Subchannels for a wireless slotted communication system

Abstract

Subchannels are defined for a wireless slotted communication system. A series of radio frames are provided. Each radio frame in the series is associated with a system frame number (SFN). A time slot is assigned in the radio frames for the subchannels. Each subchannel is associated with specified ones of the SFNs.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of defining subchannels for a wireless slotted communication system, the method comprising: 
 providing a series of radio frames, each radio frame in the series associated with a system frame number (SFN);    assigning a time slot in the radio frames for the subchannels; and    associating each subchannel with specified ones of the SFNs.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the associating each subchannel with specified ones of the SFNs is by a modulo counting of the SFNs.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a number of the subchannels is N and N has a value of either 1, 2, 4 or 8.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein an i th  subchannel is associated with a SFN by i=SFN mod N.  
     
     
         5 . A user equipment comprising: 
 a transmitter for sending communications over a physical random access channel (PRACH), the PRACH having subchannels, the subchannels assigned to a time slot and each subchannel associated with specified ones of system frame numbers (SFNs) of a series of radio frames.    
     
     
         6 . The user equipment of  claim 5  wherein the associating each subchannel with specified ones of the SFNs is by a modulo counting of the SFNs.  
     
     
         7 . The user equipment of  claim 5  wherein a number of the subchannels is N and N has a value of either1, 2, 4 or 8.  
     
     
         8 . The user equipment of  claim 7  wherein an i th  subchannel is associated with a SFN by i=SFN mod N.  
     
     
         9 . A Node-B comprising: 
 a receiver for receiving communications over a physical random access channel (PRACH), the PRACH having subchannels, the subchannels assigned to a time slot and each subchannel associated with specified ones of system frame numbers (SFNs) of a series of radio frames.    
     
     
         10 . The Node-B of  claim 9  wherein the associating each subchannel with specified ones of the SFNs is by a modulo counting of the SFNs.  
     
     
         11 . The Node-B of  claim 9  wherein a number of the subchannels is N and N has a value of either 1, 2, 4 or 8.  
     
     
         12 . The Node-B of  claim 11  wherein an i th  subchannel is associated with a SFN by i=SFN mod N.