Apparatus and method for use in a communication system

Abstract

Apparatuses and method for communication includes controlling one or more local area base stations and allocating resources of a common random access channel between the local area base stations, the resources including preambles and informing the local area base stations and user equipment within a given area about the allocation.

1 . An apparatus for use in a communication system, the apparatus comprising circuitry configured to:
 control a plurality of nodes; and   allocate resources of a random access channel between the nodes;   wherein the random access channel occurs at successive time instants, the random access channel comprises a plurality of occasions in time, and the random access channel resources comprise a plurality of preambles at each occasion in time;   wherein one occasion in time of the plurality of occasions in time is allocated differently at a first time instant than the one occasion in time is allocated a second time instant.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a first subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the first time instant are allocated to a first node, and a second subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the second time instant are allocated to a second node. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first subset comprises all of the preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the first time instant, and the second subset comprises all of the preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the second time instant. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein a third subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the first time instant are allocated to a third node, and a fourth subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the second time instant are allocated to a fourth node. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a first subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the first time instant are contention based preambles allocated to a first node, and a second subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the first time instant are contention free preambles allocated to the first node. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein a third subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the first time instant are contention based preambles allocated to a second node, and a fourth subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the first time instant are contention free preambles allocated to the second node. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein indices of the second subset are subsequent to indices of the first subset, indices of the third subset are subsequent to indices of the second subset, and indices of the fourth subset are subsequent to indices of the third subset. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein indices of the third subset are subsequent to indices of the first subset, indices of the second subset are subsequent to indices of the third subset, and indices of the fourth subset are subsequent to indices of the second subset. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the one occasion in time comprises a legacy contention free preamble space comprising indices of the first subset, the second subset, the third subset and the fourth subset of preambles. 
     
     
         10 . A method for use in a communication system, comprising:
 controlling a plurality of nodes; and   allocating resources of a random access channel between the nodes;   wherein the random access channel occurs at successive time instants, the random access channel comprises a plurality of occasions in time, and the random access channel resources comprise a plurality of preambles at each occasion in time;   wherein one occasion in time of the plurality of occasions in time is allocated differently at a first time instant than the one occasion in time is allocated a second time instant.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a first subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the first time instant are allocated to a first node, and a second subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the second time instant are allocated to a second node. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first subset comprises all of the preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the first time instant, and the second subset comprises all of the preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the second time instant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a third subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the first time instant are allocated to a third node, and a fourth subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the second time instant are allocated to a fourth node. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a first subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the first time instant are contention based preambles allocated to a first node, and a second subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the first time instant are contention free preambles allocated to the first node. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein a third subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the first time instant are contention based preambles allocated to a second node, and a fourth subset of preambles associated with the one occasion in time at the first time instant are contention free preambles allocated to the second node. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein indices of the second subset are subsequent to indices of the first subset, indices of the third subset are subsequent to indices of the second subset, and indices of the fourth subset are subsequent to indices of the third subset. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein indices of the third subset are subsequent to indices of the first subset, indices of the second subset are subsequent to indices of the third subset, and indices of the fourth subset are subsequent to indices of the second subset. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the one occasion in time comprises a legacy contention free preamble space comprising indices of the first subset, the second subset, the third subset and the fourth subset of preambles. 
     
     
         19 . A node comprising circuitry configured to:
 receive information regarding resources allocated to the node, the resources comprising resources of a common random access channel, wherein the common random access channel occurs at sequential time instants, the common random access channel is divided into a plurality of occasions in time, and at least one of the plurality of occasions in time is allocated differently at different time instants, and wherein the resources allocated to the node are preambles associated with one occasion in time of the at least one of the plurality of occasions in time; and assign the resources allocated to the node.   
     
     
         20 . The node of  claim 19 , wherein the one occasion in time at a first time instant is allocated to a first base station group comprising the node, and the one occasion in time at a second time instant is allocated to a second base station group.