User equipment, network node and methods performed therein

A method performed by a User Equipment (UE), the method comprising:

• choosing a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) resource set according to a coverage level, each PRACH resource set having an associated Coverage Enhanced PRACH Configuration Index (CE PCI);
• selecting a starting opportunity for starting PRACH repetitions according to the coverage level, from among X possible starting opportunities within a Y millisecond (ms) period that is longer than one frame, wherein X is a defined value and Y=X* PRACH repetition level;
• transmitting a random access preamble to a network node, with repetitions of the random access preamble starting in the selected starting opportunity;
• and
• monitoring for reception of a Random Access Response (RAR) identified by a Random Access Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI) calculated in dependence on the selected starting opportunity.

A network node, comprising:

• communication circuitry configured for communicating with User Equipments (UEs);
• and
• processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication circuitry and configured to:
• define one or more parameters of a Coverage Enhanced Physical random access channel Configuration Index (CE PCI) for one or more Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) resource sets, where each of the one or more PRACH resource sets is associated with a coverage level, and where a different CE PCI is defined for each coverage level;
• configure the one or more PRACH resource sets in a broadcast message;
• determine, from among X possible starting opportunities within a Y millisecond (ms) period that is longer than one frame, which starting opportunity was used by a User Equipment (UE) for starting PRACH repetitions according to one of the coverage levels, wherein X is a defined value and Y=X* PRACH repetition level;
• calculate a Random Access Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI) using the determined starting opportunity;
• and
• transmit Random Access Response (RAR) for the UE, where the RAR is identified by the calculated RA-RNTI.

A User Equipment (UE), comprising:

• communication circuitry configured for communicating with a wireless communication network;
• and
• processing circuitry operatively associated with the communication circuitry and configured to:
• choose a Physical Random Access Channel (PRACH) resource set according to a coverage level, each PRACH resource set having an associated Coverage Enhanced PRACH Configuration Index (CE PCI);
• select a starting opportunity for starting PRACH repetitions according to the coverage level, from among X possible starting opportunities within a Y millisecond (ms) period that is longer than one frame, wherein X is a defined value and Y=X*PRACH repetition level;
• transmit a random access preamble to a network node, with repetitions of the random access preamble starting in the selected starting opportunity;
• and
• monitor for reception of a Random Access Response (RAR) identified by a Random Access Radio Network Temporary Identifier (RA-RNTI) calculated in dependence on the selected starting opportunity.