Prioritization for random access

A prioritization method for random access, the method comprising:

• receiving a packet of a second packet flow for transmission, wherein the second packet flow is assigned an access category queue having priority over an access category queue assignable to a first packet flow;
• performing a random access procedure for only the received packet of the second packet flow;
• receiving the first packet flow;
• and
• responsive to receiving the packet of the second packet flow, preventing interruption by the received first packet flow of the random access procedure for the received packet of the second packet flow.

An apparatus for prioritization in a random access procedure, the apparatus comprising controlling circuitry configured to cause:

• reception of a first packet flow for transmission, wherein the first packet flow is assigned a respective access category queue;
• initiation of a random access procedure for the first packet flow;
• reception of a packet of a second packet flow for transmission, wherein the second packet flow is assigned an access category queue having priority over the access category queue assigned to the first packet flow;
• issuance of an indication configured to interrupt the random access procedures for the first packet flow;
• and
• performance of a random access procedure for the received packet of the second packet flow, wherein idle time slots previously sensed by the random access procedure for the first packet flow are considered as sensed also for the random access procedure for the second packet flow,
• wherein the controlling circuitry is configured to cause the issuance of the indication configured to interrupt the random access procedures of the first packet flows in response to reception of the packet of the second packet flow.

An apparatus for prioritization in a random access procedure, the apparatus comprising controlling circuitry configured to cause:

• reception of a packet of a second packet flow for transmission, wherein the second packet flow is assigned an access category queue having priority over an access category queue assigned to a first packet flow;
• performance of a random access procedure for only the received packet of the second packet flow;
• reception of the first packet flow;
• and
• responsive to the reception of the packet of the second packet flow, prevention of interruption by the received first packet flow of the random access procedure for the received packet of the second packet flow.