Handling of link failure between a reflection node and a network node
There is provided a reflection node for handling link failure towards a network node. The reflection node includes a controller for controlling a passive meta-surface having a controllable reflection angle for reflecting radio waves over a communication channel between a network node and a wireless device. The reflection node includes a transceiver unit for receiving instructions from the network node over a control channel. The transceiver unit is configured to determine a link failure event on the control channel between the reflection node and the network node. The controller is configured to, during the link failure event, control the reflection angle of the passive meta-surface using reflection settings specified by configuration data for reflecting the radio waves over the communication channel.
1. A reflection node for handling link failure towards a network node, the reflection node comprising:
a controller configured to control a passive meta-surface having a controllable reflection angle for reflecting radio waves over a communication channel between a network node and a wireless device; and
a transceiver unit configured to receive instructions from the network node over a control channel;
the transceiver unit being configured to determine a link failure event on the control channel between the reflection node and the network node; and
the controller being configured to, during the link failure event, control the reflection angle of the passive meta-surface using reflection settings specified by configuration data for reflecting the radio waves over the communication channel.
2. The reflection node according to claim 1 , wherein, according to the configuration data, the reflection angle as used immediately before the link failure event was determined is to be maintained.
3. The reflection node according to claim 2 , wherein, according to the configuration data, the reflection angle, as used immediately before the link failure event was determined, is to be maintained only until a timer, as started when the link failure event was determined, expires.
4. The reflection node according to claim 3 , wherein, upon having determined the link failure event, a re-establishment procedure is initiated between the reflection node and the network node, wherein the re-establishment procedure is ongoing at most during a time period, and wherein the timer has an expiration time that equals the time period.
5. The reflection node according to claim 4 , wherein, when the link failure event is still ongoing upon expiration of the timer, the reflection angle is, according to the configuration data, defined by default reflection settings.
6. The reflection node according to claim 1 , wherein, according to the configuration data, the reflection angle is to be altered according to a set of reflection settings.
7. The reflection node according to claim 6 , wherein, according to the configuration data, the reflection angle is to be periodically altered between reflection settings in the set of reflection settings.
8. The reflection node according to claim 6 , wherein the configuration data comprises timestamps, and wherein the timestamps define how the reflection angle is to be time-wise altered between reflection settings in the set of reflection settings.
9. The reflection node according to claim 8 , wherein broadcast symbols and unicast symbols are communicated on the communication channel between the network node and the wireless device, and wherein the timestamps are defined by when in the time broadcast symbols will be transmitted and when in time the unicast symbols will be transmitted.
10. The reflection node according to claim 1 , wherein the passive meta-surface comprises at least two passive meta-surface parts, and wherein, according to the configuration data, the reflection angle is to be different for each of the at least two passive meta-surface parts.
11. A method for handling link failure towards a network node, the method being performed by a reflection node, the reflection node comprising a passive meta-surface having a controllable reflection angle for reflecting radio waves over a communication channel between the network node and a wireless device, the reflection node receiving instructions from the network node over a control channel, the method comprising:
determining a link failure event on the control channel between the reflection node and the network node; and
in response thereto:
controlling, during the link failure event and using reflection settings specified by configuration data, the reflection angle of the passive meta-surface for reflecting the radio waves over the communication channel.
12. A network node for handling link failure towards a reflection node, the network node comprising:
a communications interface configured to send instructions to the reflection node over a control channel, and to use radio waves to communicate with at least one wireless device over a communication channel, the radio waves being, between the network node and the wireless device, reflected at a reflection angle at a passive meta-surface of the reflection node; and
processing circuitry configured to determine a link failure event on the control channel between the network node and the reflection node, the processing circuitry being configured to, during the link failure event, control the communications interface for communication with the wireless device in accordance with configuration data, wherein the configuration data specifying reflection settings according to which the reflection angle at the passive meta-surface of the reflection node is to be controlled during the link failure event.
13. The network node according to claim 12 , wherein, according to the configuration data, the reflection angle as used immediately before the link failure event was determined is to be maintained.
14. The network node according to claim 13 , wherein, according to the configuration data, the reflection angle, as used immediately before the link failure event was determined, is to be maintained only until a timer, as started when the link failure event was determined, expires.
15. The network node according to claim 14 , wherein, upon having determined the link failure event, a re-establishment procedure is initiated between the reflection node and the network node, wherein the re-establishment procedure is ongoing at most during a time period, and wherein the timer has an expiration time that equals the time period.
16. The network node according to claim 12 , wherein, according to the configuration data, the reflection angle is to be altered according to a set of reflection settings.
17. The network node according to claim 16 , wherein, according to the configuration data, the reflection angle is to be periodically altered between reflection settings in the set of reflection settings.
18. The network node according to claim 16 , wherein the configuration data comprises timestamps, and wherein the timestamps define how the reflection angle is to be time-wise altered between reflection settings in the set of reflection settings.
19. The network node according to claim 18 , wherein broadcast symbols and unicast symbols are communicated on the communication channel between the network node and the wireless device, and wherein the timestamps are defined by when in the time broadcast symbols will be transmitted and when in time the unicast symbols will be transmitted.
20. A method for handling link failure towards a reflection node, the method being performed by a network node, the network node sending instructions to the reflection node over a control channel, the network node using radio waves for communicating with at least one wireless device over a communication channel, the radio waves being, between the network node and the wireless device, reflected at a reflection angle at a passive meta-surface of the reflection node, the method comprising:
determining a link failure event on the control channel between the network node and the reflection node; and
in response thereto:
communicating with the wireless device in accordance with configuration data during the link failure event, wherein the configuration data specifies reflection settings according to which the reflection angle at the passive meta-surface of the reflection node is to be controlled during the link failure event.