Random Access

LTE Radio Parameters and Configuration

Technology Study

6th May 2015

CONFIDENTIAL | www.mobily.com.sa
Contents

• Overview
• RA Procedure
• PRACH Types
• PRACH Configuration
• PRACH Formats
• PRACH FreqOffset
• PRACH Preambles
• Preamble Generation
• Root Sequence Index
• PRCH Cyclic Shift
• Preamble Groups
Overview
• Relevant scenarios in which the RACH is used:
– UE in RRC connected state / not uplink-synchronized need to send new UL
data or control information (e.g. an event-triggered measurement report)
– UE in RRC connected state / not uplink-synchronized need to receive new DL
data and therefore had to transmit ACK/NACK in UL
– UE in RRC connected state / handing over from current serving cell to a target
cell
– Transition from RRC_IDLE to RRC Connected state
(e.g. initial access or tracking area update)
– Recovering from radio link failure
– Exceptional an uplink-synchronized UE is allowed to send a SR if it has no
other UL resource to send the SR.
• Two types of RACH
– Contention-based (implying an inherent risk of collision)
– Contention-free
 RA Procedure
• Random access procedure handled by MAC and PHY Layer through PRACH (in UL) and PDCCH ( in DL)
• RACH only carries the preambles and occupies 6 resource blocks in a subframe
•Process:
• UEs selects randomly a preamble from the list of preambles broadcasted in the BCCH
• UE calculates OLPC parameters ( Initial Tx Power)
• Checks contention parameters (i.e. max. number of retries)
• UE transmits initial RACH and waits for a response before retry. Open loop PC ensures that each retry will be at a higher power level.
PRACH
• Upon receipt of successful UL RACH preamble, eNB calculates power adjustment and timing advance parameters together with an UL
capacity grant ( so UE can send Not
moredetected
info ) response

DL
Next On the resources indicated by PDCCH
PRACH
resource
UL PUSCH: UE specific data
Preamble Preamble

RACH only carries the preambles ( no additional signalling or user data like in WCDMA Rel 99)
The eNodeB may also schedule data in the resource blocks reserved for random access channel preamble
transmission.
RACH Types
Contention-based: (implying an inherent risk of collision)
Contention-based Radom Access Contention Free Random Access
Procedure Procedure

UE eNB UE eNB
Random Access Preamble (on PRACH) Random Access Preamble
(with embedded 1-bit indication for L2/L3 message size) (on PRACH)

1 1

Random Access Response

Random Access Respoonse
(on PDCCH + PDSCH) (on PDCCH + PDSCH)
(Timing Adjustment, C-RNTI, UL grant for L2/3 message..)
2 2

L2/L3 message
(PUSCH transmission including contentin resolution
identity)
3 For new downlink data or HO eNB has the
option of allocating a dedicated signature to a
UE => contention free access is possible =>
Contention resolution Message faster than contention based and therefore
4
better for time-critical procedures like HO
(1)
RA Procedure
The contention based random access procedure follows these steps:
A preamble will be selected by UE and transmitted in the available subframe. Based
raRespWinSize
on correlation the eNB may detect the access and furthermore can measure the
timing of the UE transmission. Window size for RA response (in TTI)
LNCEL; 2 (0), 3 (1), 4 (2), 5 (3), 6 (4), 7 (5),
(2) The eNB answers using the same preamble and at this point a timing advance will be 8 (6), 10 (7); 10 TTIs (7) [7]
fixed. Information on the scheduled resource will be exchanged and a temporary C-
RNTI will be assigned. UE eNB
(3) The UE sends its id. The type of id depends on the state. In case of idle state NAS info
has to be provided (IMSI, TMSI) else the C-RNTI is used.
1 Random Access Preamble
(4) The contention resolution is performed, i.e. the eNB addresses the UE using the C-
RNTI.
Random Access Response 2

raContResoT Scheduled Transmission

3
Max. Time for cont. resol.
LNCEL; 8ms (0), 16ms (1), 24ms (2), 32ms (3),
40ms (4), 48ms (5), 56ms (6), 64ms (7); 64ms Contention Resolution 4
(7)
RA Procedure- Signaling
RACH Timing - Random Access Response Window

Name: raRespWinSize
Description: Random Access Response Window Size: Random Access Response Window Size
parameter defines the window size for the random access response in TTIs.
Range/Step: 2 (0), 3 (1), 4 (2), 5 (3), 6 (4), 7 (5), 8 (6), 10 (7)
Default: 10 (7)
Network Setting: 10(7)
Remark: raRespWinSize: The start of this UE timer is the subframe number containing the end
of the preamble + 3 subframes => 2 ms after this subframe. The UE must receive the RAR within
this window otherwise it assumes the RACH procedure as failed.

