Technique for generating and/or managing RNTIs

Abstract

A wireless device is configured to determine a Random Access-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI) for use in a radio network system. The wireless device comprises a first counter configured to be incremented after a pre-defined period of time and to be re-set when having reached a predefined first number, wherein the first counter counts a first count; a second counter configured to be incremented when the first counter reaches the predefined first number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined second number, wherein the second counter counts a second count; and a third counter configured to be incremented when the second counter reaches the predefined second number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined third number, wherein the third counter counts a third count. The wireless device is configured to determine an RA-RNTI at least based on the second count and the third count.

Claims

1. A wireless device configured to determine a Random Access-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI) for use in a radio network system, wherein the wireless device comprises: a first counter configured to be incremented after a pre-defined period of time and to be re-set when having reached a predefined first number, wherein the first counter counts a subframe number; a second counter configured to be incremented when the first counter reaches the predefined first number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined second number, wherein the second counter counts a system frame number (SFN_id); and a third counter configured to be incremented when the second counter reaches the predefined second number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined third number, wherein the third counter counts a hyper frame number, H-SFN; and wherein the wireless device is configured to determine an RA-RNTI based on a mathematical formula that includes both the SFN_id and the H-SFN, wherein the mathematical formula is $\mathrm{RA}-\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{floor}\left(\mathrm{SFN}\_\mathrm{id}/4\right)+256*\mathrm{mod}\left(H-\mathrm{SFN},2\right).$

2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the RA-RNTI identifies at least a time resource for transmission of a random access message by the wireless device.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, configured to determine the RA-RNTI responsive to a decision that a random access is to be performed.

4. The wireless device of claim 1, configured to perform at least one of the following: generating a random access request message in accordance with the RA-RNTI and send the random access request message towards an access network; identifying a random access response message from the access network associated with the RA-RNTI.

5. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is a Narrowband Internet of Things User Equipment (NB-IoT) UE, configured to determine the RA-RNTI for a Time Division Duplex (TDD) mode.

6. A radio network system including the wireless device of claim 1.

7. An access network node configured to determine a Random Access-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI) for use in a radio network system, the access network node comprising: a first counter configured to be incremented after a pre-defined period of time and to be re-set when having reached a predefined first number, wherein the first counter counts a subframe number; a second counter configured to be incremented when the first counter reaches the predefined first number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined second number, wherein the second counter counts a system frame number, SFN_id; a third counter configured to be incremented when the second counter reaches the predefined second number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined third number, wherein the third counter counts a hyper frame number, H-SFN; an interface configured to receive a random access message from a wireless device; and wherein the access network node is configured to determine an RA-RNTI associated with the random access message based on a mathematical formula that includes both the SFN_id and the H-SFN at the time when the random access message was received, wherein the mathematical formula is $\mathrm{RA}-\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{floor}\left(\mathrm{SF}{N}_{-}id/4\right)+256*\mathrm{mod}\left(H-\mathrm{SFN},2\right).$

8. The access network node of claim 7, configured to generate a random access response that includes the RA-RNTI and send the random access response to the wireless device.

9. The access network node of claim 7, configured to manage a first RNTI type comprising a number of designated RA-RNTIs available for use in the radio network system and at least one second RNTI type different from the first type; determine, based on a priori-knowledge, one or more designated RA-RNTIs available but unused in the radio network system; and allocate the one or more unused designated RA-RNTIs to the second RNTI type.

10. The access network node of claim 9, wherein the a priori-knowledge relates to communication opportunities on a transmission channel.

11. The access network node of claim 7, configured to determine the RA-RNTI for a Time Division Duplex (TDD) mode.

12. A radio network system including the access network node of claim 7.

13. A method of determining a Random Access-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI) for use in a radio network system, the method being performed by a wireless device and comprising: operating a first counter configured to be incremented after a pre-defined period of time and to be re-set when having reached a predefined first number, wherein the first counter counts a subframe number; operating a second counter configured to be incremented when the first counter reaches the predefined first number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined second number, wherein the second counter counts a system frame number, SFN_id; and operating a third counter configured to be incremented when the second counter reaches the predefined second number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined third number, wherein the third counter counts a hyper frame number, H-SFN; and determining an RA-RNTI based on a mathematical formula that includes both the SFN_id and the H-SFN, wherein the mathematical formula is $\mathrm{RA}-\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{floor}\left(\mathrm{SF}{N}_{-}id/4\right)+256*\mathrm{mod}\left(H-\mathrm{SFN},2\right).$

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the RA-RNTI identifies at least a time resource for transmission of a random access message by the wireless device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said determining the RA-RNTI is responsive to a decision that a random access is to be performed.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising at least one of the following: generating a random access request message in accordance with the RA-RNTI and send the random access request message towards an access network; and identifying a random access response message from the access network associated with the RA-RNTI.

17. A method of determining a Random Access-Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI) for use in a radio network system, the method being performed by an access network node and comprising: operating a first counter configured to be incremented after a pre-defined period of time and to be re-set when having reached a predefined first number, wherein the first counter counts a subframe number; operating a second counter configured to be incremented when the first counter reaches the predefined first number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined second number, wherein the second counter counts a system frame number, SFN_id; operating a third counter configured to be incremented when the second counter reaches the predefined second number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined third number, wherein the third counter counts a hyper frame number, H-SFN; receiving a random access message from a wireless device; and determining an RA-RNTI associated with the random access message based on a mathematical formula that includes both the SFN_id and the H-SFN at the time when the random access message was received, wherein the mathematical formula is $\mathrm{RA}-\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{floor}\left(\mathrm{SF}{N}_{-}id/4\right)+256*\mathrm{mod}\left(H-\mathrm{SFN},2\right).$

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising: generating a random access response that includes the RA-RNTI; and sending the random access response to the wireless device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising: managing a first RNTI type comprising a number of designated RA-RNTIs available for use in the radio network system and at least one second RNTI type different from the first type; determining, based on a priori-knowledge, one or more designated RA-RNTIs available but unused in the radio network system; and allocating the one or more unused designated RA-RNTIs to the second RNTI type.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the a priori-knowledge relates to communication opportunities on a transmission channel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The drawings illustrate exemplary scenarios of where and how the present disclosure can be implemented. In more detail,

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an NB-IoT Physical Resource Block, PRB, embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a TDD embodiment;

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a system embodiment with wireless device and network node embodiments;

(5) FIGS. 4A, B illustrate wireless device embodiments;

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a method embodiment in regard to a wireless device;

(7) FIGS. 6A, B illustrates network node embodiments;

(8) FIG. 7 illustrates a method embodiment in regard to a network node; and

(9) FIGS. 8A, B illustrate exemplary distributions of RA-RNTI values.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) Some of the embodiments contemplated herein will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments, however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein, and the disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the art.

