Signaling for simultaneous operation in integrated access backhaul (IAB) node
Embodiments include methods for an integrated access backhaul (IAB) node serving a cell in a wireless network. The IAB node can include an IAB distributed unit (IAB-DU) and an IAB mobile terminal (IAB-MT). Such methods include sending, to an IAB donor centralized unit (CU) in the wireless network, an indication of one or more simultaneous operation capabilities of the IAB-DU and the IAB-MIT and receiving from the IAB donor CU a multiplexing configuration based on the simultaneous operation capabilities. Such methods also include configuring one or more of the following for operation in the cell according to the received multiplexing configuration: one or more child IAB nodes; and one or more user equipment (UEs). Other embodiments include complementary methods for an IAB donor CU and a parent IAB node of the IAB node, as well as IAB nodes and IAB donor CUs configured to perform such methods.
1 . A method for an integrated access backhaul (IAB) node configured to operate in a wireless network, the IAB node comprising an IAB distributed unit (IAB-DU) and an IAB mobile terminal (IAB-MT), the method comprising:
receiving the following from an IAB donor centralized unit (CU) in the wireless network:
a first configuration of the IAB-MT for operation in a first cell served by a parent IAB node of the IAB node; and
a second configuration of the IAB-DU for serving a second cell;
sending, to the IAB donor CU, an indication of one or more capability for simultaneous operation of the IAB-DU and the IAB-MT, in accordance with the received first and second configurations;
receiving, from the IAB donor CU, a multiplexing configuration for each timeslot based on the indicated one or more capability; and
configuring one or more of the following for operation in the second cell according to the received multiplexing configuration: one or more child IAB nodes; and one or more user equipment (UEs).
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the following applies:
the first configuration includes an indication of one of the following resource types for each timeslot of the link between the IAB-MT and the parent IAB node: uplink-only, downlink-only, flexible uplink-downlink, and not available; and
the second configuration includes an indication of one of the following frequency-domain resource configurations for the second cell: Hard (H), Soft (S), and Not Available (NA).
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the second configuration also includes a time-domain resource configuration for the second cell.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein configuring for operation in the second cell is further based on the second configuration.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting, to the parent IAB node, an indication of the second configuration of the IAB-DU for serving the second cell.
6 . The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
in response to a change in operation conditions related to the second cell or the IAB-MT, sending to the parent IAB node a request to update the multiplexing configuration in accordance with the change in operation conditions;
receiving from the parent IAB node an updated multiplexing configuration or an indication to use a previously received updated multiplexing configuration; and
configuring one or more of the following for operation in the second cell according to the updated multiplexing configuration indicated by the parent IAB node: the one or more child IAB nodes, and the one or more UEs.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein:
the updated multiplexing configuration is received from the IAB donor CU together with the multiplexing configuration; and
the indication to use the updated multiplexing configuration is received from the parent IAB node.
8 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising sending one of the following to the IAB donor CU: the updated multiplexing configuration or an indication that the updated multiplexing configuration is being used.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the indicated one or more capability includes any of the following:
time domain multiplexing (TDM) capability;
frequency domain multiplexing (FDM) capability;
spatial domain multiplexing (SDM) capability;
supported timing modes;
supported synchronization procedures;
supported power control dynamic range;
power control configurations supported for simultaneous operation; and
one or more preferred modes for multiplexing between IAB-DU and IAB-MT.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the multiplexing configuration includes indications of one or more of the following for each of a plurality of timeslots:
one or more types of multiplexing between IAB-DU and IAB-MT allowed during the timeslot, including one or more of the following:
IAB-MT Transmission (TX)/IAB-DU TX;
IAB-MT TX/IAB-DU Reception (RX);
IAB-MT RX/IAB-DU TX; and
IAB-MT RX/IAB-DU RX;
one or more types of traffic allowed during the timeslot, including one or more of the following types: access traffic, and backhaul traffic; and
a type of time resource available for the IAB-DU during the timeslot, the type of time resource being one of the following: a downlink time resource, an uplink time resource, and a flexible uplink-downlink time resource.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein time domain multiplexing (TDM) or frequency domain multiplexing (FDM) is allowed during each of the timeslots.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein for each of the timeslots:
when TDM is indicated as allowed for the timeslot, the multiplexing configuration also includes an indication of one of the following for the timeslot:
the timeslot is always available for the IAB-DU,
the availability of the timeslot for the IAB-DU is controlled by the parent IAB node, or
the timeslot is not available for the IAB-DU; and
when FDM is indicated as allowed for the timeslot, the multiplexing configuration also includes an indication of one of the following for each of a plurality of frequency resources during the timeslot:
the frequency resource is always available during the timeslot for the IAB-DU,
the availability of the frequency resource for the IAB-DU during the timeslot is controlled by the parent IAB node, or
the frequency resource is not available for the IAB-DU during the timeslot.