Not Found for Huawei

 RACH Timing - Maximum Content Resolution Timer

Name: raContResoT
Description: Maximum Content Resolution Timer: The Maximum Content Resolution Timer parameter
defines the maximum amount of time allowed for contention resolution.
Range/Step: 8ms (0), 16ms (1), 24ms (2), 32ms (3), 40ms (4), 48ms (5), 56ms (6), 64ms (7)
Default: 32ms (3)
Network Setting: 32ms (3) [FDD], 48ms (5) [TDD]
Remark: raContResoT: Trigger for this UE Timer is the transmission of the MSG 3. In case the UE does
not receive the MSG 4 within this time window it assumes that the contention resolution fails. In this
case the UE will restart the RACH procedure.

Huawei parameters:
parameter ID Range unit default comment
ContentionResolutionTimer [40,48,56,64] Subframe 64 From MSG3 to MSG4, expiry means RA failure
RA Procedure
The contention free random access procedure

• E.g. during handover a temporary valid preamble will be issued.

• It is (temporarily) dedicated to this UE.
• No contention resolution is needed as the preamble shall not be used by other UEs.

UE eNB

0 RA Preamble assignment

Random Access Preamble 1

2 Random Access Response

RACH Power Ramping
• Open loop power control together with optional power ramp-up is used during the random access process at the
beginning of the connection until more accurate control information is available.
Max allowable UE Pwr Path loss

Target eNB Rx Pwr Power UP each attempt by 2dB

• The open loop power control is performed by the UE, based on received information transmitted on system information
block in broadcast channel (BCH) and the measured path loss in downlink
• The UE sets the initial transmission power in the first preamble and waits for the UL grant on PDCCH. If not acknowledged,
the MS increases the preamble transmission power by a specified power offset step.
 Preamble Initial Received Target Power
Name: ulpcIniPrePwr
Description: Preamble Initial Received Target Power: The Preamble Initial Received Target Power
parameter defines the initial power for Random Access Preamble transmission.
Range/Step: -120 dBm (0), -118 dBm (1), -116 dBm (2), -114 dBm (3), -112 dBm (4), -110 dBm (5), -108
dBm (6), -106 dBm (7), -104 dBm (8), -102 dBm (9), -100 dBm (10), -98 dBm (11), -96 dBm (12), -94 dBm
(13), -92 dBm (14), -90 dBm (15):
Default: -104 dBm (8)
Network Setting: -110 dBm (5) and -104 dBm (8) [FDD], -104 dBm (8) [TDD]

Huawei Parameter:

parameter ID Range unit default comment

PreambInitRcvTargetPwr [-120,-90] dBm -104 eNodeB expected UE power for format0
 Power ramping Step for RA
Name: prachPwrRamp
Description: Power Ramping Step: The Power Ramping Step Size parameter defines the power increment
step size for Random Access Preamble transmission.
Range/Step: 0dB (0), 2dB (1), 4dB (2), 6dB (3)
Default: 2dB (1)
Network Setting: 4dB (2) [FDD], 2dB (1) [TDD]

Huawei Parameter:

parameter ID Range unit default

PwrRampingStep [0,2,4,6] dB 2
PRACH Configuration

• UE sends the preamble to the network on

PRACH:
– Bandwidth: 6 PRBs (1.08MHz) / (for 1.4
MHz system whole bandwidth)
(Sub-carrier spacing 1.5kHz)
– FDD – the start of the RACH bust shall be
aligned with UL sub-frame assuming timing
advance of zero
– TDD - for preamble formats 0-3 – the start
of the RACH burst shall be aligned with the
UL sub-frame assuming timing advance of
zero
– TDD – for preamble format 4 – the start of
the RACH burst shall be 4832 * Ts (Ts = 1 /
30.72 MHz ) before the end of the UpPTS
at the UE, where the UpPTS is referenced
to the UE’s uplink frame timing assuming
timing advance of zero.
PRACH Configuration

