Channel capacity on collision based channels

Abstract

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless devices (e.g., Internet of Things (IoT) devices) and, more particularly, to improving the capacity of a logical channel such as the Random Access Channel (RACH) to cater to wireless traffic (e.g., IoT traffic). In one embodiment, a wireless device, when deciding to attempt a system access in accordance with the present disclosure, would first select a Training Sequence Code (TSC) based on the device's coverage class and then transmit one or more access request bursts (each including the selected TSC) on a logical channel to a wireless access node.

1 . A wireless device comprising:
 a processor; and,   a memory that stores processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor interfaces with the memory to execute the processor-executable instructions, whereby the wireless device is operable to:
 select a Training Sequence Code (TSC) based on a coverage class of the wireless device; and, 
 transmit one or more access request bursts on a logical channel, wherein each of the one or more access request bursts includes the selected TSC. 
   
     
     
         2 . The wireless device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is operable to perform the transmit operation by:
 transmitting the access request bursts on pre-determined frames that have been allocated based on the coverage class of the wireless device when the wireless device has a coverage class “2”, a coverage class “3”, or a coverage class “4”.   
     
     
         3 . The wireless device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 when the wireless device has a coverage class “1”, the wireless device is operable to transmit one access request burst, wherein the one access request burst includes the TSC selected based on the coverage class “1” of the wireless device; and   when the wireless device has a coverage class other than coverage class “1”, the wireless device is operable to transmit a number, ‘N’, of access request bursts on N pre-determined frames allocated based on the coverage class of the wireless device, wherein the N access request bursts are repetitions, and each of the N access request bursts includes the TSC selected based on the coverage class of the wireless device.   
     
     
         4 . The wireless device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is an Internet of Things (IoT) device. 
     
     
         5 . The wireless device of  claim 1 , wherein the wireless device is an Extended Coverage (EC) Enhanced General Packet Radio Service (EGPRS) wireless device. 
     
     
         6 . The wireless device of  claim 1 , wherein the logical channel is a Random Access Channel (RACH). 
     
     
         7 . A method implemented in a wireless device, the method comprising:
 selecting a Training Sequence Code (TSC) based on a coverage class of the wireless device; and,   transmitting one or more access request bursts on a logical channel, wherein each of the one or more access request bursts includes the selected TSC.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the transmitting step further comprises:
 transmitting the access request bursts on pre-determined frames that have been allocated based on the coverage class of the wireless device when the wireless device has a coverage class “2”, a coverage class “3”, or a coverage class “4”.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein:
 when the wireless device has a coverage class “1”, the wireless device transmits one access request burst, wherein the one access request burst includes the TSC selected based on the coverage class “1” of the wireless device; and   when the wireless device has a coverage class other than coverage class “1”, the wireless device transmits a number, ‘N’, of access request bursts on N pre-determined frames allocated based on the coverage class of the wireless device, wherein the N access request bursts are repetitions, and each of the N access request bursts includes the TSC selected based on the coverage class of the wireless device.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless device is an Internet of Things (IoT) device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the wireless device is an Extended Coverage (EC) Enhanced General Packet Radio Service (EGPRS) wireless device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the logical channel is a Random Access Channel (RACH). 
     
     
         13 . A wireless access node configured to interface with a wireless device, the wireless access node comprising:
 a processor; and,   a memory that stores processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor interfaces with the memory to execute the processor-executable instructions, whereby the wireless access node is operable to:
 receive one or more access request bursts on a logical channel from the wireless device, wherein each of the one or more access request bursts includes a Training Sequence Code (TSC) associated with a coverage class of the wireless device. 
   
     
     
         14 . The wireless access node of  claim 13 , wherein the wireless access node is operable to perform the receive operation by:
 receiving the access request bursts on pre-determined frames that have been allocated based on the coverage class of the wireless device when the wireless device has a coverage class “2”, a coverage class “3”, or a coverage class “4”.   
     
     
         15 . The wireless access node of  claim 13 , wherein:
 when the wireless device has a coverage class “1”, the wireless access node is operable to receive one access request burst, wherein the one access request burst includes the TSC selected based on the coverage class “1” of the wireless device; and   when the wireless device has a coverage class other than coverage class “1”, the wireless access node is operable to receive a number, ‘N’, of access request bursts on N pre-determined frames allocated based on the coverage class of the wireless device, wherein the N access request bursts are repetitions and each of the N access request bursts includes the TSC selected based on the coverage class of the wireless device.   
     
     
         16 . The wireless access node of  claim 15 , wherein the logical channel is a Random Access Channel (RACH). 
     
     
         17 . A method in a wireless access node configured to interface with a wireless device, the method comprising:
 receiving one or more access request bursts on a logical channel from the wireless device, wherein each of the one or more access request bursts includes a Training Sequence Code (TSC) associated with a coverage class of the wireless device.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the receiving step further comprises:
 receiving the access request bursts on pre-determined frames that have been allocated based on the coverage class of the wireless device when the wireless device has a coverage class “2”, a coverage class “3”, or a coverage class “4”.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 when the wireless device has a coverage class “1”, the wireless access node receives one access request burst, wherein the one access request burst includes the TSC selected based on the coverage class “1” of the wireless device; and   when the wireless device has a coverage class other than coverage class “1”, the wireless access node receives a number, ‘N’, of access request bursts on N pre-determined frames allocated based on the coverage class of the wireless device, wherein the N access request bursts are repetitions and each of the N access request bursts includes the TSC selected based on the coverage class of the wireless device.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the logical channel is a Random Access Channel (RACH).