Patent ID: 8295848

Claim:
A method of automatically tuning a physical random access channel configuration parameter in a communication network system comprising radio base stations each serving at least one cell and with which user equipments are communicating on uplink and downlink channels, said physical random access channel configuration parameter being used for defining the division of uplink resource blocks between a physical random access channel and a physical uplink shared channel, wherein the method comprises the iterative steps of: collecting load statistics on a random access channel and said physical uplink shared channel; determining a number of random access channel opportunities required per time unit by defining a ratio, γ, between said estimated load on said random access channel and said estimated load on said physical uplink shared channel; when said defined ratio is less than a target threshold value, γ target , minus an offset value, Δ, decreasing a required number of random access channel opportunities per time unit; else, when said ratio is more than said target threshold value, γ target , plus said offset value, Δ, increasing said required number of random access channel opportunities per time unit; else, setting said required number of random access channel opportunities per time unit to be a current number of random access channel opportunities per time unit; selecting a new physical random access channel configuration parameter having said required number of random access channel opportunities per time unit; and replacing an old physical random access channel configuration parameter with said selected new physical random access channel configuration parameter.