RADB: Random Access with Differentiated Barring for Latency-Constrained Applications in NB-IoT Network

Abstract

With the development of LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) technology, the emerging NB-IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) technology is becoming popular with wide area and low-data-rate services. In order to achieve objectives such as huge amount of connection and wide area coverage within NB-IoT, the problem of network congestion generated by random access of numerous devices should be solved. In this paper, we first introduce the background of NB-IoT and investigate the research on random access optimization algorithm. Then we summarize relevant features of NB-IoT uplink and narrowband physical random access channel and design random access with differentiated barring (RADB), which can improve the insufficiency of traditional dynamic access class barring method. At last, the algorithms proposed in this paper are realized with established NB-IoT model using OPNET Modeler platform, and simulations are conducted. The simulation results show that RADB is able to effectively solve preamble request conflict generated by random access of numerous devices and preferentially provide efficient and reliable random access for latency-sensitive devices.