Handling timing conflicts involving random access procedure messages

A method in a user device for handling timing conflicts associated with a random-access procedure for gaining access to a communication channel, the method comprising:

• selecting, by processing hardware of the user device, a preamble, or a physical-layer random-access channel (PRACH) occasion, associated with a first time span for the user device to transmit at least a data portion of a random-access procedure message to a base station;
• receiving, from the base station, a message that grants the user device an occasion to transmit uplink data to the base station on a second physical-layer uplink channel (PUSCH) occasion that includes a second time span;
• determining, by the processing hardware, that the first time span overlaps the second time span, at least in part by determining that the selected preamble or the selected PRACH occasion is associated with a first PUSCH occasion that includes the first time span,
• determining, by the user device and based at least on the granted occasion being an occasion for the user device to transmit uplink data, a transmission precedence;
• and
• based on the determined transmission precedence, only one of (i) transmitting at least the data portion of the random-access procedure message to the base station during the first time span or (ii) transmitting the uplink data to the base station during the second time span.

A method in a user device for handling timing conflicts associated with a random-access procedure for gaining access to a communication channel, the method comprising:

• receiving, from a base station, a message that grants the user device an occasion to transmit uplink data, the occasion including a second time span;
• determining, by processing hardware of the user device, that a first time span for the user device to transmit at least a data portion of a random-access procedure message to the base station overlaps the second time span;
• determining, by the user device and based at least on the granted occasion being an occasion for the user device to transmit uplink data, a transmission precedence;
• based on the determined transmission precedence, (i) transmitting the uplink data during the second time span, (ii) not transmitting the data portion of the random-access procedure message during the first time span, and (iii) not transmitting a preamble of the random-access procedure message before the first time span;
• and
• overriding, by the processing hardware, one or more actions associated with unsuccessful iterations of the random-access procedure, the one or more actions including one or both of (i) increasing a preamble transmit power and (ii) incrementing a message transmission counter.

A user device comprising hardware configured to:

• receive, from a base station, a message that grants the user device an occasion to transmit uplink data, the occasion including a second time span configured for the user device to transmit uplink data to the base station;
• determine that a first time span for the user device to transmit at least a data portion of a random-access procedure message to the base station overlaps the second time span;
• determine a transmission precedence indicative of whether to modify transmission timing for the random-access procedure message or to instead modify transmission timing for the uplink data, wherein determining the transmission precedence is based at least on whether the granted occasion is (i) an occasion for the user device to re-transmit data or (ii) an occasion for the user device to transmit new data;
• and
• based on the determined transmission precedence, only one of (i) transmit at least the data portion of the random-access procedure message to the base station during the first time span or (ii) transmit the uplink data to the base station during the second time span.