Telecommunications system
Provided is a telecommunications system comprising a core network, an Integrated Access Backhaul donor arranged in connection with the core network; and a plurality of Integrated Access Backhaul nodes connected to one Integrated Access Backhaul donor, either directly or by means of other Integrated Access Backhaul nodes. At least some of the Integrated Access Backhaul nodes are configured to operate in different backhauling profiles, and at least some of these Integrated Access Backhaul nodes comprise a UICC which is configured to manage a set of backhauling profiles of the corresponding Integrated Access Backhaul node.
1 . A telecommunications system comprising:
a core network;
at least one Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB) donor arranged in connection with the core network; and
a plurality of Integrated Access Backhaul nodes connected to one Integrated Access Backhaul donor, either directly or by means of other Integrated Access Backhaul nodes;
wherein at least some of the Integrated Access Backhaul nodes operate in different backhauling profiles, and at least some of these Integrated Access Backhaul nodes comprise a Universal Integrated Circuit Card UICC including a processor a memory storing profile management data and executable instructions, the executable instructions, when executed by the processor of the UICC, causing the UICC to:
manage a set of backhauling profiles of the corresponding Integrated Access Backhaul node,
selectively apply one of the backhauling profiles for Integrated Access Backhaul topology management and Integrated Access Backhaul authentication; and
apply a fallback backhauling profile in response to a condition associated with topology management or authentication,
said set of backhauling profiles comprising at least a profile for IAB topology management and for IAB authentication and the fallback backhauling profile.
2 . The telecommunications system according to claim 1 , wherein the UICC is used to store securely sensitive data related to the backhauling profiles, such as IAB routing tables.
3 . The telecommunications system according to claim 1 , further comprising a topology management server configured to provide or update information to the UICC.
4 . The telecommunications system according to claim 3 , wherein the topology management server is configured to update the sensitive data related to the backhauling profiles.
5 . The telecommunications system according to claim 3 , wherein the topology management server communicates via an Over the Air (OTA) connection, via Short Message Service (SMS) secure packet or authentication protocol.
6 . The telecommunications system according to claim 3 , wherein the topology management server is configured to activate an Universal Subscriber Identity Module USIM in the UICC or to send a profile to the UICC.
7 . The telecommunications system according to claim 1 , wherein the UICC is configured to swap from one backhauling profile to a different backhauling profile particularly relying on some information available in the corresponding Integrated Access Backhaul node to choose the most adequate profile.
8 . The telecommunications system according to claim 1 , wherein the fallback backhauling profile is used for sending diagnostic information and for maintenance purposes.
9 . The telecommunications system according to claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of next Generation Nodes (gNBs) directly connected to the core network by means of an optical fiber connection.
10 . The telecommunications system according to claim 1 , wherein the Integrated Access Backhaul nodes are connected to the Integrated Access Backhaul donor by means of a wireless backhaul link.
11 . A Universal Integrated Circuit Card UICC including a processor a memory storing profile management data and executable instructions, operating within a telecommunications system comprising: a core network; at least one Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB) donor arranged in connection with the core network; and a plurality of Integrated Access Backhaul nodes connected to one Integrated Access Backhaul donor, either directly or by means of other Integrated Access Backhaul nodes; wherein at least some of the Integrated Access Backhaul operate in different backhauling profiles, and at least some of these Integrated Access Backhaul nodes comprise the UICC;
wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor of the UICC, causing the UICC to:
manage a set of backhauling profiles of the corresponding Integrated Access Backhaul node;
selectively apply one of the backhauling profiles for Integrated Access Backhaul topology management and Integrated Access Backhaul authentication; and
apply a fallback backhauling profile in response to a condition associated with topology management or authentication,
said set of backhauling profiles comprising at least a profile for IAB topology management and for IAB authentication and the fallback backhauling profile.