Random access for radio access networks

A network node for a radio access network, the network node comprising processing circuitry configured to:

• perform a random access response procedure based on a set of access parameters, the random access response procedure being performed by the network node in response to a transmission of a random access preamble from a user terminal, UE, the random access response procedure being one of a first procedure type and a second procedure type, the first procedure type representing contention-based random access (CBRA) and the second procedure type representing contention-free random access (CFRA), a first set of access parameters being used for a random access response procedure of the first procedure type and a second set of access parameters being used for a random access response procedure of the second procedure type
• the random access response procedure of the first procedure type including broadcasting an indication of a set of cell-specific random access preambles;
• and
• the random access response procedure of the second procedure type including transmitting an indication of a UE-specific random access preamble, the random access response procedure of the second procedure type being performed after performing the random access response procedure of the first procedure type.

A method of operating a user equipment, UE, in a radio access network, the method comprising:

• performing a random access request procedure based on a set of access parameters, the random access request procedure being performed by the UE to request a random access from a network node using a transmission of a random access preamble, the random access request procedure being one of a first procedure type and a second procedure type, the first procedure type representing contention-based random access (CBRA) and the second procedure type representing contention-free random access (CFRA), a first set of access parameters being used for a random access request procedure of the first procedure type and a second set of access parameters being used for a random access request procedure of the second procedure type
• the random access request procedure of the first procedure type including receiving a broadcast indication of a set of cell-specific random access preambles;
• and
• the random access request procedure of the second procedure type including receiving an indication of a UE-specific random access preamble, the random access request procedure of the second procedure type being performed after performing the random access request procedure of the first procedure type.

A user equipment, UE, for a radio access network, the UE comprising processing circuitry configured to:

• perform a random access request procedure based on a set of access parameters, the random access request procedure being performed by the UE to request a random access from a network node using a transmission of a random access preamble, the random access request procedure being one of a first procedure type and a second procedure type, the first procedure type representing contention-based random access (CBRA) and the second procedure type representing contention-free random access (CFRA), a first set of access parameters being used for a random access request procedure of the first procedure type and a second set of access parameters being used for a random access request procedure of the second procedure type
• the random access request procedure of the first procedure type including receiving a broadcast indication of a set of cell-specific random access preambles;
• and
• the random access request procedure of the second procedure type including receiving an indication of a UE-specific random access preamble, the random access request procedure of the second procedure type being performed after performing the random access request procedure of the first procedure type.

A non-transitory computer storage medium storing a computer program comprising instructions configured to cause processing circuitry to at least one of control and perform a method, the method comprising:

• performing a random access response procedure based on a set of access parameters, the random access response procedure being performed by a network node in response to a transmission of a random access preamble from a user terminal, UE, the random access response procedure being one of a first procedure type and a second procedure type, the first procedure type representing contention-based random access (CBRA) and the second procedure type representing contention-free random access (CFRA), a first set of access parameters being used for a random access response procedure of the first procedure type and a second set of access parameters being used for a random access response procedure of the second procedure type
• the random access response procedure of the first procedure type including broadcasting an indication of a set of cell-specific random access preambles;
• and
• the random access response procedure of the second procedure type including transmitting an indication of a UE-specific random access preamble, the random access response procedure of the second procedure type being performed after performing the random access response procedure of the first procedure type.