Uplink Scrambling During Random Access

The method in claim I, further comprising:

• selecting one of a first set of uplink reference sequences specifically associated with a radio base station's cell area or random access channel but which arc not specifically assigned to any user terminal;
• generating a random access message using the selected one of the first set of uplink scrambling sequences and the selected one of the first set of uplink reference sequences;
• and
• transmitting the random access message to the radio base station.

A method implemented in a base station for responding to user terminals requesting service from the base station over a radio channel, comprising:

• broadcasting a first set of uplink scrambling sequences specifically associated with a radio base station's cell area or random access channel but which are not specifically assigned to any user terminal;
• receiving front one of the user terminals a random access message using the one of the first set of uplink scrambling sequences;
• transmitting to the one user terminal a user terminal-specific uplink scrambling sequence selected from a second set of uplink scrambling sequences specifically assignable to user terminals;
• and
• receiving a subsequent communication from the one user terminal scrambled with the selected user terminal-specific uplink scrambling sequence for subsequent communication with the radio base station.

A user terminal for requesting service from a base station having a cell area where the base station offers radio communications service, comprising

• electronic processing circuitry configured to:
• determine one of a first type of uplink scrambling sequences, and
• generate a random access message using the determined one of the first type of uplink scrambling sequences, and
• radio transmission circuitry for transmitting the random access message to the radio base station, and
• radio receiving circuitry for receiving from the radio base station a second different type of uplink scrambling sequence,
• wherein the electronic processing circuitry is configured to use the second different type of uplink scrambling sequence for subsequent communication with the radio base station.

A radio base station for responding to user terminals requesting service from the base station over a radio channel, comprising circuitry configured to:

• broadcast a first set of uplink scrambling sequences specifically associated with a radio base station's cell area or random access channel but which are not specifically assigned to any user terminal;
• receive from one of the user terminals a random access message using the one of the first set of uplink scrambling sequences;
• transmit to the one user terminal a user terminal-specific uplink scrambling sequence selected from a second set of uplink scrambling sequences specifically assignable to user terminals;
• and
• receive a subsequent communication from the one user terminal scrambled with the selected user terminal-specific uplink scrambling sequence for subsequent communication with the radio base station.