IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,471,147
Granted Patent B2
US 12,471,147 · App. 17/517,526 · Granted Nov 11, 2025

Method and apparatus for acquiring and maintaining synchronization in communication systems

Inventors: Yong Sun Kim (Daejeon, KR); Kap Seok Chang (Daejeon, KR); Young Jo Ko (Daejeon, KR)
Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
H04W74/0833
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,471,147
App. No.
17/517,526
Granted
Nov 11, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

An operation method of a terminal in a communication system may comprise: receiving, from a first base station, information on preambles for random access; transmitting, to the first base station, a first message including a preamble selected based on the information on the preambles; receiving, from the first base station, a second message that is a response signal for the first message; transmitting, to the first base station, a third message requesting a preemptive use of the selected preamble during a first preemptive use period; and receiving, from the first base station, a fourth message allowing the preemptive use of the selected preamble during the first preemptive use period, and performing a random access procedure by using the selected preamble during the first preemptive use period.

Claims (39)

1 . An operation method of a terminal in a communication system, the operation method comprising:

receiving, from a first base station, information on preambles for random access;

transmitting, to the first base station, a first message including a preamble selected based on the information on the preambles;

receiving, from the first base station, a second message that is a response signal for the first message;

transmitting, to the first base station, a third message requesting a preemptive use of the selected preamble during a first preemptive use period; and

receiving, from the first base station, a fourth message allowing the preemptive use of the selected preamble during the first preemptive use period, and performing a random access procedure by using the selected preamble during the first preemptive use period.

2 . The operation method according to claim 1 , further comprising, when the first base station does not allow the preemptive use during the first preemptive use period, receiving a fifth message allowing the preemptive use of the selected preamble during a second preemptive use period, and performing a random-access procedure by using the selected preamble during the second preemptive use period.

3 . The operation method according to claim 1 , further comprising, when the first base station does not allow the preemptive use of the selected preamble, receiving a fifth message allowing a preemptive use of an alternative preamble during the first preemption use period, and performing a random access procedure by using the alternative preamble during the first preemptive use period.

4 . The operation method according to claim 1 , further comprising, when the first base station does not allow the preemptive use of the selected preamble during the first preemptive use period, receiving a fifth message allowing a preemptive use of an alternative preamble during a second preemptive use period, and performing a random access procedure by using the alternative preamble during the second preemptive use period.

5 . The operation method according to claim 1 , wherein the first message and the third message are combined and transmitted to the first base station as a message A, and the second message and the fourth message are combined and received from the first base station as a message B.

6 . The operation method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

starting a procedure for handover to a second base station;

receiving a sixth message allowing a preemptive use of the selected preamble from the second base station; and

performing a random access procedure with the second base station by using the selected preamble.

7 . The operation method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

starting a procedure for handover to a second base station;

receiving a sixth message allowing a preemptive use of an alternative preamble other than the selected preamble from the second base station; and

performing a random access procedure with the second base station by using the alternative preamble.

8 . The operation method according to claim 1 , wherein the information on the preambles includes masked preamble index(es) indicating preamble(s) that are not allowed to be used, and the selected preamble is selected from preambles excluding the preamble(s) indicated by the masked preamble index(es).

9 . The operation method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether to return to a cooperative work in a radio resource control (RRC) connected-inactive state;

in response to determining to return to the collaborative work, transitioning to an RRC connected state; and

acquiring inter-terminal clock synchronization by transmitting the selected preamble to the first base station.

10 . An operation method of a first base station in a communication system, the operation method comprising:

transmitting, to a terminal, information on preambles for random access;

receiving, from the terminal, a first message including a preamble selected based on the information on the preambles;

transmitting, to the terminal, a second message that is a response signal for the first message;

receiving, from the terminal, a third message requesting a preemptive use of the selected preamble during a first preemptive use period; and

transmitting, to the terminal, a fourth message allowing the preemptive use of the selected preamble during the first preemptive use period.

11 . The operation method according to claim 10 , further comprising, when the first base station does not allow the preemptive use during the first preemptive use period, transmitting, to the terminal, a fifth message allowing the preemptive use of the selected preamble during a second preemptive use period.

12 . The operation method according to claim 10 , further comprising, when the first base station does not allow the preemptive use of the selected preamble, transmitting, to the terminal, a fifth message allowing a preemptive use of an alternative preamble during the first preemption use period.

13 . The operation method according to claim 10 , further comprising, when the first base station does not allow the preemptive use of the selected preamble during the first preemptive use period, transmitting, to the terminal, a fifth message allowing a preemptive use of an alternative preamble during a second preemptive use period.

14 . The operation method according to claim 10 , wherein the first message and the third message are combined and received from the terminal as a message A, and the second message and the fourth message are combined and transmitted to the terminal as a message B.

15 . The operation method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

starting a procedure for handover of the terminal to a second base station; and

transmitting information on the selected preamble to the second base station.

16 . The operation method according to claim 10 , further comprising:

setting an index of the selected preamble as a masked preamble index; and

generating a system information block 2 (SIB2) including the set masked preamble index and transmitting the generated SIB2 to other terminals.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 2, 2021
From: KIM, YONG SUN; CHANG, KAP SEOK; KO, YOUNG JO
To: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Reel/Frame 057999/0623 →
Priority Claims (3)
KR 10-2020-0148129 · Nov 6, 2020 · national
KR 10-2021-0094452 · Jul 19, 2021 · national
KR 10-2021-0131011 · Oct 1, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220150974A1 · May 12, 2022
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