• Multiplexing of PRACH with PUSCH & PUCCH:

– PRACH not in PUCCH area
– Time-frequency resource semi-statically allocated within PUSCH
– Periodicity: Once in 20ms up to every sub-frame / max one RACH resource per sub-frame
PRACH Formats

• Formats
– The length of TCP (Cyclic Prefix)，
TPRE (Preamble) and TGT (Guard
Time) depends on the preamble
format
– Length typically one sub-frame
(0.1ms CP + 0.8ms Preamble
sequence + 0.1ms guard period)
– Four different formats available for
different environments (e.g. large
cells..) (5 formats for TDD)
– PRACH reserved PRBs cannot be
used by PUSCH i.e. they are out of
scope for scheduling for data
transmission
PRACH Formats

Preamble Format Burst (µs) TCP(μs） TSEQ（μs） FDD Cell Radius (R) (km)
0 1000 103.1 800 R ≤ 14.5
1 2000 684.4 800 R ≤ 77.3
2 2000 203.1 1600 R ≤ 29.5
3 3000 684.4 1600 R ≤ 100
4 167.9 14.58 133.33 N/A

– Normal 1 ms RA burst with 800 μs preamble sequence, for small-medium cells (up to ~14 km)
– 2 ms RA burst with 800 ìs preamble sequence, for large cells (up to ~77 km) without a link budget problem
– 2 ms RA burst with 1600 μs preamble sequence, for medium cell (up to ~29 km) and increased path loss
– 3 ms RA burst with 1600 μs preamble sequence, for very large cells (up to ~100 km) and increased path loss
– Frame structure type 2 and special subframe configurations with UpPTS lengths 4384 Ts and 5120 Ts only.
[Ts = 1 / 30.72MHz] (up to 1.4 km cell range)

Format type 0 & type 1 supported

in RL50
PRACH Configuration

• Name: prachConfIndex:
• Description: PRACH Configuration Index: Defines allowed
System frame and sub-frame numbers for random access
attempts, and the preamble format
• FDD Range/Step: 3...24, step 1
• TDD Range/Step: 3...53, step 1
• Default: 3
• Network Setting: 3

Huawei parameters:
parameter ID Range unit default
PrachConfigIndexCfgInd CFG, NOT_CFG CFG
PrachConfigIndex [0,63] 3
PreambleFmt [0,4] 0
PRACH Frequency Offset

• Where PRACH is placed in frequency domain:

• PRACH can be placed either on lower or upper edge of the bandwidth
• Therefore the possible range for prachFreqOffset is:

0  nPRBoffset
RA
 NRB
UL
6
If PRACH area is placed at the lower border of UL frequency band then:

prachFreqOffset = roundup [maxPucchResourceSize /2]

If PRACH area is placed at the upper border of the UL frequency band

then:
prachFreqOffset = MAXNRB – 6 - roundup
[maxPucchResourceSize /2]
PRACH Frequency Offset

• Name: prachFreqOff • The PRACH area (6 PRBs) should be next to PUCCH area
either at upper or lower border of frequency band to
• Description: PRACH Frequency Offset: First physical maximize the PUSCH area but not overlap with PUCCH
resource block available for PRACH in the UL system area
frequency band.
• TDD specific: prachFreqOff =0 when preamble
• Range/Step: 0...94, step 1 format 4 is used
• Default: 1
• Network Setting: 3 (FDD), 11(TDD)

Huawei parameters:
parameter ID Range unit default comment
PrachFreqOffset [0,94] 6 Related with PUCCHAlgoSwitch
PRACH Sequences

