Frequency hopping for random access

A radio network node configured for use in a wireless communication system, the radio network node comprising:

• radio circuitry configured to receive a signal from a user equipment;
• and
• processing circuitry configured to process the received signal in an attempt to detect a random access preamble signal that comprises multiple symbol groups, with each of the symbol groups on a single tone during a different time resource, according to a frequency hopping pattern that hops the random access preamble signal from at least one of the symbols groups to an adjacent symbol group over a fixed frequency distance and hops the random access preamble signal from at least one of the symbols groups to an adjacent symbol group over a pseudo random frequency distance, wherein each symbol group in the random access preamble signal comprises one or more symbols.

A method implemented by a user equipment configured for use in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• generating, by processing circuitry of the user equipment, a random access preamble signal that comprises multiple symbol groups, with each symbol group on a single tone during a different time resource, according to a frequency hopping pattern that hops the random access preamble signal from at least one of the symbols groups to an adjacent symbol group over a fixed frequency distance and hops the random access preamble signal from at least one of the symbols groups to an adjacent symbol group over a pseudo random frequency distance, wherein each symbol group in the random access preamble signal comprises one or more symbols;
• and
• transmitting, by radio circuitry of the user equipment, the random access preamble signal.

A method implemented by a radio network node configured for use in a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

• receiving, by radio circuitry of the radio network node, a signal from a user equipment;
• and
• processing, by processing circuitry of the radio network node, the received signal in an attempt to detect a random access preamble that comprises multiple symbol groups, with each of the symbol groups on a single tone during a different time resource, according to a frequency hopping pattern that hops the random access preamble signal from at least one of the symbols groups to an adjacent symbol group over a fixed frequency distance and hops the random access preamble signal from at least one of the symbols groups to an adjacent symbol group over a pseudo random frequency distance, wherein each symbol group in the random access preamble signal comprises one or more symbols.