(11) Although the subject matter described herein may be implemented in any appropriate type of system using any suitable components, the embodiments disclosed herein are described in relation to a wireless network, such as the example wireless network illustrated in FIG. 3. For simplicity, the wireless network of FIG. 3 only depicts network QQ106, network nodes QQ160 and QQ160b, and WDs QQ110, QQ110b, and QQ110c. In practice, a wireless network may further include any additional elements suitable to support communication between wireless devices or between a wireless device and another communication device, such as a landline telephone, a service provider, or any other network node or end device. Of the illustrated components, network node QQ160 and wireless device (WD) QQ110 are depicted with additional detail. The wireless network may provide communication and other types of services to one or more wireless devices to facilitate the wireless devices' access to and/or use of the services provided by, or via, the wireless network.

(12) The wireless network may comprise and/or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, and/or radio network or other similar type of system.

(13) In some embodiments, the wireless network may be configured to operate according to specific standards or other types of predefined rules or procedures. Thus, particular embodiments of the wireless network may implement communication standards, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and/or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G standards including in particular NB-IoT; wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the IEEE 802.11 standards; and/or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave and/or ZigBee standards.

(14) Network QQ106 may comprise one or more backhaul networks, core networks, IP networks, public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), packet data networks, optical networks, wide-area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), wired networks, wireless networks, metropolitan area networks, and other networks to enable communication between devices.

(15) Network node QQ160 and WD QQ110 comprise various components described in more detail below. These components work together in order to provide network node and/or wireless device functionality, such as providing wireless connections in a wireless network. In different embodiments, the wireless network may comprise any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, base stations, controllers, wireless devices, relay stations, and/or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and/or signals whether via wired or wireless connections.

(16) As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a wireless device and/or with other network nodes or equipment in the wireless network to enable and/or provide wireless access to the wireless device and/or to perform other functions (e.g., administration) in the wireless network. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)). Base stations may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and may then also be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units and/or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS). Yet further examples of network nodes include multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, multi-cell/multicast coordination entities (MCEs), core network nodes (e.g., MSCs, MMEs), O&M nodes, OSS nodes, SON nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., E-SMLCs), and/or MDTs.

(17) As another example, a network node may be a virtual network node as described in more detail below. More generally, however, network nodes may represent any suitable device (or group of devices) capable, configured, arranged, and/or operable to enable and/or provide a wireless device with access to the wireless network or to provide some service to a wireless device that has accessed the wireless network.

(18) In FIG. 3, network node QQ160 includes processing circuitry QQ170, device readable medium QQ180, interface QQ190, auxiliary equipment QQ184, power source QQ186, power circuitry QQ187, and antenna QQ162. Although network node QQ160 illustrated in the example wireless network of FIG. 3 may represent a device that includes the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise network nodes with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that a network node comprises any suitable combination of hardware and/or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein. Moreover, while the components of network node QQ160 are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, a network node may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component (e.g., device readable medium QQ180 may comprise multiple separate hard drives as well as multiple RAM modules).

(19) Similarly, network node QQ160 may be composed of multiple physically separate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their own respective components. In certain scenarios in which network node QQ160 comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components), one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeB's. In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in some instances be considered a single separate network node. In some embodiments, network node QQ160 may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate device readable medium QQ180 for the different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., the same antenna QQ162 may be shared by the RATs). Network node QQ160 may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node QQ160, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within network node QQ160.

(20) Processing circuitry QQ170 is configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being provided by a network node. These operations performed by processing circuitry QQ170 may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry QQ170 by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored in the network node, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination.

(21) Processing circuitry QQ170 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node QQ160 components, such as device readable medium QQ180, network node QQ160 functionality. For example, processing circuitry QQ170 may execute instructions stored in device readable medium QQ180 or in memory within processing circuitry QQ170. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features, functions, or benefits discussed herein. In some embodiments, processing circuitry QQ170 may include a system on a chip (SOC).

(22) In some embodiments, processing circuitry QQ170 may include one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry QQ172 and baseband processing circuitry QQ174. In some embodiments, radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry QQ172 and baseband processing circuitry QQ174 may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry QQ172 and baseband processing circuitry QQ174 may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units.

(23) In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being provided by a network node, base station, eNB or other such network device may be performed by processing circuitry QQ170 executing instructions stored on device readable medium QQ180 or memory within processing circuitry QQ170. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry QQ170 without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry QQ170 can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry QQ170 alone or to other components of network node QQ160, but are enjoyed by network node QQ160 as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.

(24) Device readable medium QQ180 may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/or computer-executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry QQ170. Device readable medium QQ180 may store any suitable instructions, data or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry QQ170 and, utilized by network node QQ160. Device readable medium QQ180 may be used to store any calculations made by processing circuitry QQ170 and/or any data received via interface QQ190. In some embodiments, processing circuitry QQ170 and device readable medium QQ180 may be considered to be integrated.

(25) Interface QQ190 is used in the wired or wireless communication of signaling and/or data between network node QQ160, network QQ106, and/or WDs QQ110. As illustrated, interface QQ190 comprises port(s)/terminal(s) QQ194 to send and receive data, for example to and from network QQ106 over a wired connection. Interface QQ190 also includes radio front end circuitry QQ192 that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, antenna QQ162. Radio front end circuitry QQ192 comprises filters QQ198 and amplifiers QQ196. Radio front end circuitry QQ192 may be connected to antenna QQ162 and processing circuitry QQ170. Radio front end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna QQ162 and processing circuitry QQ170. Radio front end circuitry QQ192 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry QQ192 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters QQ198 and/or amplifiers QQ196. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna QQ162. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna QQ162 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry QQ192. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry QQ170. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.

