Method and arrangement in a relay node and a controlling node
According to various embodiments, a method is provided at a relay node for enabling subframe allocation between a backhaul link and an access link of the relay node. The relay node is connected to a controlling entity via the backhaul link, and is connectable to at least one user equipment via the access link. The relay node receives a trigger or configuration information from the controlling entity from the controlling entity. Based on the received trigger or configuration information, the relay node sends information to the controlling entity, indicating a resource utilization of the access link and/or indicating a quality of the access link.
1. A method at a relay node for enabling subframe allocation between a backhaul link and an access link of the relay node, wherein the relay node is connected to a controlling entity via the backhaul link, and the relay node is connectable to at least one user equipment via the access link, the relay node and controlling node being comprised in a network, the method comprising:
receiving, from the controlling entity, a trigger to send information, or configuration information determining when to send information to the controlling entity;
sending, to the controlling entity and based on the received trigger or configuration information, information indicating a resource utilization of the access link and information indicating a quality of the access link to the controlling entity, the information comprising a link quality indicator indicating the quality of the access link, the link quality indicator determined using a plurality of estimated bitrates for a plurality of different user equipment serviced by the relay node; and
receiving, from the controlling entity, a subframe allocation between the backhaul link and the access link of the relay node, the subframe allocation selected by the controlling entity based on the information indicating a resource utilization of the access link and information indicating the quality of the access link as provided by the relay node.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information comprises an indicator of the load of the access link in relation to one or more predefined load threshold levels, and an indicator of the quality of the access link in relation to one or more predefined quality threshold levels.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the indicator of a load and the indicator of a quality comprises one bit, indicating a high or low level with respect to a predefined load or quality threshold level, respectively.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the predefined load threshold level, and the predefined quality threshold level, is configured by the network.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information indicating a resource utilization and the information indicating a quality is an indicator comprising one or more bits indicating a percentage level.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
directly or indirectly receiving a subframe configuration from the controlling entity.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the relay node receives a trigger from the controlling entity, and said trigger is a request from the controlling entity to send the information.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the relay node receives configuration information from the controlling entity, said configuration information indicating that the information indicating a resource utilization and the information indicating a quality should be sent periodically, or when the measure on which the corresponding indicator is based fulfills a predefined criterion or predefined criteria.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the configuration information indicates that the information indicating a resource utilization and the information indicating a quality should be sent when a measure on which the corresponding indicator is based reaches or exceeds a predefined threshold.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the configuration information indicates that the information indicating a resource utilization and the information indicating a quality should be sent when a measure on which the corresponding indicator is based changes by a predefined amount.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information comprises more than one load indicator and more than one quality indicator.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling entity is a donor eNB, or an OAM node, or a combination of both.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information indicating a resource utilization and the information indicating a quality is sent using RRC or MAC signalling.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information indicating a resource utilization and the information indicating a quality are comprised in a report.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information sent to the controlling entity comprises a link quality indicator indicating the quality of the access link, the link quality indicator based on a plurality of CQIs received from a plurality of user equipment serviced by the relay node.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information sent to the controlling entity comprises a link quality indicator indicating the quality of the access link, the link quality indicator comprising an average link quality compiled for a relay cell serviced by the relay node.
17. A method at a controlling entity for determining a subframe allocation between a backhaul link and an access link of a relay node, wherein the relay node is connected to the controlling entity via the backhaul link, and the relay node is connectable to at least one user equipment via the access link, the relay node and controlling node being comprised in a network, the method comprising:
sending, to the relay node, a trigger to send information or configuration information determining when the relay should send information to the controlling entity;
receiving, from the relay node, information indicating a resource utilization of the access link and information indicating a quality of the access link to the controlling node, the information comprising a link quality indicator indicating the quality of the access link, the link quality indicator determined using a plurality of estimated bitrates for a plurality of different user equipment serviced by the relay node;
selecting a subframe allocation between the backhaul link and the access link for the relay node based least in part on the received information indicating a resource utilization of the access link and information indicating the quality of the access link as provided by the relay node;
directly or indirectly configuring the relay node with the determined subframe allocation.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the information comprises an indicator of the load of the access link in relation to one or more predefined load threshold levels, and an indicator of the quality of the access link in relation to one or more predefined quality threshold levels.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the indicator of the load and the indicator of quality comprises one bit, indicating a high or low level with respect to a predefined load or quality threshold level, respectively.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the information indicating a resource utilization and the information indicating a quality is an indicator comprising one or more bits indicating a percentage level.
21. The method of claim 17 , further comprising sending a trigger to the relay node, wherein said trigger is a request to send the information.
22. The method of claim 17 , further comprising sending configuration information to the relay node, said configuration information indicating that the information indicating a resource utilization and the information indicating a quality should be sent periodically or when the measure on which the corresponding indicator is based fulfils a predefined criterion or predefined criteria.
23. The method of claim 22 , wherein the configuration information indicates that the information indicating a resource utilization and the information indicating a quality should be sent when a measure on which the corresponding indicator is based reaches or exceeds a predefined threshold.
24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the configuration information indicates that the information indicating a resource utilization and the information indicating a quality should be sent when a measure on which the corresponding indicator is based changes by a predefined amount.
25. The method of claim 17 , wherein the information comprises more than one load indicator and more than one quality indicator.
26. The method of claim 17 , wherein the controlling entity is a donor eNB, an OAM node, or a combination of both.
27. The method of claim 17 , wherein the information indicating a resource utilization and the information indicating a quality is received using RRC or MAC signalling.
28. The method of claim 17 , wherein the received information is comprised in a report.
29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the controlling entity is a donor eNB or an OAM node.
30. A relay node connectable to a controlling entity via a backhaul link, and connectable to at least one user equipment via an access link, the relay node comprising one or more processing circuits configured to:
receive, from the controlling entity, a trigger or configuration information determining when to send information to the controlling entity;
send, to the controlling entity and based on the received trigger or configuration information, information indicating a resource utilization of the access link and information indicating a quality of the access link, the information comprising a link quality indicator indicating the quality of the access link, the link quality indicator determined using a plurality of estimated bitrates for a plurality of different user equipment serviced by the relay node; and
receive, from the controlling entity, a subframe allocation between the backhaul link and the access link of the relay node, the subframe allocation selected by the controlling entity based on the information indicating a resource utilization of the access link and/or information indicating the quality of the access link as provided by the relay node.
31. A controlling entity for determining a subframe allocation between a backhaul link and an access link of a relay node, wherein the relay node is connectable to the controlling entity via the backhaul link, and the relay node is connectable to at least one user equipment via the access link, wherein the controlling entity is configured to:
send, to the relay node, a trigger or configuration information determining when the relay node should send information to the controlling entity;
receive, from the relay node, information indicating a resource utilization of the access link and information indicating a quality of the access link to the controlling node, the information comprising a link quality indicator indicating the quality of the access link, the link quality indicator determined using a plurality of estimated bitrates for a plurality of different user equipment serviced by the relay node; and;
select a subframe allocation between backhaul link and the access link for the relay node based least in part on the received information indicating a resource utilization of the access link and information indicating the quality of the access link as provided by the relay node; and
directly or indirectly configure the relay node with the determined subframe allocation.