• Formats
– Zadoff-Chu sequences with length 839 (prime number) for Preamble Format 0-3 and 139 for
Preamble Format 4 are used
Available Sequences.
– 838 for Preamble Format 0-3
– 138 for Preamble Format 4
Cyclic shifts:
– 16 for Preamble Format 0-3
– 6 for Preamble Format 4
Fig: Zadoff-Chu sequence. The real (upper) and imaginary (lower) parts of
the complex-valued output (Wikipedia)

• Detection is sensitive to considerable Doppler shifts => special rules for high speed cells

• UE selects preamble from 64 different sequences configured for each cell

Preamble generation # root sequences = 838 in total
# preamble sequences = 64 per cell
The random access preambles are generated from:
• Zadoff-Chu root sequences (838 in total) with zero correlation zone
• one or several sequences (length 839 each)
Zadoff–Chu sequence is known as a CAZAC sequence (Constant Amplitude Zero AutoCorrelation
waveform).

There are 64 preambles sequences available in each cell. The set of 64 preamble sequences in a cell is
found by including first, in the order of increasing cyclic shift, all the available cyclic shifts of a root
Zadoff-Chu sequence

Fig:
example of
preambles
generation with zero
autocorrelation zone
length equal to 279
(prachCS=14)
Preamble generation
Zero correlation zone and Cyclic shift
• zero correlation zone  decode PRACH even if sent on the same time/ frequency
• preamble signals generated based on two different ZC sequences are not correlated
within the geographical range related to prachCS
• the dimensioning of the cyclic shift, must be greater than the maximum round-trip delay

Required number of different root Zadoff–Chu sequences grows with Ncs (Cyclic Shift) and
the cell radius:
Limits due to preamble
premable formats
Preamble Generation
64 preambles made of Zadoff-Chu sequences with zero correlation zone:
• given by the logical index RACH_ROOT_SEQUENCE
• Zadoff Chu sequence u is given by
un( n1)
j
xu ,v (n)  xu (( n  Cv ) mod N ZC )
xu n  e N ZC
, 0  n  N ZC  1
• ZC sequence of length 839 (prime number) is used
• 838 different root sequences available. (PRACH Root Sequence). Also
different cyclic shifts can be used depending on cell size
• Sub-carrier spacing is 1.25 kHz

rootSeqIndex
LNCEL;0…837;1; 0

*3GPP TS 36.211 Table 5.7.2-4

PRACH Root sequence
• Name: rootSeqIndex:
• Description: RACH Root Sequence: The preamble generation is started from the Root Sequence which is
pointed by the logical root sequence number. 64 preambles can be transmitted in the PRACH frame. If one
root is not enough to generate all the 64 preambles, then the consecutive number is selected until the full set
is generated. RACH root sequence is cell specific information and neighboring cells should have a different
value. RACH root sequence is transmitted in system information.
• Range/Step: 0...837, step 1 / for preamble format 0-3 0…137, step 1 / for preamble format 4

Huawei parameters:

parameter ID Range unit default

RootSequenceIdx [0,837]
Preamble Generation Root Zadoff-Chu sequence order for
preamble formats 0 – 3.:
First: take all available cyclic shifts of one root
Zadoff-Chu sequence:

If not enough: take next logical index and so on

prachCS
Preamble cyclic shift (Ncs configuration)
LNCEL;0…15;1; 0

prachHSFlag
Unrestricted or restricted (high speed) set selection
LNCEL; true, false; false

• Cyclic shift given by

vNCS v  0,1,...,  N ZC N CS   1, N CS  0 for unrestricted sets



Cv  0 N CS  0 for unrestricted sets
 v nshift   (v mod nshift

 d start
RA RA
) N CS v  0,1,..., nshift ngroup  nshift
RA RA RA
1 for restricted sets
*3GPP TS 36.211 Table 5.7.2-2
PRACH Cyclic Shift
• Name: prachCS
• Description: PRACH Cyclic Shift: Preamble cyclic shift defines the configuration which is used for preamble
generation. The configuration determines how many cyclic shifts are needed to generate preamble.
Unrestricted set is supported. Configuration also defines the zero correlation zone and respective maximum
cell range.
• Range/Step: 0...15, step 1
• Default: 12
• Network Setting: FDD(9) TDD (10)

