WCDMA RF Optimization: RACH optimization

Chapter 8

RACH optimization

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WCDMA RF Optimization: RACH optimization

Content

1. RACH definition ................................................................................................... 3

2. RACH prioritization............................................................................................... 4

2.1. PRACH preamble .......................................................................................... 4

2.2. PRACH prioritization...................................................................................... 6

3. RACH procedure .................................................................................................. 9

3.1. Physical Random Access procedure ............................................................. 9

3.2. RACH sub channels .................................................................................... 12

3.3. RACH access slot sets ................................................................................ 14

4. RACH optimization ............................................................................................. 15

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1. RACH definition

RACH (Random Access Channel)

• Carry control information from the UE to set up an initial

connection. For example, to register the UE after power-on to the
network or to perform location update or to initiate a call.
• Send small amount of packet data to network for 1 to 2 frames.
• Since it is needed to be heard from the whole cell for signaling
purposes, the data rate is quite low.
No power control is supported

Figure 1: Random Access Channel

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2. RACH prioritization

2.1. PRACH preamble

In the PRACH preamble, a random preamble code is used.

This code is composed from a

• Preamble Scrambling Code and a

• Preamble Signature

There is a total of 16 preamble signatures of 16 bit length, which is repeated 256

times within one preamble.

When monitoring the cell system information, the UE gets the information, which of
the signatures are available for use in the cell. (see IE PRACH info)

There are 8192 preamble scrambling codes, which are constructed from the long
scrambling code sequences.

The PRACH preamble scrambling codes are organised in 512 groups, with each
group holding 16 members.

There are also 512 primary scrambling codes available in UMTS, and one of them is
in use in the cell.

If the primary scrambling code s is in use in the cell, then only the PRACH preamble
scrambling codes belonging to PRACH preamble scrambling code group s can be
used for random access.

Consequently, 16 PRACH preamble scrambling codes are left, and the BCCH is
used to inform the UE, which PRACH preamble scrambling codes can be used. (see
IE PRACH info)

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PRACH Preamble
UTRAN
BCCH

UE • available signatures for random

Node B RNC
access
• available preamble scrambling
codes
• available spreading factor
• available sub-channels
• etc.


Pi Pi Pi Pi PRACH Preamble Scrambling Code

16 chip
• 512 groups, each with 16 preamble
256 repetitions scrambling codes
• Cell‘s primary scrambling codes associated
Preamble Signature
with preamble scrambling code group
(16 different versions)

Figure 2: PRACH preamble

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2.2. PRACH prioritization

Up to 16 different PRACHs can be offered in a cell, which may feature either 10 ms

or 20 ms TTIs and a different choice of spreading factors for the message part. The
PRACH resources are partitioned flexibly either by using different scrambling codes
or by assigning mutually exclusive access slots and signatures while using a
common scrambling code.
Centralized probabilistic access control is performed individually for each PRACH
through signaling of dynamic persistence levels.
Within a single PRACH (access slots or preamble signatures), a further partitioning of
the resources between up to eight Access Service Classes (ASC) is possible,
thereby providing a means of access prioritization between ASCs by allocating more
resources to high priority classes than to low priority classes. It is possible for more
than one ASC or for all ASCs to be assigned to the same access slot/signature
space.
Access Service Classes are numbered in the range 0 ≤ i ≤ 7 (i.e. the maximum
number of ASCs is 8). An
ASC is defined by an identifier i that defines a certain partition of the PRACH
resources and an associated persistence value Pi. A set of ASC parameters consists
of eight such parameters (i, Pi), i = 0…7. The PRACH partitions and the persistence
values Pi are derived from signaling. The ASC enumeration is such that it
corresponds to the order of priority (ASC 0 = highest priority, ASC 7 = lowest priority).
ASC 0 shall be used in case of emergency call or for reasons with equivalent priority.
Centralized probabilistic access control is performed individually for each PRACH
through signaling of dynamic persistence levels. P0 for the highest priority ASC 0 is
always set to one. The probability of class1, P1, can be derived from the dynamic
persistence level N as follows:

(1)
where N, which is signaled regularly, can assume integer values from 1 to 8. A
persistence scaling-factor

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si relates Pi, I = 2…7 to P1 through

(2)
where si can assume values between 0.2 and 0.9 in steps of 0.1. If the persistence
scaling factors are not signaled, a default value of one is assumed. It is also possible
to provide prioritization with less than eight classes, by signaling values for less than
six scaling factors. If, for instance, only values for s2 and s3 are signaled, then it is
assumed that si = s3 for i = 4 …7.
The persistence probability value controls the timing of RACH transmissions at the
level of radio frame intervals. When initiating RACH transmission, having received
the necessary system information for the chosen PRACH and established the
relevant Pi, the terminal draws a number r randomly between 0 and 1.
if r ≤ Pi, the physical layer PRACH transmission procedure is initiated. Otherwise, the
initiation of the transmission is deferred by 10 ms, then a new random experiment is
performed, and so on, until r ≤ Pi.
During this procedure, the terminal monitors downlink control channels for
information and takes updates of the RACH control parameters into account.

