

before or after the second procedure;

before the first procedure and the second procedure; or

after the first procedure and the second procedure.

27 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising computer executable code, the code when executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to:

perform, in a non-terrestrial network (NTN),

a first procedure in an idle mode, the code when executed by the one or more processors causes the one or more processors to, in the first procedure:

receive a first random access response (RAR); and

transmit a first random access channel (RACH) preamble after a first backoff duration in response to the first RAR including one or more random access preamble identifiers (RAPIDs) meeting or exceeding a threshold quantity of RAPIDs, wherein the one or more processors are of a user equipment (UE), and the RAPIDs included in the first RAR are associated with one or more other UEs.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 15, 2023
From: MENON, SRIKANTH; TARIMALA, RAGHUVEER RAMAKRISHNA SRINIVAS
To: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED
Reel/Frame 063967/0385 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240389154A1 · Nov 21, 2024
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