13 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions the execution of which causes the method of claim 1 to be performed by the IAB node.
14 . A method for an integrated access backhaul (IAB) donor centralized unit (CU) configured to operate in a wireless network, the method comprising:
sending the following to an IAB node that comprises an IAB distributed unit (IAB-DU) and an IAB mobile terminal (IAB-MT):
a first configuration of the IAB-MT for operation in a first cell served by a parent IAB node of the IAB node; and
a second configuration of the IAB-DU for serving a second cell;
receiving, from the IAB node, an indication of one or more capability for simultaneous operation of the IAB-DU and the IAB-MT, in accordance with the first and second configurations;
determining a multiplexing configuration for each timeslot for the IAB node based on the indicated one or more capability; and
sending the multiplexing configuration to the IAB node.
15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising receiving one of the following from the IAB node: an updated multiplexing configuration being used by the IAB node, or an indication that a previously received updated multiplexing configuration is being used by the IAB node.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the indication is received from the IAB node and pertains to an updated multiplexing configuration sent to the IAB node together with the multiplexing configuration.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein determining the multiplexing configuration for the IAB node is further based on one or more of the following:
radio resource management (RRM) or radio link monitoring (RLM) configurations associated with one or more of the following: the IAB node, the parent IAB node, and one or more child IAB nodes of the IAB node; and
RRM or RLM measurements received from one or more of the following: the IAB node, the parent IAB node, and the one or more child IAB nodes.
18 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising sending the multiplexing configuration to the parent IAB node.
19 . A non-transitory, computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions, the execution of which causes the method of claim 14 to be performed by the IAB donor CU.
20 . An integrated access backhaul (IAB) node configured to operate in a wireless network, the IAB node comprising:
processing circuitry and communication interface circuitry configured as an IAB mobile terminal (IAB-MT) and an IAB distributed unit (IAB-DU), wherein the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are further configured to:
receive the following from an IAB donor centralized unit (CU) in the wireless network:
a first configuration of the IAB-MT for operation in a first cell served by a parent IAB node of the IAB node; and
a second configuration of the IAB-DU for serving a second cell;
send, to the IAB donor CU, an indication of one or more capability for simultaneous operation of the IAB-DU and the IAB-MT, in accordance with the received first and second configurations;
receive, from the IAB donor CU, a multiplexing configuration for each timeslot based on the indicated one or more capability; and
configure one or more of the following for operation in the second cell according to the received multiplexing configuration: one or more child IAB nodes; and one or more user equipment (UEs).
21 . An integrated access backhaul (IAB) donor centralized unit (CU) configured to operate in a wireless network, the IAB donor CU comprising communication interface circuitry and processing circuitry that are operably coupled and are configured to:
send the following to an IAB node that comprises an IAB distributed unit (IAB-DU) and an IAB mobile terminal (IAB-MT):
a first configuration of the IAB-MT for operation in a first cell served by a parent IAB node of the IAB node; and
a second configuration of the IAB-DU for serving a second cell;
receive, from the IAB node, an indication of one or more capability for simultaneous operation of the IAB-DU and the IAB-MT, in accordance with the first and second configurations;
determine a multiplexing configuration for each timeslot for the IAB node based on the indicated one or more capability; and
send the multiplexing configuration to the IAB node.
22 . The IAB donor CU of claim 21 , wherein the processing circuitry and the communication interface circuitry are further configured to receive one of the following from the IAB node: an updated multiplexing configuration being used by the IAB node, or an indication that a previously received updated multiplexing configuration is being used by the IAB node.