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Random Access prioritization

Highest priority
Second Priority (1)
Next priorities (2)
Where N=the dynamic persistence
level
Si=scaling factor

Figure3: Random access prioritization

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3. RACH procedure

3.1. Physical Random Access procedure

The UTRA FDD random access algorithm is a little bit more complex than a simple
slotted ALOHA with centralized access control. Once a terminal obtains permission
to access the PRACH at MAC level (i.e., following a positive outcome of the random
experiment, as described above), the physical layer PRACH transmission procedure
is initiated. The works according to the following steps:
1. For the transmission of the first preamble, terminal picks one access signature of
those available for the given ASC and an initial preamble power level based on the
received primary CPICH power level and some correction factors. To transmit this
preamble, it picks randomly one slot out of the next set of access slots belonging to
one of the PRACH subchannels associated with the relevant ASC. The concept of
access slot sets is illustrated in Figure 4
2. The terminal then waits for the appropriate access indicator sent by the network on
the downlink
AICH access slot that is paired with the uplink access slot on which the preamble
was sent.
Sixteen tri-valued (+1, 0, -1) access indicators fir into an AICH access slot, one for
each access signature.
• If the Acquisition Indication (AI) for the relevant signature signals a positive
acknowledgement (+1), the terminal sends the message after a predefined amount of
time with a power level which is calculated from the level used to send the last
preamble.
• If the AI signals a negative acknowledgement (-1), the terminal stops with the
transmission of preambles and hands control back to the MAC After a backoff period,
which is drawn from a uniform distribution between Nmin and Nmax radio frames, the
terminal may regain access according to the MAC procedure based on persistence
probabilities.

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• If no acknowledgement is received, then this is taken as an indication that the

network did not receive the preamble. If the maximum number of preambles that can
be sent during a physical layer PRACH transmission procedure is not exceeded, the
terminal sends another preamble with increased power, choosing an access slot in
the same manner as for the first preamble transmission. It then continues by going to
the beginning of step (2).
• If no acknowledgement is received and the maximum number of preambles that can
be sent during a physical layer PRACH transmission procedure is exceeded, control
is handed back to the MAC, where access can be

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Timing relations and power ramping on the PRACH

Figure 4: Timing relations and power ramping on the PRACH

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3.2. RACH sub channels

The access slots are split between 12 RACH subchannels, hence every 12th access
slot pertains to a specific subchannel. Mapping between access slots and RACH
subchannels are shown in Table 1.
Several subchannels may be associated with any one of up to 16 different PRACHs,
similarly several or all subchannels associated with that PRACH may be used by a
particular ASC.

Table 1: The available uplink access slots for different RACH sub-channels

The 15 access slots are split into two access slots, the first eight slots are associated
with set one, the other seven with set 2, as illustrated in Figure 2. The downlink AICH
access slots are aligned with PCCPH frames whereas the uplink RACH access slots
are anticipated by τp-a chips (either 7680 or 12800 chips) respectively. The
Acquisition Indications (AI) sent on AICH slot relate to the access preambles sent on
the PRACH slot with the same slot number, leaving only τp-a – 4096 chips for round
trip propagation and processing delays. The minimum distance between two
preambles (if no acknowledgement is received on the relevant AICH slot) and the
fixed distance between preamble and message part (if positive acknowledgement is

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received) measure both three access slots when τp-a = 7680 chips, or 4 access slots
when τp-a = 12800 chips. The actual distance between preambles depends also on
the subchannels available for the given ASC. If only one is available, then the
minimum distance between the preambles is 12 access slots.

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3.3. RACH access slot sets

The PRACH contains two sets of access slots as shown in Figure 5. Access slot set
1 contains PRACH slots 0 – 7 and starts τp-a chips before the downlink P-CCPCH
frame for which SFN mod 2 = 0. Access slot set 2 contains PRACH slots

8 - 14 and starts (τp-a –2560) chips before the downlink P-CCPCH frame for which
SFN mod 2 = 1.

PRACH access slot and downlink AICH relation

Figure 5: PRACH access slot and downlink AICH relation (p-a = 7680 chips)

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4. RACH optimization

The RACH optimisation is introduced in “the call setup failure “case when there’s no
ACK/NACK received by UE.

The purpose of this activity is to check the Random Access Process is working
adequately by investigating whether AI (Acquisition Indicator) has been received
through DL AICH

If AICH was not received by UE, the cause of the problem can be classified into:

– Inadequate RAN parameter related to Random Access: RAN parameter

settings for pre-amble transmission or open loop power control
information is not correct.

– UL Coverage limit: UL coverage of UE is smaller compared to serving

cells DL coverage so that UE’s Tx power cannot reach serving cell.

RACH optimisation

No
Max UE Tx power hit To increase PRACH_Preamble_retrans
the UE_P_MAX Or PowerRampStepPRACHPreamble

Yes

Yes
Is UL Interference Report there might be an interfering
abnormally HIGH? source Nearby the serving cell

No

Change the Serving cell to cover the problem Area

=> UE is too far to reach the serving cell

Figure 6: RACH optimization

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