Handling of deteriorating AP-to-AP wireless link

1. A method for handling a deteriorating access point to access point (AP-to-AP) wireless link in an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) network, the method being performed by a first access point (AP) in the IAB network, the method comprising:

identifying signal deterioration of a first AP-to-AP wireless link between the first AP and a second AP in the IAB network, the first AP-to-AP wireless link being used for backhauling data for customer premises equipments (CPEs) served by the second AP and for backhauling data for CPEs served by a third AP in the IAB network, wherein the CPEs served by the second AP include a first CPE, and the second AP has a second AP-to-AP wireless link to the third AP for backhauling data for the CPEs served by the third AP;

receiving a message for a second CPE; and

in response to identifying the signal deterioration, transmitting to the first CPE the message for the second CPE, wherein

the message for the second CPE is transmitted to the first CPE on a first direct wireless link between the first AP and the first CPE, and

the first CPE is configured to relay the message for the second CPE towards the second CPE.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second CPE is served by the third AP.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein a transmission and reception beam of a first beam width is used for the first AP-to-AP wireless link, the method further comprising, upon having identified the signal deterioration:

communicating, on the first AP-to-AP wireless link and using a transmission and reception beam of a second beam width being wider than the first beam width, the data for all CPEs served by the second AP, except the data for said first CPE.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the transmission and reception beam of the second beam width has higher power than the transmission and reception beam of the first beam width.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a second message for a third CPE, wherein the third CPE is served by the third AP;

identifying signal deterioration of the second AP-to-AP wireless link; and

in response to identifying the signal deterioration of the second AP-to-AP wireless link, transmitting to the first CPE the second message for the third CPE, wherein

the message for the third CPE is transmitted to the first CPE on the first direct wireless link between the first AP and the first CPE, and

the first CPE is configured to relay the second message for the third CPE towards the second CPE.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

receiving a third message for a fourth CPE, wherein the fourth CPE is served by the second AP;

determining the signal deterioration of the first AP-to-AP wireless link has expired; and

transmitting the third message to the second AP on the first AP-to-AP wireless link.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prior to identifying the signal deterioration of the first AP-to-AP wireless link, selecting the first CPE as a relay CPE.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein selecting the first CPE as the relay CPE comprises:

determining the first CPE has a signal quality on a direct wireless link to the first AP better than other CPEs served by the second AP; and/or

determining the first CPE has a signal quality on a direct wireless link to the third AP better than other CPEs served by the second AP.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein selecting the first CPE as the relay CPE comprises:

determining the first CPE has a geographical distance to the first AP less than other CPEs served by the second AP; or

determining the first CPE has a geographical distance to the third AP less than other CPEs served by the second AP.

10. A method for handling a deteriorating access point to access point (AP-to-AP) wireless link in an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) network comprising a first access point (AP), a second AP, and a third AP, the method being performed by a first customer premises equipment (CPE) in the IAB network, the first CPE being served by the second AP in the IAB network, the method comprising:

the first CPE receiving a message for a second CPE served by the third AP, wherein the message for the second CPE was transmitted by the first AP after the first AP detected signal deterioration of a first AP-to-AP wireless link between the first AP and the second AP, and the message for the second CPE was transmitted on a first direct wireless link between the first CPE and the first AP; and

the first CPE transmitting the message for the second CPE directly to the second AP, directly to the third AP, or directly to a third CPE.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first CPE transmits the message for the second CPE directly to the third AP, and the first CPE transmits the message for the second CPE on a second direct wireless link between the first CPE and the third AP.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein:

the first CPE transmits the message for the second CPE directly to the third AP upon signal deterioration of a second AP-to-AP wireless link between the second AP and the third AP.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first CPE transmits the message for the second CPE directly to the third AP on a second direct wireless link.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein

the first CPE transmits the message for the second CPE directly to the third CPE,

the third CPE is configured to relay the message for the second CPE towards the second CPE, and

the third CPE served by the second AP.

15. The method of claim 10 ,

the first CPE transmits the message for the second CPE directly to the second AP, and

the second AP is configured to relay the message for the second CPE towards the second CPE.

16. A first access point (AP) for handling a deteriorating AP-to-AP wireless link in an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) network, the first AP being operable in the IAB network and comprising processing circuitry, the processing circuitry being configured to cause the first AP to:

identify signal deterioration of a first AP-to-AP wireless link between the first AP and a second AP in the IAB network, the first AP-to-AP wireless link being used for backhauling data for customer premises equipments (CPEs) served by the second AP and for backhauling data for CPEs served by a third AP in the IAB network, wherein the CPEs served by the second AP include a first CPE, and the second AP has a second AP-to-AP wireless link to the third AP for backhauling data for the CPEs served by the third AP;

receive a message for a second CPE; and

in response to identifying the signal deterioration, transmit to the first CPE the message for the second CPE, wherein

the message for the second CPE is transmitted to the first CPE on a first direct wireless link between the first AP and the first CPE, and

the first CPE is configured to relay the message for the second CPE towards the second CPE.

17. A first customer premises equipment (CPE) for handling a deteriorating access point (AP) to AP (AP-to-AP) wireless link in an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) network comprising a first AP, a second AP, and a third AP, the first CPE being served by the second AP in the IAB network, the first CPE comprising:

memory; and

processing circuitry coupled to the memory, wherein the CPE is configured to:

receive a message for a second CPE served by the third AP, wherein the message for the second CPE was transmitted by the first AP after the first AP detected signal deterioration of a first AP-to-AP wireless link between the first AP and the second AP, and the message for the second CPE was transmitted on a first direct wireless link between the first CPE and the first AP; and

transmit the message for the second CPE directly to the second AP, directly to the third AP, or directly to a third CPE.