Patent Publication Number: US-11647415-B2

Title: Handling delay budget in a wireless communication system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a 35 U.S.C. § 371 national stage application for International Application No. PCT/SE2019/050551, entitled “HANDLING DELAY BUDGET IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SYSTEM”, filed on Jun. 11, 2019, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/685,710, filed on Jun. 15, 2018, the disclosures and contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application relates generally to a wireless communication system, and relates more particularly to handling of a delay budget in such a system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB) is the concept used in the 3 rd  generation partnership project (3GPP) to describe a system for New Radio (NR) self-backhauling. In contrast to traditional backhaul approaches where a donor node in the radio access network (RAN) connected to another RAN node over a wireline backhaul, e.g., via fiber or cable, the donor node in IAB connects to one or more other RAN nodes over a wireless backhaul. This wireless backhaul may exist over one or more hops between RAN nodes. The donor node and the other RAN nodes backhauled from the RAN node also provide access to ordinary user equipments (UEs). An IAB system is therefore capable of being a multi-hop system. In a half duplexing operation, the RAN node is not transmitting and receiving at the same time, in order to avoid self-interference. 
       FIG.  1    shows the basic principle for an IAB system. In  FIG.  1   , a gNB  1  is functionally split into a Centralized Unit (CU)  1 A and a Distributed Unit (DU)  1 B. The CU  1 A contains the packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) and above, and may be connected via fiber  2  to a core network, e.g., a 5G Core (5GC). The DU  1 B contains the Radio Link Control (RLC), Medium Access Control (MAC), and Physical Layer (PHY) protocols. The DU  1 B may be connected via radio access  3  to one or more UEs  4 . The gNB  1  as an IAB donor node is connected to an IAB node  5 - 1  over a wireless backhaul  6 - 1 . The IAB node  5 - 1  includes a Mobile Termination (MT)  5 - 1 A that provides UE functionality in the IAB node. The IAB node  5 - 1  also includes a DU  5 - 1 B and provides access  3  to one or more UEs  4 . The IAB node  5 - 1  as shown is in turn connected via a wireless backhaul  6 - 2  to another IAB node  5 - 2 . IAB node  5 - 2  similarly includes an MT  5 - 2 A providing UE functionality as well as a DU  5 - 2 B for providing access  3  to one or more UEs  4 . Finally, the IAB node  5 - 2  is in turn connected via a wireless backhaul  6 - 3  to another IAB node  5 - 3 . IAB node  5 - 3  similarly includes an MT  5 - 3 A providing UE functionality as well as a DU  5 - 3 B for providing access  3  to one or more UEs  4 . 
     Wireless backhauling via such an IAB system advantageously enables simple and cost-effective network deployment, without reliance on the availability of wired backhaul at each access node location. However, the multi-hop nature of an IAB system threatens to delay packets traversing the system for longer than allowed for some services that require a certain quality of service. 
     SUMMARY 
     Some embodiments herein exploit knowledge of how much of a delay budget remains at a certain point in a data block&#39;s transmission path, in order to control or otherwise influence decisions about how or if to transmit the data block towards its destination. For example, if only a relatively small portion of the delay budget remains given a radio network node&#39;s position in the transmit path, the radio network node may make decision(s) that effectively expedite delivery of the data block to the destination more so than would have otherwise occurred. Or, if the remaining portion of the delay budget is so small that delivery within the budget is unlikely or impossible, the radio network node may simply drop the data block, e.g., to prompt its retransmission or to accept its loss. On the other hand, if a relatively large portion of the delay budget remains given the radio network node&#39;s position in the transmit path, the radio network node may make decision(s) that effectively slow delivery of the data block to the destination more so than would have otherwise occurred, e.g., in order to free up transmission resources for other data blocks with less delay budget remaining. Some embodiments herein may thereby advantageously facilitate delivery of data blocks in accordance with delay budget requirements or expectations, even in systems that employ wireless backhauls. This may contribute to ensuring the overall QoS requirements or expectations for data block delivery, e.g., so as to reduce user waiting time. 
     More particularly, embodiments herein include a method performed by a radio network node. The method comprises receiving a data block to be transmitted by the radio network node towards a destination node. The data block is received over an upstream wireless backhaul from an upstream radio network node and/or is to be transmitted towards the destination node over a downstream wireless backhaul to a downstream radio network node. The method may also comprise determining a remaining delay budget that indicates a remaining portion of a delay budget for the data block to reach the destination node. The method may further comprise making a decision about how or whether to transmit the data block, based on the remaining delay budget. 
     In some embodiments, making the decision for the data block comprises deciding, based on the remaining delay budget, one or more of: whether or not to drop the data block; a modulation and coding scheme with which to schedule the data block for transmission from the radio network node; which one or more transmission resources to allocate for transmission of the data block; which of multiple possible routes to the destination node the data block is to be transmitted over; whether the data block is to be preempted by, or is to preempt, another data block in a transmit buffer of the radio network node; or a priority or timeliness with which the data block is to be transmitted from the radio network node. 
     In some embodiments, the method may further comprise transmitting the data block from the radio network node in accordance with the decision. 
     In some embodiments, the decision for the data block is made further based on expected delay that includes delay expected to be incurred after transmitting the data block from the radio network node. In some embodiments, the expected delay includes one or more of: propagation delay expected to be incurred after transmitting the data block from the radio network node; or time duplexing delay expected to be incurred after transmitting the data block from the radio network node, wherein the time duplexing delay includes delay attributable to wireless backhaul transmissions being duplexed in time with access link transmissions. 
