Random access channel hopping for frequency division multiplexing access systems

1. A method of coordinating resources for repetition of random access bursts performed by a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

determining, by the mobile terminal, groups of access slots based on parameters from a network, wherein the access slots are organized according to a frequency pattern and each access slot is defined by at least frequency, time or code;

transmitting, by the mobile terminal, an access burst on an access slot of a chosen group of the groups of access slots; and

re-transmitting, by the mobile terminal, the access burst on a next access slot of the chosen group,

wherein the groups of access slots comprise:

a first group of access slots corresponding to a first path loss greater than or equal to a first threshold value;

a second group of access slots corresponding to a second path loss less than the first threshold value and greater than a second threshold value; and

a third group of access slots corresponding to a third path loss less than the second threshold value; and

wherein the first path loss, the second path loss and the third path loss represent a signal attenuation between the mobile terminal and the network.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the re-transmitting is performed when a negative acknowledgement is received or when no response is received from the network.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frequency pattern is static or dynamic.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frequency pattern is based on a Random Access Channel (RACH) Allocation Index Offset.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining is based on dedicated signaling, broadcast signaling or multicast signaling.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one access slot of the first group or the second group is in a single sub-frame.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein an access slot of the first group and an access slot of the second group are in a same sub-frame.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein one or more sub-frames subsequent to the single sub-frame contain scheduled data transmission information.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the access burst comprises:

transmitting to the network, on a contention based channel, a preamble and a message payload containing information on uplink resources needed, priority, a reason for random access, and a random identifier (ID) to assist in resolution of contention;

receiving, from the network, scheduled resources comprising necessary timing advance information to be used on an uplink transmission, a requested scheduling grant, and other required information; and

transmitting third layer (L3) messages, Medium Access Control (MAC) data or control protocol data units (PDUs) using the scheduled resources.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the access burst comprises:

transmitting to the network, on a contention based channel, only a preamble;

receiving signalling resources allocated from the network;

sending a scheduling grant on the signaling resources to allow the network to adjust resource allocation depending on needs of the mobile terminal for message payload part transmission;

receiving, from the network, scheduled resources comprising necessary timing advance information to be used on an uplink transmission, a requested scheduling grant, and other required information; and

transmitting third layer (L3) messages, Medium Access Control (MAC) data or control protocol data units (PDUs) using the scheduled resources.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the access burst comprises:

transmitting to the network, on a specific resource reserved for a Random Access Channel (RACH) procedure, a preamble together with a Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identity (C-RNTI), a resource request (RR), and a reason for random access, wherein the C-RNTI and the RR are protected by channel coding; and

receiving an uplink data resource allocation from the network.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the C-RNTI and the RR are further protected by additional redundancy.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the access burst comprises:

transmitting, to the network, a preamble on a specific resource reserved for a Random Access Channel (RACH) procedure;

receiving a specific resource allocation from the network;

transmitting a resource request (RR), a Cell-Radio Network Temporary Identity (C-RNTI), a reason for random access, and part of a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message using the specific resource allocation; and

receiving an uplink data resource allocation from the network.

14. A method of coordinating resources for repetition of random access bursts performed by a network, the method comprising:

configuring, by the network, parameters for a terminal to determine groups of access slots, wherein the access slots are organized according to a frequency pattern and each access slot is defined by at least frequency, time or code;

using, by the network, the configured parameters to determine when resources should not be allocated for other uplink transmissions; and

transmitting, by the network, the configured parameters to the terminal,

wherein the groups of access slots comprise:

a first group of access slots corresponding to a first path loss greater than or equal to a first threshold value;

a second group of access slots corresponding to a second path loss less than the first threshold value and greater than a second threshold value; and

a third group of access slots corresponding to a third path loss less than the second threshold value; and

wherein the first path loss, the second path loss and the third path loss represent a signal attenuation between the terminal and the network.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving a transmission of an access burst from the terminal on a first access slot.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

receiving a re-transmission of the access burst by the terminal on a next access slot belonging to a same group as the first access slot.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the parameters comprise a Random Access Channel (RACH) Allocation Index Offset.