Enhanced random access procedure for air-to-ground communications

摘要

Methods, systems, and devices are described for establishing a wireless communications link at an aircraft terminal (AT). An AT may determine a timing offset based on the propagation delay between the AT and a ground station, which in some cases may be more than 100 kilometers away. The AT may then transmit an initial access message to the ground station based on the determined timing offset. In some embodiments, the AT may receive an access response message from the ground station that includes a timing alignment value and adjust the timing offset based on this value. The AT may transmit a connection message to the ground station that includes AT location information. This information may be used by the ground station to facilitate beamforming.

主权项

1. A method of establishing a wireless communications link at an aircraft terminal (AT), comprising:
determining a timing offset based at least in part on a propagation delay between the AT and a ground station; initiating communication to establish a radio resource control (RRC) interface with the ground station prior to receiving a message from the ground station by transmitting an initial access message to the ground station based at least in part on the determined timing offset, the initial access message being a first indication to the ground station of the AT requesting the RRC interface; receiving an access response message from the ground station that includes a timing alignment value; and adjusting the timing offset based at least in part on the timing alignment value.