(26) In certain alternative embodiments, network node QQ160 may not include separate radio front end circuitry QQ192, instead, processing circuitry QQ170 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna QQ162 without separate radio front end circuitry QQ192. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of RF transceiver circuitry QQ172 may be considered a part of interface QQ190. In still other embodiments, interface QQ190 may include one or more ports or terminals QQ194, radio front end circuitry QQ192, and RF transceiver circuitry QQ172, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and interface QQ190 may communicate with baseband processing circuitry QQ174, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).

(27) Antenna QQ162 may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals. Antenna QQ162 may be coupled to radio front end circuitry QQ190 and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and/or signals wirelessly. In some embodiments, antenna QQ162 may comprise one or more omni-directional, sector or panel antennas operable to transmit/receive radio signals between, for example, 2 GHz and 66 GHz. An omni-directional antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals in any direction, a sector antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals from devices within a particular area, and a panel antenna may be a line of sight antenna used to transmit/receive radio signals in a relatively straight line. In some instances, the use of more than one antenna may be referred to as MIMO. In certain embodiments, antenna QQ162 may be separate from network node QQ160 and may be connectable to network node QQ160 through an interface or port.

(28) Antenna QQ162, interface QQ190, and/or processing circuitry QQ170 may be configured to perform any receiving operations and/or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment. Similarly, antenna QQ162, interface QQ190, and/or processing circuitry QQ170 may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be transmitted to a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment.

(29) Power circuitry QQ187 may comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry and is configured to supply the components of network node QQ160 with power for performing the functionality described herein. Power circuitry QQ187 may receive power from power source QQ186. Power source QQ186 and/or power circuitry QQ187 may be configured to provide power to the various components of network node QQ160 in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). Power source QQ186 may either be included in, or external to, power circuitry QQ187 and/or network node QQ160. For example, network node QQ160 may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry QQ187. As a further example, power source QQ186 may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry QQ187. The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail. Other types of power sources, such as photovoltaic devices, may also be used.

(30) Alternative embodiments of network node QQ160 may include additional components beyond those shown in FIG. 3 that may be responsible for providing certain aspects of the network node's functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and/or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, network node QQ160 may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into network node QQ160 and to allow output of information from network node QQ160. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for network node QQ160.

(31) As used herein, wireless device (WD) refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and/or other wireless devices. Unless otherwise noted, the term WD may be used interchangeably herein with user equipment (UE). Communicating wirelessly may involve transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying information through air. In some embodiments, a WD may be configured to transmit and/or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a WD may be designed to transmit information to a network on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the network. Examples of a WD include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a cell phone, a voice over IP (VoIP) phone, a wireless local loop phone, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless cameras, a gaming console or device, a music storage device, a playback appliance, a wearable terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, a tablet, a laptop, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mounted equipment (LME), a smart device, a wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE), a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, etc. A WD may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and may in this case be referred to as a D2D communication device.

(32) As yet another specific example, in an Internet of Things (IoT) scenario, a WD may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and/or measurements, and transmits the results of such monitoring and/or measurements to another WD and/or a network node. The WD may in this case be a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one particular example, the WD may be a UE implementing the 3GPP narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT) standard. Particular examples of such machines or devices are sensors, metering devices such as power meters, industrial machinery, or home or personal appliances (e.g. refrigerators, televisions, etc.), personal wearables (e.g., watches, fitness trackers, etc.). In other scenarios, a WD may represent a vehicle or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and/or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation. A WD as described above may represent the endpoint of a wireless connection, in which case the device may be referred to as a wireless terminal. Furthermore, a WD as described above may be mobile, in which case it may also be referred to as a mobile device or a mobile terminal.

(33) As illustrated, wireless device QQ110 includes antenna QQ111, interface QQ114, processing circuitry QQ120, device readable medium QQ130, user interface equipment QQ132, auxiliary equipment QQ134, power source QQ136 and power circuitry QQ137. WD QQ110 may include multiple sets of one or more of the illustrated components for different wireless technologies supported by WD QQ110, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, WiMAX, or Bluetooth wireless technologies, just to mention a few. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chips or set of chips as other components within WD QQ110.

(34) Antenna QQ111 may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals, and is connected to interface QQ114. In certain alternative embodiments, antenna QQ111 may be separate from WD QQ110 and be connectable to WD QQ110 through an interface or port. Antenna QQ111, interface QQ114, and/or processing circuitry QQ120 may be configured to perform any receiving or transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a WD. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a network node and/or another WD. In some embodiments, radio front end circuitry and/or antenna QQ111 may be considered an interface.

(35) As illustrated, interface QQ114 comprises radio front end circuitry QQ112 and antenna QQ111. Radio front end circuitry QQ112 comprise one or more filters QQ118 and amplifiers QQ116. Radio front end circuitry QQ114 is connected to antenna QQ111 and processing circuitry QQ120, and is configured to condition signals communicated between antenna QQ111 and processing circuitry QQ120. Radio front end circuitry QQ112 may be coupled to or a part of antenna QQ111. In some embodiments, WD QQ110 may not include separate radio front end circuitry QQ112; rather, processing circuitry QQ120 may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna QQ111. Similarly, in some embodiments, some or all of RF transceiver circuitry QQ122 may be considered a part of interface QQ114. Radio front end circuitry QQ112 may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry QQ112 may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters QQ118 and/or amplifiers QQ116. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna QQ111. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna QQ111 may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry QQ112. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry QQ120. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.

(36) Processing circuitry QQ120 may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software, and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other WD QQ110 components, such as device readable medium QQ130, WD QQ110 functionality. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features or benefits discussed herein. For example, processing circuitry QQ120 may execute instructions stored in device readable medium QQ130 or in memory within processing circuitry QQ120 to provide the functionality disclosed herein.