Huawei parameters:

parameter ID Range unit default

CellRadius [1,100000] m 10000
Preamble generation
PrachCS and rootSeqIndex
• PrachCS defines the number of cyclic shifts (in terms
- Formats 0, 1 and 2
of number of samples) used to generate multiple
preamble sequences from a single root sequence
• Example based on PrachCS=12 -> number of cyclic
shifts: 119
• Root sequence length is 839 so a cyclic shift of 119
samples allows ROUNDDOWN (839/119)= 7 cyclic shifts
before making a complete rotation (signatures per root
sequence)
• 64 preambles are transmitted in the PRACH frame. If
one root is not enough to generate all 64 preambles
then more root sequences are necessary
• To ensure having 64 preamble sequences within the cell
it is necessary to have ROUNDUP (64/7)= 10 root
sequences per cell
Preamble formats 0 ,1 and 2
PRACH High Speed Flag
• Name: prachHsFlag
• Description: PRACH High Speed Flag: High speed flag for PRACH preamble generation determines whether an
unrestricted or a restricted set has to be used by UE. The unrestricted set, and thus the parameter value
'false', is supported.
• Range/Step: false
• Default: false
• Network Setting: false

Huawei parameters:

parameter ID Range unit default

HighSpeedFlag Low_speed, High_Speed, Ultra_High_Speed, Extra_High_Speed Low_speed
Preamble Transmission Maximum
• Name: preambTxMax
• Description: Preamble Transmission Maximum: The parameter Preamble Transmission Maximum defines the
maximum number of random access transmissions. Note: The values n50, n100 and n200 should not be used.
• Range/Step: 3 (0), 4 (1), 5 (2), 6 (3), 7 (4), 8 (5), 10 (6), 20 (7), 50 (8), 100 (9), 200 (10)
• Default: 10 (6)
• Network Setting: 10 (6)

Huawei parameters:

parameter ID Range unit default

PreambleTransMax N3_Premb_Trans_Max,…, N200_Premb_Trans_Max N10_Premb_Trans_Max
Preambles - Contention and Non-Contention
64 preambles
per cell

raNondedPreamb Remaining are Non

Total number of non dedicated RA
preambles Contention Based
LNCEL; 4 (0), 8 (1), 12 (2), 16 (3), 20 (4),
24 (5), 28 (6), 32 (7), 36 (8), 40 (9), 44
(10), 48 (11), 52 (12), 56 (13), 60 (14), 64
(15); 1 ; 40 (9) Contention Non Contention
Based Based

Non-Dedicated Dedicated
preambles preambles
Type A and B Grouping of Preambles
The contention based Random Access preambles are grouped into:
• Type A - for requesting a normal UL resource.
• Type B - for requesting a larger resource due to Message Size AND Pathloss (PL) criteria having
been met.

raPreGrASize ?
raNondedPreamb ? 64 preambles
per cell

raNondedPreamb
Contention Based
raPreGrASize
Random Access Preambles Group A Size Remaining
LNCEL; 4 (0), 8 (1), 12 (2), 16 (3), 20 (4), are Type B
24 (5), 28 (6), 32 (7), 36 (8), 40 (9), 44
(10), 48 (11), 52 (12), 56 (13), 60 (14) ; 1 ;
32 (7) raPreGrASize Type B
Type A Preambles Preambles
Type B Criteria
The Type B Random Access preambles are used if:
• The message size is greater than raSmallVolUl.
AND
• the pathloss is less than:
PCMAX – preambleInitialReceivedTargetPower - deltaPreambleMsg3 - messagePowerOffsetGroupB
Where:
PCMAX is the UE maximum output power.
ulpcIniPrePwr
Preamble Initial Received Target Power
LNCEL; -120 dBm (0), -118 dBm (1), -116
dBm (2), -114 dBm (3), -112 dBm (4), -110
dBm (5), -108 dBm (6), -106 dBm (7), -104
dBm (8), -102 dBm (9), -100 dBm (10), -98
dBm (11), -96 dBm (12), -94 dBm (13), -92
dBm (14), -90 dBm (15);1 ; -104 dBm (8)
raSmallVolUl
Small Size Random Access Data Volume
In Uplink
LNCEL; 56 bits (0), 144 bits (1), 208 bits
(2), 256 bits (3) ;1 ; 144 bits (1)
deltaPreMsg3
Delta Preamble Random Access Message
3
LNCEL; -1...6 ;1 ; 0
raMsgPoffGrB
RA Message Power Offset For Group B Selection
LNCEL; -infinity (0), 0 dB (1), 5 dB (2), 8 dB (3), 10 dB (4), 12 dB
(5), 15 dB (6), 18 dB (7) ;1 ; 10 dB (4)
Number of RA Preambles
Name: raNondedPreamb
Description: Number Of Random Access Preambles: This parameter determines the total number of
non dedicated RA preambles that UE can select from (i.e. for contention based RA). The minimum
cannot be zero.
Range/Step: 4 (0), 8 (1), 12 (2), 16 (3), 20 (4), 24 (5), 28 (6), 32 (7), 36 (8), 40 (9), 44 (10), 48 (11), 52
(12), 56 (13), 60 (14), 64 (15)
Default: 40 (9)
Network Setting: 40 (9) [FDD], 60 (14) [TDD]

