Hop-count indication in wireless systems

1. A method for wireless communications at a relay network node in a wireless communications system, comprising:

identifying a first communication path from the relay network node to a first anchor network node of the wireless communications system, wherein the first communication path is associated with a first hop-count and a first quality of service (QoS);

identifying a second communication path from the relay network node to a second anchor network node of the wireless communications system, wherein the second communication path is associated with a second hop-count and a second QoS; and

transmitting a signal indicating at least one of the first hop-count or the second hop-count, wherein the first hop-count indicates a number of links between the relay network node and the first anchor network node, and the second hop-count indicates a number of links between the relay network node and the second anchor network node.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining the first QoS based at least in part on the first hop-count, a network load of one or more network nodes associated with the first communication path, a backhaul link capacity between the one or more network nodes associated with the first communication path, or a stability of the backhaul link between the one or more network nodes associated with the first communication path, or a combination thereof; and

determining the second QoS based at least in part on the second hop-count, a network load of one or more network nodes associated with the second communication path, a backhaul link capacity between the one or more network nodes associated with the second communication path, or a stability of the backhaul link between the one or more network nodes associated with the second communication path, or a combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

serving a child network node in communication with the relay network node via the first communication path; and

serving an access device in communication with the relay network node via the second communication path.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining that new requests cannot be served via the first communication path; and

transmitting the signal to a child network node or an access device based at least in part on the determining, wherein the signal conveys an indication of the second hop-count.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating a first signal based at least in part on a first generation sequence; and

transmitting the first signal to a child network node or an access device,

wherein the first signal conveys the indication of the first hop-count and the indication of the first hop-count is based at least in part on a first set of time-frequency resources allocated for the first signal or the first generation sequence.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

generating a second signal based at least in part on a second generation sequence; and

transmitting the second signal to the child network node or the access device,

wherein the second signal conveys the indication of the second hop-count and the indication of the second hop-count is based at least in part on a second set of time-frequency resources allocated for the second signal or the second generation sequence.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first and second signals are broadcast signals transmitted over different time-frequency resources or at different periodicities.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

generating a common channel carrying information related to the first and second communication paths.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the information related to the first and second communication paths comprises the first and second hop-counts.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first hop-count and the second hop-count are the same.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first anchor network node and the second anchor network node are the same.

12. A method for wireless communications at a first network node in a wireless communications system, comprising:

receiving, from a relay network node in the wireless communications system, a signal indicating at least one of a first hop-count associated with a first communication path and a first quality of service (QoS) or a second hop-count associated with a second communication path and a second QoS, wherein the first hop-count indicates a number of links between the relay network node and a first anchor network node, and the second hop-count indicates a number of links between the relay network node and a second anchor network node; and

communicating with the relay network node or a child network node via the first communication path or the second communication path based at least in part on the signal and the indicated first or second hop-count.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining a first set of time-frequency resources for communication of a data packet associated with the first QoS via the first communication path based at least in part on the first hop-count, or a second set of time-frequency resources for communication of a data packet associated with the second QoS via the second communication path based at least in part on the second hop-count; and

communicating with the relay network node or the child network node via the first communication path or the second communication path based at least in part on the determining.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving, over a set of time-frequency resources, at least one of a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), a control channel, a data channel, or a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) associated with the control channel or the data channel; and

communicating with the relay network node or the child network node via the first communication path or the second communication path based at least in part on the set of time-frequency resources.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the set of time-frequency resources conveys an indication of the first hop-count or the second hop-count.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) sequence associated with a control channel or a data channel; and

communicating with the relay network node or the child network node via the first communication path or the second communication path based at least in part on the DMRS sequence.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the DMRS sequence conveys an indication of the first hop-count or the second hop-count.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving at least one of a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), a control channel, or a data channel associated with a generation sequence; and

communicating with the relay network node or the child network node via the first communication path or the second communication path based at least in part on the generation sequence.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein:

the generation sequence comprises a scrambling sequence or a base sequence; and

the generation sequence conveys an indication of the first hop-count or the second hop-count.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

determining a resource pattern or a slot structure for communication with the relay network node based at least in part on the signal, wherein the resource pattern or the slot structure is determined based at least in part on a mapping rule.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

communicating with the relay network node based at least in part on the resource pattern, the slot structure, or a combination thereof.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the resource pattern or the slot structure is associated with a semi-static resource allocation.

23. The method of claim 12 , wherein:

the signal is a broadcast signal; and

a set of time-frequency resources associated with the signal or a periodicity of the signal indicates the first hop-count or the second hop count.

24. The method of claim 12 , wherein receiving the signal comprises:

receiving a common channel carrying information related to multiple hop-counts, the common channel indicative of the first hop-count or the second hop-count; and

communicating with the relay network node or the child network node via the first communication path or the second communication path based at least in part on the common channel.

25. An apparatus for wireless communications at a relay network node in a wireless communications system, comprising:

a processor,

memory coupled with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

identify a first communication path from the relay network node to a first anchor network node of the wireless communications system, wherein the first communication path is associated with a first hop-count and a first quality of service (QoS);

identify a second communication path from the relay network node to a second anchor network node of the wireless communications system, wherein the second communication path is associated with a second hop-count and a second QoS; and

transmit a signal indicating at least one of the first hop-count or the second hop-count, wherein the first hop-count indicates a number of links between the relay network node and the first anchor network node, and the second hop-count indicates a number of links between the relay network node and the second anchor network node.

26. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

determine the first QoS based at least in part on the first hop-count, a network load of one or more network nodes associated with the first communication path, a backhaul link capacity between the one or more network nodes associated with the first communication path, or a stability of the backhaul link between the one or more network nodes associated with the first communication path, or a combination thereof; and

determine the second QoS based at least in part on the second hop-count, the network load of one or more network nodes associated with the second communication path, a backhaul link capacity between the one or more network nodes associated with the second communication path, or a stability of the backhaul link between the one or more network nodes associated with the second communication path, or a combination thereof.

27. The apparatus of claim 25 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

serve a child network node in communication with the relay network node via the first communication path; and

serve an access device in communication with the relay network node via the second communication path.

28. An apparatus for wireless communications at a first network node in a wireless communications system, comprising:

a processor,

memory coupled with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

receive, from a relay network node in the wireless communications system, a signal indicating at least one of a first hop-count associated with a first communication path and a first quality of service (QoS) or a second hop-count associated with a second communication path and a second QoS, wherein the first hop-count indicates a number of links between the relay network node and a first anchor network node, and the second hop-count indicates a number of links between the relay network node and a second anchor network node; and

communicate with the relay network node or a child network node via the first communication path or the second communication path based at least in part on the signal and the indicated first or second hop-count.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

receive, over a set of time-frequency resources, at least one of a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), a tracking reference signal (TRS), a sounding reference signal (SRS), a control channel, a data channel, or a demodulation reference signal (DMRS) associated with the control channel or the data channel; and

communicating with the relay network node or the child network node via the first communication path or the second communication path based at least in part on the set of time-frequency resources.

30. The apparatus of claim 29 , wherein the set of time-frequency resources conveys an indication of the first hop-count or the second hop-count.