(37) As illustrated, processing circuitry QQ120 includes one or more of RF transceiver circuitry QQ122, baseband processing circuitry QQ124, and application processing circuitry QQ126. In other embodiments, the processing circuitry may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components. In certain embodiments processing circuitry QQ120 of WD QQ110 may comprise a SOC. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry QQ122, baseband processing circuitry QQ124, and application processing circuitry QQ126 may be on separate chips or sets of chips. In alternative embodiments, part or all of baseband processing circuitry QQ124 and application processing circuitry QQ126 may be combined into one chip or set of chips, and RF transceiver circuitry QQ122 may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In still alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry QQ122 and baseband processing circuitry QQ124 may be on the same chip or set of chips, and application processing circuitry QQ126 may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In yet other alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry QQ122, baseband processing circuitry QQ124, and application processing circuitry QQ126 may be combined in the same chip or set of chips. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry QQ122 may be a part of interface QQ114. RF transceiver circuitry QQ122 may condition RF signals for processing circuitry QQ120.

(38) In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being performed by a WD may be provided by processing circuitry QQ120 executing instructions stored on device readable medium QQ130, which in certain embodiments may be a computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry QQ120 without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable storage medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry QQ120 can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry QQ120 alone or to other components of WD QQ110, but are enjoyed by WD QQ110 as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.

(39) Processing circuitry QQ120 may be configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being performed by a WD. These operations, as performed by processing circuitry QQ120, may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry QQ120 by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored by WD QQ110, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination.

(40) Device readable medium QQ130 may be operable to store a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry QQ120. Device readable medium QQ130 may include computer memory (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM) or Read Only Memory (ROM)), mass storage media (e.g., a hard disk), removable storage media (e.g., a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/or computer executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry QQ120. In some embodiments, processing circuitry QQ120 and device readable medium QQ130 may be considered to be integrated.

(41) User interface equipment QQ132 may provide components that allow for a human user to interact with WD QQ110. Such interaction may be of many forms, such as visual, audial, tactile, etc. User interface equipment QQ132 may be operable to produce output to the user and to allow the user to provide input to WD QQ110. The type of interaction may vary depending on the type of user interface equipment QQ132 installed in WD QQ110. For example, if WD QQ110 is a smart phone, the interaction may be via a touch screen; if WD QQ110 is a smart meter, the interaction may be through a screen that provides usage (e.g., the number of gallons used) or a speaker that provides an audible alert (e.g., if smoke is detected). User interface equipment QQ132 may include input interfaces, devices and circuits, and output interfaces, devices and circuits. User interface equipment QQ132 is configured to allow input of information into WD QQ110, and is connected to processing circuitry QQ120 to allow processing circuitry QQ120 to process the input information. User interface equipment QQ132 may include, for example, a microphone, a proximity or other sensor, keys/buttons, a touch display, one or more cameras, a USB port, or other input circuitry. User interface equipment QQ132 is also configured to allow output of information from WD QQ110, and to allow processing circuitry QQ120 to output information from WD QQ110. User interface equipment QQ132 may include, for example, a speaker, a display, vibrating circuitry, a USB port, a headphone interface, or other output circuitry. Using one or more input and output interfaces, devices, and circuits, of user interface equipment QQ132, WD QQ110 may communicate with end users and/or the wireless network, and allow them to benefit from the functionality described herein.

(42) Auxiliary equipment QQ134 is operable to provide more specific functionality which may not be generally performed by WDs. This may comprise specialized sensors for doing measurements for various purposes, interfaces for additional types of communication such as wired communications etc. The inclusion and type of components of auxiliary equipment QQ134 may vary depending on the embodiment and/or scenario.

(43) Power source QQ136 may, in some embodiments, be in the form of a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic devices or power cells, may also be used. WD QQ110 may further comprise power circuitry QQ137 for delivering power from power source QQ136 to the various parts of WD QQ110 which need power from power source QQ136 to carry out any functionality described or indicated herein. Power circuitry QQ137 may in certain embodiments comprise power management circuitry. Power circuitry QQ137 may additionally or alternatively be operable to receive power from an external power source; in which case WD QQ110 may be connectable to the external power source (such as an electricity outlet) via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Power circuitry QQ137 may also in certain embodiments be operable to deliver power from an external power source to power source QQ136. This may be, for example, for the charging of power source QQ136. Power circuitry QQ137 may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from power source QQ136 to make the power suitable for the respective components of WD QQ110 to which power is supplied.

(44) Functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networking resources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to a node (e.g., a virtualized base station or a virtualized radio access node) or to a device (e.g., a UE, a wireless device or any other type of communication device) or components thereof and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components (e.g., via one or more applications, components, functions, virtual machines or containers executing on one or more physical processing nodes in one or more networks).

(45) In some embodiments, some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in one or more virtual environments hosted by one or more of hardware nodes. Further, in embodiments in which the virtual node is not a radio access node or does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node), then the network node may be entirely virtualized.

(46) The functions may be implemented by one or more applications (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) operative to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein. Applications are run in virtualization environment which provides hardware comprising processing circuitry and a memory. The memory contains instructions executable by processing circuitry whereby an application is operative to provide one or more of the features, benefits, and/or functions disclosed herein.

(47) Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to as network function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers, and customer premise equipment.

(48) In the following, various examples and embodiments are described that are based on the examples and embodiments described above in the Summary section and may be combined therewith. All the examples and embodiments pertain to RNTIs. RNTIs are identifiers used to differentiate/identify a connected mode UE in the cell, a specific radio channel, a group of UEs in case of paging, a group of UEs for which power control is issued by the access network node, system information transmitted for all the UEs by the access network node, and so on. There are a several RNTI types , such as SI-RNTI, P-RNTI, C-RNTI, Temporary C-RNTI, SPS-CRNTI, TPC-PUCCH-RNTI, TPC-PUSCH-RNTI, RA-RNTI, and M-RNTI.

(49) FIGS. 4A and B show embodiments of a wireless device QQ110 of FIG. 3 and its functional components (that may be realized, at least in part, by the processing circuitry QQ120). The wireless device QQ110 is configured to determine an RA-RNTI for use in a radio network system illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 illustrates the corresponding operations in a method embodiment.

