Technique for Performing a Random Access Procedure Over a Radio Interface

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for performing a random access procedure over a radio interface such as, for example, between a mobile terminal and a radio base station of a mobile network. For example, a method includes the steps of transmitting a synchronization request for synchronization information; receiving synchronization information in response to the synchronization request; and transmitting, based on at least one transmission parameter adjusted in accordance with the synchronization information, a resource request for data transmission resources.

1 . A method of performing a random access procedure over a radio interface, the method comprising the following steps:
 transmitting a synchronization request for synchronization information; receiving synchronization information in response to the synchronization request; and   transmitting, based on at least one transmission parameter adjusted in accordance with the synchronization information, a resource request for data transmission resources, and,   using a timer mechanism providing an indication related to the validity of the at least one transmission parameter used by the mobile terminal to keep the mobile terminal in synchronization.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising the further steps of
 receiving resource information in response to the resource request; and   transmitting data using resources in accordance with the resource information.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , comprising the step of transmitting, in case further data is to be transmitted, at least one further resource request. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , comprising the step of starting a synchronization timer in response to at least one of the reception of synchronization information and the transmission of data. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the synchronization timer is set according to predicted validity of the synchronization information. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein the synchronization timer is set according to a measured velocity of the mobile terminal. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 4 , wherein a further synchronization request is transmitted on expiry of the synchronization timer. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  comprising the further step of transmitting at least one ping signal for maintaining synchronization. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the ping signal comprises signaling data. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the ping signal is transmitted on expiry of the synchronization timer. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the ping signal is transmitted in response to a polling request received over the radio interface. 
     
     
         12 . A method of performing a random access procedure over a radio interface, the method comprising the following steps in a radio base station:
 receiving a synchronization request for synchronization information; transmitting, based on the synchronization request, the synchronization information; and   receiving, based on at least one transmission parameter adjusted according to the synchronization information, a resource request for data transmission resources; and,   using a timer mechanism providing an indication related to the validity of the at least one transmission parameter used by the mobile terminal to keep the mobile terminal in synchronization.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising the further steps of
 transmitting resource information in response to the resource request; and   scheduling resources according to the resource information.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising the step of receiving at least one further resource request. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , comprising the step of starting a synchronization timer in response to at least one of the reception of the synchronization request, the reception of the resource request and the reception of data. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , comprising the step of transmitting, on expiry of the synchronization timer, a request for a ping signal. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product comprising program code portions for performing the steps of  claim 1  when the computer program product is executed on one or more computing devices. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 17 , stored on a computer readable recording medium. 
     
     
         19 . A mobile terminal adapted for performing a random access procedure over a radio interface, the mobile terminal comprising:
 a sync-request component adapted for transmitting a synchronization request for synchronization information;   a sync-response component adapted for receiving synchronization information in response to the synchronization request; and a transmission control component adapted for transmitting, based on at least one transmission parameter adjusted according to the synchronization information, a resource request for data transmission resources, and,   a timer component adapted to provide an indication related to the validity of the at least one transmission parameter used by the mobile terminal to keep the mobile terminal in synchronization.   
     
     
         20 . A radio base station adapted for performing a random access procedure over a radio interface, the base station comprising:
 a sync-request component adapted for receiving a synchronization request for synchronization information;   a sync-response component adapted for transmitting, based on the synchronization request, the synchronization information; and a resource scheduling component adapted for receiving, based on at least one transmission parameter adjusted according to the synchronization information, a resource request for data transmission resources, and   a timer component adapted to provide an indication related to the validity of the at least one transmission parameter used by the mobile terminal to keep the mobile terminal in synchronization.