System and method for random access communications

An access node comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the at least one processor, the programming including instructions to cause the access node to:
• receive, from a user equipment (UE) via a random access resource, a random access preamble, the random access preamble and the random access resource at least partially identifying a beam selected by the UE;
• send, to the UE, a first message responsive to the random access preamble, the first message configured to prompt the UE to send additional information over resources assigned by the first message;
• and
• receive, from the UE, a second message in response to the first message over the resources assigned by the first message, the second message associated with a beam failure recovery, the second message including the additional information about the beam selected by the UE.

A computer implemented method for operating a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:

• transmitting, from the UE to an access node via a random access resource, a random access preamble, the random access preamble indicating a beam failure recovery request, the random access preamble and the random access resource at least partially identifying a beam selected by the UE;
• receiving, by the UE from the access node, a first message responsive to the random access preamble, the first message configured to prompt the UE to send additional information over resources assigned by the first message;
• and
• transmitting, by the UE to the access node, a second message in response to the first message over the resources assigned by the first message, the second message including the additional information about the beam selected by the UE.

A user equipment (UE) comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the at least one processor, the programming including instructions to cause the UE to:
• transmit, to an access node via a random access resource, a random access preamble, the random access preamble indicating a beam failure recovery request, the random access preamble and the random access resource at least partially identifying a beam selected by the UE;
• receive, from the access node, a first message responsive to the random access preamble, the first message configured to prompt the UE to send additional information over resources assigned by the first message;
• and
• transmit, to the access node, a second message in response to the first message over the resources assigned by the first message, the second message including the additional information about the beam selected by the UE.