(50) According to the embodiment of FIG. 4A, the wireless device QQ110 comprises a first counter 410 configured to be incremented after a pre-defined period of time and to be re-set when having reached a predefined first number. The first counter 410 counts a first count, such as subframes. Also provided is a second counter 420 configured to be incremented when the first counter 410 reaches the predefined first number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined second number. The second counter 420 counts a second count, such as SFNs. Also provided is a third counter 430 configured to be incremented when the second counter 420 reaches the predefined second number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined third number. The third counter counts a third count, such as HFNs. All the three counters 410, 420 and 430 are continuously operated as illustrated by step 510 in FIG. 5.

(51) The wireless device QQ110 is configured to determine an RA-RNTI at least based on the second count and the third count. To this end the wireless device QQ110 comprises an RA-RNTI determinator 440. This determinator 440 may be triggered to determine the RN-RNTI each time it is decided that a random access request is to be sent by the wireless device QQ110 (see steps 520 and 530, which are essentially performed in parallel with step 510). The RA-RNTI is, for example, generated in accordance with time and, optionally, frequency resources on which a random access request message is to be sent. The corresponding triggering component is not illustrated in FIG. 4A. When triggered, the determinator 440, in turn, triggers a random access request generator 450 to generate a random access request message (e.g., a Random Access Preamble message) in accordance with the RA-RNTI and to send the random access request message on the PRACH to the network node QQ160 of FIG. 3 in accordance with time and, optionally, frequency resources as defined in by the RA-RNTI.

(52) The RA-RNTI determinator 440 may be operated to determine the RA-RNTI as described in greater detail above and below.

(53) According to the embodiment of FIG. 4B, the wireless device QQ110 comprises a first counting module 410′ configured to be incremented after a pre-defined period of time to count a first count and to be re-set when having reached a predefined first number. Also provided is a second counting module 420′ configured to be incremented when the first counting module 410′ reaches the predefined first number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined second number. The second counting module 420′ counts a second count, such as SFNs. Also provided is a third counting module 430′ configured to be incremented when the second counting module 420′ reaches the predefined second number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined third number. The third counting module 430′ counts a third count, such as HFNs. All the three modules 410′, 420′ and 430′ are continuously operated as illustrated by step 510 in FIG. 5. The wireless device QQ110 is configured to determine an RA-RNTI at least based on the second count and the third count. To this end the wireless device QQ110 comprises an RA-RNTI determination module 440′ that functionally corresponds to the RA-RNTI determinator 440.

(54) FIGS. 6A and 6B show embodiments of a network node QQ160 of FIG. 3 and its functional components (that may be realized, at least in part, by the processing circuitry QQ170). The network node QQ160 is configured as an access network node configured to determine an RA-RNTI for use in a radio network system illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 7 illustrates the corresponding operations in a method embodiment.

(55) According to the embodiment of FIG. 6A, the access network node QQ160 comprises a first counter 610 configured to be incremented after a pre-defined period of time and to be re-set when having reached a predefined first number. The first counter 610 counts a first count, such as subframes. Also provided is a second counter 620 configured to be incremented when the first counter 610 reaches the predefined first number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined second number. The second counter 620 counts a second count, such a SFNs. Also provided is a third counter 630 configured to be incremented when the second counter 620 reaches the predefined second number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined third number. The third counter counts a third count, such as HFNs. All the three counters 610, 620 and 630 are continuously operated as illustrated by step 710 in FIG. 7.

(56) The access network node QQ160 further comprises an interface 640 configured to receive a random access request message from a wireless device QQ110 (step 720) via the PRACH. The access network node QQ160 comprises an RA-RNTI determinator 650 configured to determine an RA-RNTI associated with the received random access request message based on the second count and the third count at the time when the random access request message was received at the interface 640 (step 730). The RA-RNTI determinator 650 may be operated to determine the RA-RNTI as described in greater detail above and below.

(57) The access network node QQ160 also comprises a random access response generator 660 that generates a random access response message in accordance with the RA-RNTI as determined in step 730. The random access response message is then sent via a random access response interface 670 back to the wireless device QQ110. The random access response message may include a temporary RNTI for further use, such as a Temporary Cell-RNTI.

(58) According to the embodiment of FIG. 6B, the access network node QQ160 comprises a first counting module 610′ configured to be incremented after a pre-defined period of time and to be re-set when having reached a predefined first number. The first counting module 610′ counts a first count, such as subframes. Also provided is a second counting module 620′ configured to be incremented when the first counting module 610′ reaches the predefined first number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined second number. The second counting module 620′ counts a second count, such a SFNs. Also provided is a third counting module 630′ configured to be incremented when the second counting module 620′ reaches the predefined second number and to be re-set when having reached a predefined third number. The third counting module 630′ counts a third count, such as HFNs. All the three counting modules 610′, 620′ and 630′ are continuously operated as illustrated by step 710 in FIG. 7.

(59) The access network node QQ160 also comprises an RA-RNTI determination module 650′ configured to determine an RA-RNTI associated with the received random access request message based on the second count and the third count at the time when the random access request message was received (step 730). The RA-RNTI determination module 650′ may be operated to determine the RA-RNTI as described in greater detail above and below.

(60) It will be appreciated that the complete random access procedure may comprise additional steps. As an example, the wireless device QQ110 may respond to the random access response message with a RRC Connection Request message. The RRC Connection Request message may be sent using the Temporary Cell-RNTI. The access network node QQ160 may then respond with a RRC Connection Setup message carrying an non-temporary C-RNTI.

(61) In the following detailed embodiments, HFN count is introduced for NB-IoT UEs. HFN is a counter (sometimes also referred to as timer) at the next level to SFN; thus RA-RNTI determination, if based upon HFN, could assist in resolving the wrap around issue and other issues, in expanding the RA-RNTI space for NB-IoT TDD users and in sharing the expanded RA-RNTI space. In some one of the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is defined that HFN is used in combination with SFN for calculation of the RA-RNTI used for transmitting/receiving a random access response.

(62) The examples and embodiments, in particular for calculation/determining of RA-RNTI, are in the following partially described in the context of NB-IoT TDD, but can be applied to other radio technologies and/or systems. The examples and embodiments can in particular be implemented in the contexts discussed above in regard to FIGS. 4 to 7, and at least partially within the RA-RNTI determinators 440, 650.

(63) The examples and embodiments provide, among others, a technique for a wireless device to determine the RA-RNTI used in receiving of a random access response.

