Low overhead system information acquisition for wireless communication

A user equipment (UE) occupying a Radio Access Network (RAN), the UE comprising:

• a processor;
• memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• initiate a cell search of the RAN to decode a set of system information (SI) comprising a system information block (SIB), the SIB to provide a physical random access channel (PRACH) configuration;
• transmit the PRACH comprising a preamble/sequence in a subframe to a RAN base station transceiver, wherein the PRACH comprising the preamble/sequence, when transmitted in the subframe, indicates a request for additional SI;
• and
• monitor for transmission of the additional SI within a window of the subframe,
• wherein the PRACH comprising the preamble/sequence, when transmitted in the subframe, does not indicate:
• uplink synchronization;
• a scheduling request;
• or
• a radio resource control (RRC) connection setup request.

A base station (BS) occupying a Radio Access Network (RAN), the BS comprising:

• a processor;
• and
• a memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions to enable the BS to:
• transmit a limited set of system information (SI) in a periodic manner, the limited set of SI to enable a user equipment (UE) to acquire a physical random access channel (PRACH);
• receive a preamble/sequence from the UE using the PRACH, the PRACH having been transmitted in a subframe, wherein the PRACH comprising the preamble/sequence, when transmitted in the subframe, indicates a request for additional SI;
• and
• transmit the additional SI within a window of the subframe, wherein a position and size of the window are configured in a SI information element;
• wherein the additional SI is not continuously and periodically transmitted.

An apparatus of a user equipment (UE), the apparatus comprising:

• radio frequency circuitry coupled to one or more antennas, the antennas to receive signals transmitted over a cellular network;
• and
• one or more processors to execute instructions, the instructions, once executed by the one or more processors, to cause the UE to:
• decode a limited set of system information (SI) comprising a coarse time and frequency synchronization, a cyclic prefix length, a duplex mode, and a physical cell identifier of a cell in the cellular network;
• transmit a preamble/sequence to the cell using the radio frequency circuitry and the one or more antennas, wherein the preamble/sequence is transmitted in a dedicated time/frequency resource of the cell and indicates a request for additional SI;
• and
• monitor a transmission window of the dedicated time/frequency resource for additional SI in the cellular network;
• and
• decode the additional SI.