Name: raPreGrASize
Description: Random Access Preambles Group A Size: Defines the size of the Random Access
Preambles Group A.
Range/Step: 4 (0), 8 (1), 12 (2), 16 (3), 20 (4), 24 (5), 28 (6), 32 (7), 36 (8), 40 (9), 44 (10), 48 (11), 52
(12), 56 (13), 60 (14)
Default: 32 (7)
Network Setting: 32 (7)
RA Message Power Offset for Group B selection
Name: raMsgPoffGrB
Description: RA Message Power Offset For Group B Selection: Path loss threshold in dB required for
selecting one of the two groups of Random Access Preambles. The UE will only use preambles from
group B if it needs to send a large Msg3 AND its measured path loss is less than Pmax -
PREAMBLE_INITIAL_RECEIVED_TARGET_POWER - DELTA_PREAMBLE_MSG3 -
messagePowerOffsetGroupB (see 36.321 ch 5.1.2)
Range/Step: -infinity (0), 0 dB (1), 5 dB (2), 8 dB (3), 10 dB (4), 12 dB (5), 15 dB (6), 18 dB (7)
Default: 10 dB (4)
Network Setting: 10 dB (4)

Huawei parameters:
parameter ID Range unit default comment
messagePowerOffsetGroupB not applicable dB 10 GroupB power offset
Message Size Message Coding
Large Size RA MCS in UL:
Name: raLargeMcsUl
Description: Large Size Random Access MCS in Uplink: Defines the modulation and coding scheme
(MCS) to be used for large size Random Access Message 3 in case of initial access or handover
Range/Step: 0...15, step 1
Default: 5
Network Settings: 5

Samll Size RA MCS in UL:

Name: raSmallMcsUl
Description: Small Size Random Access MCS in Uplink: Defines the modulation and coding scheme
(MCS) to be used for the small size Random Access Message 3 in case of UL or DL data arrival.
Parameter is vendor specific parameter
Range/Step: 0...15, step 1
Default: 5
Network Settings: 5
Small Size RA Data Volume in UL
Name: raSmallVolUl
Description: Small Size Random Access Data Volume in Uplink: Defines the data volume to be used for
small size Random Access Message 3 in case of UL or DL data arrival.
Range/Step: 56 bits (0), 144 bits (1), 208 bits (2), 256 bits (3)
Default: 144 bits (1)
Network Setting: 144 bits (1)

Huawei parameters:

parameter ID Range unit default comment

MessageSizeGroupA [56,144,208,256] bits 56 MSG3 size for selecting groupA
Max Number of MSG3 HARQ Transmissions
Name: harqMaxMsg3
Description: Maximum Number Of Message 3 HARQ Transmissions: Indicates the maximum number of
HARQ transmissions used for Message 3 of the contention based random access procedure.
Range/Step: 1...8, step 1
Default: 5
Network Setting: 3 (FDD), 4 (TDD)

Huawei parameters:

parameter ID Range unit default

MaxHarqMsg3Tx [1-8] 5
 Thank You

CONFIDENTIAL | www.mobily.com.sa