(64) One example, for example performed by a wireless device QQ110, comprises determining at least a part of the HFN, the SFN, and optionally a carrier id, associated with a random access transmission, determining, based on the at least a part of the HFN and the SFN (or on the HFN, the SFN and, optionally the carrier id), the RA-RNTI, and receiving, using the RA-RNTI, a random access response message. Receiving may comprise identifying a specific random access response message as being addressed to the wireless device based on the associated RA-RNTI.

(65) The present disclosure also provides a technique for a network node QQ160 to determine the RA-RNTI to be used in transmitting of a random access response. The method comprises determining at least a part of the HFN (e.g., the third count discussed above), the SFN (e.g., the second count discussed above), and optionally a carrier id, associated with a random access transmission (e.g., a received random access request message), determining, based on the at least a part of the HFN and the SFN (or on the HFN, the SFN and the carrier id) the RA-RNTI, and transmitting, using the RA-RNTI, a random access response message.

(66) In some embodiments, the RA-RNTI is determined so that it is the equivalent of the expression:

(67) 0$\mathrm{RA}-\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{Floor}\left(\left(\mathrm{SFN}+\left(\mathrm{SFN}\mathrm{MAX}+1\right)*\mathrm{mod}\left(\mathrm{HFN},n\right)\right)/X\right)$

(68) or, if the parameter carrier_id is used:

(69) $\mathrm{RARNTI}=1+\mathrm{Floor}\left(\left(S\mathrm{FN}+\left(\mathrm{SFN}\mathrm{MAX}+1\right)*\mathrm{mod}\left(HFN,n\right)\right)/X\right)+\left(\mathrm{SFN}\mathrm{MAX}+1\right)*n/X*\mathrm{carrier\_}\mathrm{id}$

(70) wherein n can be selected as how many cycles of SFN should be comprised (a parameter sometimes also referred to as sfnCycle(s) and that can be configured by the upper layers), X can be selected as how compact the RA-RNTI values should be, SFNMAX is the maximum SFN value, and carrier_id is a carrier identifier. It will be understood that these parameters can readily be mapped on the parameters discussed in the Summary section above.

(71) In some embodiments, the determination comprises prepending one or more LSBs (least significant bits) of the binary representation of HFN to the MSB (most significant bit) side of the binary representation of SFN.

(72) In some embodiments the determination comprises calculation or evaluation of a formula. Exemplary formulae are presented below:

(73) $$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{RA}-\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{Floor}(\left(\mathrm{SFN}+\left(\mathrm{SFN}\mathrm{MAX}+1\right)*\mathrm{mod}\left(\mathrm{HFN},n\right)\right)/X\mathrm{RA}-\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{Floor}(\left(\mathrm{SFN}+\left(\mathrm{SFN}\mathrm{MAX}+1\right)*\mathrm{mod}\left(\mathrm{HFN},n\right)\right)/X+\left(\mathrm{SFN}\mathrm{MAX}+1\right)*n/X*\mathrm{carrier\_}\mathrm{id} \\ \mathrm{RA}-\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{Floor}\left(\left(SFN+1024*\mathrm{mod}\left(HFN,n\right)\right)/X\right)+1024^{*}n/X*\mathrm{carrier\_}\mathrm{id} \end{gathered}$$

(74) wherein n can be selected as how many cycles of SFN wrap around is desired, X can be selected as how compact the RA-RNTI values should be, carrier_id is a carrier identifier, and SFNMAX is the maximum SFN value. It will be understood that these parameters can readily be mapped on the parameters discussed in the Summary section above.

(75) Another exemplary formula is:

(76) $\mathrm{RA}-\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{Floor}\left(\mathrm{SFN}/4*\left(\mathrm{mod}\left(HFN,n\right)+1\right)\right)+256*n*{\mathrm{carrier}}_{-}\mathrm{id}$

(77) wherein n can be selected as how many cycles of SFN wrap around is desired, and carrier_id is a carrier identifier.

(78) With the above formulae, it is possible to extend the RA-RNTI range so that RA-RNTI wrap-around/ambiguity is avoided.

(79) As has been explained above, in some embodiments, the RA-RNTI is determined so that it is the equivalent of the expression:

(80) $\mathrm{RA}-\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{Floor}\left(\left(\mathrm{SFN}+\left(\mathrm{SFN}\mathrm{MAX}+1\right)*\mathrm{mod}\left(\mathrm{HFN},n\right)\right)/X\right).$

(81) Assuming that SFNMAX is chosen to equal 1023 (e.g., as defined for NB-IoT, see also parameter c above) and X is chosen to equal 4 (see parameter z above), this expression can be re-written as follows:

(82) $\mathrm{RA}-\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{Floor}(\left(SFN+1024*\mathrm{mod}\left(HFN,n\right)\right)/4.$

(83) The above expression is equivalent to:

(84) $\mathrm{RA}-\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{Floor}(\left(SFN/4+256*\mathrm{mod}\left(HFN,n\right)\right).$

(85) Assuming further that n is exemplarily chosen to equal 2, the above expression can be re-written as follows:

(86) $\mathrm{RA}\text{-}\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{Floor}(\left(SFN/4+256*\mathrm{mod}\left(HFN,2\right)\right).$

(87) The above expression, in turn, is equivalent to:

(88) $\mathrm{RA}-\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{Floor}\left(\mathrm{SF}N/4\right)+256*\mathrm{mod}\left(HFN,2\right).$

(89) The first term in the above expression is always 1. The second term can assume any value between 0 and 255 (assuming that SFN ranges between 0 and 1023, for example in an NB-IoT scenario). The third term 256*mod(HFN,2) yields either 0 or 256, depending on the value of HFN. Consequently, as SFN is incremented and wraps around, leading to an incrementation of HFN, a symmetric distribution of RA-RNTI values is obtained as illustrated in FIG. 8A. Such a uniform distribution is generally desired to realize an efficient use of the whole range of RA-RNTI values. Such a uniform distribution could also be obtained if n is set to, for example, 4.

(90) In contrast, no uniform distribution is obtained for other expressions of RA-RNTI, such as

(91) $\mathrm{RA}-\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{Floor}\left(\mathrm{SF}N/4\right)+4096*\mathrm{mod}\left(HFN,2\right).$

(92) The above expression results in a distribution having two pronounced peaks at the start and end of the RA-RNTI range, see FIG. 8B.

