Method and apparatus for a smart random access procedure in a telecommunication network

Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure provide for a method and an apparatus for wireless communications using an intelligent Random Access Channel (RACH) procedure that may increase the probability of obtaining an available E-DCH resource quickly in a Universal Mobile Telecommunication System.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of operating an apparatus in a wireless communications network, comprising:
 creating a database comprising a plurality of resource indexes and corresponding preamble signature sequences and probabilities of being usable, the resource indexes initially marked as usable and corresponding to a plurality of uplink transport channel resources; 
 selecting a first index of the resource indexes; 
 selecting a first preamble signature sequence of the preamble signature sequences corresponding to the first index; 
 initiating a random access channel (RACH) procedure by transmitting a preamble utilizing the first preamble signature sequence; 
 marking the first index with a lower probability of being usable for a subsequent RACH procedure in connection with receiving a negative acknowledgement for the preamble; 
 selecting a second index of the resource indexes having a probability higher than that of the first index; 
 if no acknowledgement is received from the wireless communications network for the preamble, marking the first index as unusable in the database: 
 selecting a second preamble signature sequence of the preamble signature sequences corresponding to the second index; and 
 transmitting a preamble utilizing the second preamble signature sequence. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the uplink transport channel resources comprise a plurality of Enhanced Dedicated Channel (E-DCH) resources. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 if the database comprises at least one index marked as usable among the resource indexes, selecting a third index of the at least one usable index; 
 selecting a third preamble signature sequence of the preamble signature sequences corresponding to the third index; and 
 transmitting a preamble utilizing the third preamble signature sequence. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 if the database comprises no index marked as usable among the resource indexes, marking all of the resource indexes as usable. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a negative acknowledgement for the preamble; 
 and 
 performing a backoff procedure of the RACH procedure. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the selecting the first index comprises randomly selecting an index marked as usable from among the resource indexes. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:
 means for creating a database comprising a plurality of resource indexes and corresponding preamble signature sequences and probabilities of being usable, the resource indexes initially marked as usable and corresponding to a plurality of uplink transport channel resources; 
 means for selecting a first index of the resource indexes; 
 means for selecting a first preamble signature sequence of the preamble signature sequences corresponding to the first index; 
 means for initiating a random access channel (RACH) procedure by transmitting a preamble utilizing the first preamble signature sequence; 
 means for marking the first index with a lower probability of being usable for a subsequent RACH procedure in connection with receiving a negative acknowledgement for the preamble; 
 means for selecting a second index of the resource indexes having a probability higher than that of the first index; 
 means for if no acknowledgement is received for the preamble, marking the first index as unusable in the database; 
 means for selecting a second preamble signature sequence of the preamble signature sequences corresponding to the second index; and 
 means for transmitting a preamble utilizing the second preamble signature sequence. 
 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the uplink transport channel resources comprise a plurality of Enhanced Dedicated Channel (E-DCH) resources. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 if the database comprises at least one index marked as usable among the resource indexes, means for selecting a third index of the at least one usable index; 
 means for selecting a third preamble signature sequence of the preamble signature sequences corresponding to the third index; and 
 means for transmitting a preamble utilizing the third preamble signature sequence. 
 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 if the database comprises no index marked as usable among the resource indexes, means for marking all of the resource indexes as usable. 
 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 means for receiving a negative acknowledgement for the preamble; 
 and 
 means for performing a backoff procedure of the RACH procedure. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the selecting the first index comprises means for randomly selecting an index marked as usable from among the resource indexes. 
     
     
       13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising:
 code for causing a user equipment (UE) to: 
 create a database comprising a plurality of resource indexes and corresponding preamble signature sequences and probabilities of being usable, the resource indexes initially marked as usable and corresponding to a plurality of uplink transport channel resources; 
 select a first index of the resource indexes; 
 select a first preamble signature sequence of the preamble signature sequences corresponding to the first index; 
 initiate a random access channel (RACH) procedure by transmitting a preamble utilizing the first preamble signature sequence; 
 mark the first index with a lower probability of being usable for a subsequent RACH procedure in connection with receiving a negative acknowledgement for the preamble; 
 select a second index of the resource indexes having a probability higher than that of the first index; 
 if no acknowledgement is received for the preamble, mark the first index as unusable in the database; 
 select a second preamble signature sequence of the preamble signature sequences corresponding to the second index; and 
 transmit a preamble utilizing the second preamble signature sequence. 
 
     
     
       14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , wherein the uplink transport channel resources comprise a plurality of Enhanced Dedicated Channel (E-DCH) resources. 
     
     
       15. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , further comprising code for causing the UE to:
 if the database comprises at least one index marked as usable among the resource indexes, select a third index of the at least one usable index; 
 select a third preamble signature sequence of the preamble signature sequences corresponding to the third index; and 
 transmit a preamble utilizing the third preamble signature sequence. 
 
     
     
       16. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , further comprising code for causing the UE to:
 if the database comprises no index marked as usable among the resource indexes, mark all of the resource indexes as usable. 
 
     
     
       17. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , further comprising code for causing the UE to:
 receive a negative acknowledgement for the preamble; 
 and 
 perform a backoff procedure of the RACH procedure. 
 
     
     
       18. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of  claim 13 , further comprising code for causing the UE to:
 randomly select an index marked as usable from among the resource indexes. 
 
     
     
       19. An apparatus for a wireless communications network, comprising:
 at least one processor; 
 a communication interface coupled to the at least one processor; and 
 a memory coupled to the at least one processor, 
 wherein the at least one processor is configured to: 
 create a database comprising a plurality of resource indexes and corresponding preamble signature sequences and probabilities of being usable, the resource indexes initially marked as usable and corresponding to a plurality of uplink transport channel resources; 
 select a first index of the resource indexes; 
 select a first preamble signature sequence of the preamble signature sequences corresponding to the first index; 
 initiate a random access channel (RACH) procedure by transmitting a preamble utilizing the first preamble signature sequence; 
 mark the first index with a lower probability of being usable for a subsequent RACH procedure in connection with receiving a negative acknowledgement for the preamble; 
 select a second index of the resource indexes having a probability higher than that of the first index; 
 if no acknowledgement is received from the wireless communications network for the preamble, mark the first index as unusable in the database; 
 select a second preamble signature sequence of the preamble signature sequences corresponding to the second index; and 
 transmit a preamble utilizing the second preamble signature sequence. 
 
     
     
       20. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the uplink transport channel resources comprise a plurality of Enhanced Dedicated Channel (E-DCH) resources. 
     
     
       21. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 if the database comprises at least one index marked as usable among the resource indexes, select a third index of the at least one usable index; 
 select a third preamble signature sequence of the preamble signature sequences corresponding to the third index; and 
 transmit a preamble utilizing the third preamble signature sequence. 
 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 if the database comprises no index marked as usable among the resource indexes, mark all of the resource indexes as usable. 
 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 receive a negative acknowledgement for the preamble; 
 and 
 perform a backoff procedure of the RACH procedure. 
 
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 19 , wherein for selecting the first index, the at least one processor is further configured to randomly select an index marked as usable from among the resource indexes.