Connection establishment method and apparatus for MTC UE

Abstract

A connection establishment method for a Machine Type Communication (MTC) User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system is provided. A MTC UE receives system information from at least one neighbor Base Station (BS). The system information includes information regarding whether or not the at least one BS supports MTC UE. The MTC UE determines at least one candidate BS based on the system information. The at least one candidate BS supports the MTC UE. The MTC UE determines a last BS based on an intensity of a signal from the at least one candidate BS. The MTC UE sends a random access preamble to the last BS.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A connection establishment method for a Machine Type Communication (MTC) User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, comprising:
 receiving, by a MTC UE, system information from at least one neighbor Base Station (BS) through a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), the system information including information indicating whether or not the at least one BS supports MTC UE; 
 determining, by the MTC UE, at least one candidate BS based on the system information, the at least one candidate BS supporting the MTC UE; 
 determining, by the MTC UE, a suitable BS from the at least one candidate BS, wherein the suitable BS is determined based on the intensity of a downlink signal transmitted from each of the at least one candidate BS; and 
 sending, by the MTC UE, a random access preamble to the suitable BS, 
 wherein the system information includes an MTC subframe pattern index indicative of a subframe in which the random access preamble is transmitted, 
 wherein the random access preamble is an MTC-dedicated preamble transmitted through a physical random access channel (PRACH), 
 wherein the MTC-dedicated preamble is used only for the MTC UE, and 
 wherein the bandwidth of the PRACH is narrower than the bandwidth of the PBCH. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the system information is received in a bandwidth of 20 MHz, and 
 the random access preamble is transmitted in a bandwidth narrower than 20 MHz. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suitable BS is a BS having a strongest intensity of a signal, from among the at least one candidate BS. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the suitable BS is a BS first searched for from among the at least one candidate BS in each of which the intensity of the signal is greater than a predetermined threshold. 
     
     
       5. A Machine Type Communication (MTC) User Equipment (UE) in a wireless communication system, comprising:
 a Radio Frequency (RF) unit configured to transmit and receive radio signals; and 
 a processor connected to the RF unit, the processor is configured to: 
 receive system information from at least one neighbor Base Station (BS) through a physical broadcast channel (PBCH), the system information including information indicating whether or not the at least one BS supports MTC UE; 
 determine at least one candidate BS based on the system information, the at least one candidate BS supporting the MTC UE; 
 determine a suitable BS from the at least one candidate BS, wherein the suitable BS is determined based on the intensity of a downlink signal transmitted from each of the at least one candidate BS; and 
 send a random access preamble to the suitable BS, 
 wherein the system information includes an MTC subframe pattern index indicative of a subframe in which the random access preamble is transmitted, 
 wherein the random access preamble is an MTC-dedicated preamble transmitted through a physical random access channel (PRACH), 
 wherein the MTC-dedicated preamble is used only for the MTC UE, and 
 wherein the bandwidth of the PRACH is narrower than the bandwidth of the PBCH. 
 
     
     
       6. The UE of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the system information is received in a bandwidth of 20 MHz, and 
 the random access preamble is transmitted in a bandwidth narrower than 20 MHz. 
 
     
     
       7. The UE of  claim 5 , wherein the suitable BS is a BS having a strongest intensity of a signal, from among the at least one candidate BS.