(93) The RA-RNTI set(s) or range(s) resulting from the examples above can span a very large range of RNTI values which can leave very few RNTIs available to use as, for example, C-RNTI or another RNTI type. However, all the RA-RNTI may not be used. Thus, as an embodiment, a method within a network node (e.g., the network node QQ160 discussed above), such as an access network node, is proposed as follows: the network node determines, based on knowledge about the PRACH configurations, which RA-RNTIs do not correspond to valid PRACH opportunities; the network node allocates (or “remaps”) RNTIs serving as RA-RNTIs which do not correspond to valid PRACHs to RNTIs to be used as, e.g., other types of RNTIs such as C-RNTIs, SPS-RNTIs, etc. the network node assigns allocated (“remapped”) RNTIs as, e.g., C-RNTIs to UEs.

(94) The RNTI remapping mitigates or reduces C-RNTI shortage due to the RA-RNTI range expansion. When PRACH configuration is changed, the network node may revoke some C-RNTIs and redo RNTI (re-)mapping. Alternatively (or as a complement) to revoking/reassigning C-RNTIs, the network node could, if urgency of reconfiguration is not too high, plan ahead and reserve RNTIs needed for the new PRACH configuration when they are (naturally) freed as connections are released. It should be noted that when it herein says PRACH it may also comprise similar channels such as NPRACH.

(95) The embodiments discussed above and illustrated in the drawings may in particular be implemented in the context of NB-IoT TDD. Several exemplary realizations of such NB-IoT TDD embodiments will now be discussed in greater detail.

(96) For NB-IoT wireless devices (UEs) operating in TDD mode the RA-RNTI associated with the PRACH in which the Random Access Preamble is transmitted can be computed in accordance with any of the expressions given above. For a uniform RA-RNTI distribution and an efficient use of the available RA-RNTI range the RA-RNTI may thus, for example, be derived using the following expression:

(97) 0$\mathrm{RA}-\mathrm{RNTI}=1+\mathrm{Floor}\left(\mathrm{SF}N/4\right)+256*\mathrm{mod}\left(HFN,2\right).$

(98) As explained above, SFN stands for System Frame Number and, thus, for the first radio frame of the specified PRACH. In a similar manner, HFN stands for Hyper Frame Number and, thus, for the index of the first hyper frame of the specified PRACH. The PDCCH transmission and the PRACH resource may be on the same carrier.

(99) The above expression, and similar expressions, are advantageous not only in regard to their uniform distribution of RA-RNTIs, but also in that the SFNs and HFNs can easily be mapped to RA-RNTI values and in that the mapping is unambiguous within the SFN/HSFN range (or window).

(100) The first releases (Rel-13 and Rel-14) of NB-IoT were only supported with FDD. As part of Rel-15 further NB-IoT enhancements (see RP-170732, “New WI on Further NB-IoT enhancements”, RAN #75), it has been decided to provide support for NB-IoT TDD. In the following embodiments, the impacts of TDD on one important functionality namely NPRACH are discussed. Most concepts of FDD NB-IoT can be re-used for TDD, however, it is of course necessary to ensure that no additional updates are needed for fully functioning TDD NB-IoT.

(101) The radio resource, i.e., bandwidth (One PRB), of NB-IoT is significantly reduced compared to other current RATs. This is to ensure an efficient system with very low power consumption and good coverage. Further, by selecting such limited bandwidth it is possible to reuse spectrum previously used by GSM. Generally, repetitions are used to provide coverage enhancements. All necessary functionality (primarily from LTE) has been adapted to work for NB-IoT.

(102) As explained previously, there is a fundamental difference between TDD and FDD, as the name implies. In FDD communication of UL and DL are separated on different frequencies. However, in TDD mode, uplink and downlink resources are allocated within the same frame but resources are split in time, see available LTE configurations in FIG. 2. NB-IoT is developed to operate almost as FDD or TDD, namely with half-duplex. Similar to TDD UL and DL traffic cannot be transmitted at the same time.

(103) The physical layer random access preambles are used by NB-IoT UEs camping on a given cell to let the base station know that the UE intends to get access. Overall (FDD) NPRACH characteristics of exemplary embodiments may be defined as follows: A preamble consists of four symbol groups transmitted next to each other using a different subcarrier per symbol group. Each symbol group has a Cyclic Prefix (CP) followed by 5 symbols, the CP has different duration depending on the preamble format. Both deterministic hopping tone pattern and pseudo-random hopping can be used. The NPRACH tone spacing is 3.75 KHz. A NPRACH preamble repetition unit is 5.6 ms or 6.4 ms depending on the CP. The number of repetitions can be 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, or 128.

(104) The design adopted for pre-amble repetitions in FDD NB-IoT presents a challenge when adapting NPRACH for TDD NB-IoT. In principle, there is no TDD configuration that in terms of contiguous subframes in UL can host the NPRACH preamble repetition designed for FDD NB-IoT (i.e., the preamble repetition unit of NPRACH goes beyond 5 ms, it can be 5.6 ms or 6.4 ms depending on the CP).

(105) The embodiments presented herein avoid wrap around issues in regard to RA-RNTI. Some embodiments are based on expression for deriving RA-RNTI that are advantageous in regard to a uniform distribution of the calculated RA-RNTIs. Some embodiments ensure that the SFNs and HFNs can easily be mapped to RA-RNTI values and that the mapping is unambiguous within the SFN/HSFN range (or window).

(106) While the present disclosure has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it will be readily apparent that the present disclosure may be modified in many ways. As such, the invention is only limited by the claims appended hereto.

ABBREVIATIONS

(107) At least some of the following abbreviations have been used in this disclosure. If there is an inconsistency between abbreviations, preference should be given to how it is used above. If listed multiple times below, the first listing should be preferred over any subsequent listing(s).

(108) 1x RTT CDMA2000 1x Radio Transmission Technology

(109) 3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project

(110) 5G 5th Generation

(111) ABS Almost Blank Subframe

(112) ARQ Automatic Repeat Request

(113) AWGN Additive White Gaussian Noise

(114) BCCH Broadcast Control Channel

(115) BCH Broadcast Channel

(116) CA Carrier Aggregation

(117) CC Carrier Component

(118) CCCH SDU Common Control Channel SDU

(119) CDMA Code Division Multiplexing Access

(120) CGI Cell Global Identifier

(121) CE Coverage Enhancement

(122) CIR Channel Impulse Response

(123) CP Cyclic Prefix

(124) CPICH Common Pilot Channel

(125) CPICH Ec/No CPICH Received energy per chip divided by the power density in the band

(126) CQI Channel Quality information

(127) C-RNTI Cell RNTI

(128) CSI Channel State Information

(129) DCCH Dedicated Control Channel

(130) DL Downlink

(131) DM Demodulation

(132) DMRS Demodulation Reference Signal

(133) DRX Discontinuous Reception

(134) DTX Discontinuous Transmission

(135) DTCH Dedicated Traffic Channel

(136) DUT Device Under Test

(137) E-CID Enhanced Cell-ID (positioning method)

(138) E-SMLC Evolved-Serving Mobile Location Centre

(139) ECGI Evolved CGI

(140) eNB E-UTRAN NodeB

(141) ePDCCH enhanced Physical Downlink Control Channel

(142) E-SMLC evolved Serving Mobile Location Center

(143) E-UTRA Evolved UTRA

(144) E-UTRAN Evolved UTRAN

(145) FDD Frequency Division Duplex

(146) FFS For Further Study

(147) GERAN GSM EDGE Radio Access Network

(148) gNB Base station in NR

(149) GNSS Global Navigation Satellite System

(150) GSM Global System for Mobile communication

(151) HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request

(152) HFN Hyper Frame Number

(153) HO Handover

(154) HSPA High Speed Packet Access

(155) HRPD High Rate Packet Data

(156) IoT Internet of Things

(157) LOS Line of Sight

(158) LPP LTE Positioning Protocol

(159) LTE Long-Term Evolution

(160) MAC Medium Access Control

(161) MBMS Multimedia Broadcast Multicast Services

(162) MBSFN Multimedia Broadcast multicast service Single Frequency Network

(163) MBSFN ABS MBSFN Almost Blank Subframe

(164) MDT Minimization of Drive Tests

(165) MIB Master Information Block

(166) MME Mobility Management Entity

(167) MSC Mobile Switching Center

(168) NB Narrow Band

(169) NPBCH NP Physical Broadcast Channel

(170) NPDCCH Narrowband Physical Downlink Control Channel

(171) NPRACH NB-IoT PRACH

(172) NR New Radio

(173) NRS Narrowband Reference Signal

(174) NSSS Narrowband Secondary Synchronization Signal

(175) NPSS Narrowband Primary Synchronization Signal

(176) OCNG OFDMA Channel Noise Generator

(177) OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing

(178) OFDMA Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access

(179) OSS Operations Support System

(180) OTDOA Observed Time Difference of Arrival

(181) O&M Operation and Maintenance

(182) PBCH Physical Broadcast Channel

(183) P-CCPCH Primary Common Control Physical Channel

(184) PCell Primary Cell

(185) PCFICH Physical Control Format Indicator Channel

(186) PDCCH Physical Downlink Control Channel

(187) PDP Profile Delay Profile

(188) PDSCH Physical Downlink Shared Channel

(189) PGW Packet Gateway

(190) PHICH Physical Hybrid-ARQ Indicator Channel

(191) PLMN Public Land Mobile Network

(192) PMI Precoder Matrix Indicator

(193) PRACH Physical Random Access Channel

(194) PRS Positioning Reference Signal

(195) PSS Primary Synchronization Signal

(196) PUCCH Physical Uplink Control Channel

(197) PUSCH Physical Uplink Shared Channel

(198) RACH Random Access Channel

(199) QAM Quadrature Amplitude Modulation

(200) RAN Radio Access Network

(201) RA Random Access

(202) RA-RNTI Random Access Resource Radio Network Temporary Identifier

(203) RAT Radio Access Technology

(204) RLM Radio Link Management

(205) RNC Radio Network Controller

(206) RNTI Radio Network Temporary Identifier

(207) RRC Radio Resource Control

(208) RRM Radio Resource Management

(209) RS Reference Signal

(210) RSCP Received Signal Code Power

(211) RSRP Reference Symbol Received Power OR Reference Signal Received Power

(212) RSRQ Reference Signal Received Quality OR Reference Symbol Received

(213) Quality

(214) RSSI Received Signal Strength Indicator

(215) RSTD Reference Signal Time Difference

(216) SCH Synchronization Channel

(217) SCell Secondary Cell

(218) SDU Service Data Unit

(219) SFN System Frame Number

(220) SGW Serving Gateway

(221) SI System Information

(222) SIB System Information Block/System Information Broadcast

(223) SNR Signal to Noise Ratio

(224) SON Self Optimized Network

(225) SS Synchronization Signal

(226) SSS Secondary Synchronization Signal

(227) TDD Time Division Duplex

(228) TDOA Time Difference of Arrival

(229) TOA Time of Arrival

(230) TSS Tertiary Synchronization Signal

(231) TTI Transmission Time Interval

(232) UE User Equipment

(233) UL Uplink

(234) UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunication System

(235) USIM Universal Subscriber Identity Module

(236) UTDOA Uplink Time Difference of Arrival

(237) UTRA Universal Terrestrial Radio Access

(238) UTRAN Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network

(239) WCDMA Wide CDMA

(240) WLAN Wide Local Area Network

REFERENCES

(241) [1] Y. P. E. Wang, X. Lin, A. Adhikary, A. Grovlen, Y. Sui, Y. Blankenship, “J. Bergman, and H. S. Razaghi, “A primer on 3GPP narrowband internet of things,” IEEE Commun. Mag., vol. 53, no. 3, pp. 117-123, March 2017.

(242) [2] RP-170732, “New WI on Further NB-IoT enhancements”, RAN #75.

(243) [3] 3GPP, 36.321ve30 “Medium Access Control (MAC) protocol specification”, 2017-June and/or 2017-July

(244) [4] 3GPP TS 36.211, “Physical channels and modulation”, v14.2.0.