     In some embodiments, the data block is received from an upstream node. In this and other embodiments, the method may further comprise receiving from the upstream node control signaling indicating an upstream delay that includes delay incurred up until when the upstream node transmitted the data block to the radio network node. The method may further comprise determining upstream propagation delay that includes propagation delay between the upstream node and the radio network node, and determining a self time delay that is a delay between a receive time when the data block passes a receive reference point in a receive chain of the radio network node and a scheduling time when the data block is available to be scheduled by the radio network node for transmission. In some embodiments, then, the method may comprise calculating a cumulative time delay as a sum of a least the upstream delay, the upstream propagation delay, and the self time delay. The remaining delay budget may then be calculated by subtracting the cumulative time delay from the delay budget. In one embodiment, the method further comprises receiving control signaling indicating the upstream propagation delay. 
     Embodiments herein also include another method performed by a radio network node. The method comprises receiving a data block to be transmitted by the radio network node towards a destination node, wherein the data block is received over an upstream wireless backhaul from an upstream radio network node and/or is to be transmitted towards the destination node over a downstream wireless backhaul to a downstream radio network node. The method may also comprise transmitting the data block from the radio network node towards the destination node, as well as transmitting towards the destination node control signaling that indicates a time delay between a reference time and a transmit time when the data block passes a transmit reference point in a transmit chain of the radio network node. 
     In some embodiments, the control signaling also indicates a delay budget for the data block to reach the destination node. 
     In some embodiments, the reference time is a time from which a delay budget for the data block to reach the destination node is measured. 
     In some embodiments, the reference time is a receive time when the data block passes a receive reference point in a receive chain of the radio network node. 
     In some embodiments, the data block is received from an upstream node. In this and other embodiments, the method may further comprise receiving from the upstream node control signaling indicating an upstream delay that includes delay incurred between the reference time and a time when the upstream node transmitted the data block to the radio network node. The method may also comprise determining upstream propagation delay that includes propagation delay between the upstream node and the radio network node, and determining a self time delay that is a delay between a receive time when the data block passes a receive reference point in a receive chain of the radio network node and the transmit time, and wherein the time delay is determined based on the self time delay. In this case, the method may also comprise calculating the time delay as a sum of at least the indicated upstream delay, the upstream propagation delay, and the self time delay. 
     In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving control signaling indicating the upstream propagation delay. 
     In any of the above methods, the data block may be a packet, and the delay budget may be a packet delay budget, PDB. Alternatively, the data block may be a transport block that carries data from one or more packets. 
     In any of the above methods, the method may further comprise receiving control signaling indicating the delay budget. 
     In any of the above methods, the radio network node may be an integrated access backhaul, IAB, node in a New Radio wireless communication system. 
     Embodiments herein also include a method performed by a network node. The method comprises estimating, for each of one or more pairs of radio network nodes, a propagation delay over a wireless backhaul between the radio network nodes of the pair. The method further comprises transmitting to one or more radio network nodes control signaling indicating the estimated propagation delay for each of the one or more pairs of radio network nodes. 
     In some embodiments, the one or more pairs of radio network nodes comprise one or more pairs of integrated access backhaul, IAB, nodes in a New Radio wireless communication system. 
     In some embodiments, the network node is an integrated access backhaul, IAB, donor node in a New Radio wireless communication system. 
     Embodiments further include corresponding apparatus, computer programs, and carriers. For example, embodiments include a radio network node. The radio network node is configured, e.g., via communication circuitry and processing circuitry, to receive a data block to be transmitted by the radio network node towards a destination node. The data block is received over an upstream wireless backhaul from an upstream radio network node and/or is to be transmitted towards the destination node over a downstream wireless backhaul to a downstream radio network node. The radio network node may further be configured to determine a remaining delay budget that indicates a remaining portion of a delay budget for the data block to reach the destination node. The radio network node may also be configured to make a decision about how or whether to transmit the data block, based on the remaining delay budget. 
     Embodiments moreover include a radio network node. The radio network node is configured, e.g., via communication circuitry and processing circuitry, to receive a data block to be transmitted by the radio network node towards a destination node, wherein the data block is received over an upstream wireless backhaul from an upstream radio network node and/or is to be transmitted towards the destination node over a downstream wireless backhaul to a downstream radio network node. The radio network node may also be configured to transmit the data block from the radio network node towards the destination node, as well as to transmit towards the destination node control signaling that indicates a time delay between a reference time and a transmit time when the data block passes a transmit reference point in a transmit chain of the radio network node. 
     Embodiments also include a network node. The network node is configured, e.g., via communication circuitry and processing circuitry, to estimate, for each of one or more pairs of radio network nodes, a propagation delay over a wireless backhaul between the radio network nodes of the pair. The network node is further configured to transmit to one or more radio network nodes control signaling indicating the estimated propagation delay for each of the one or more pairs of radio network nodes. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a block diagram of an Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB) system according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram of a wireless communication system according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  3    is a block diagram of a wireless communication system according to other embodiments. 
         FIG.  4    is a logic flow diagram of a method performed by a radio network node according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  5    is a logic flow diagram of a method performed by a radio network node according to other embodiments. 
         FIG.  6    is a logic flow diagram of a method performed by a network node according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  7    is a block diagram of a radio network node according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  8 A  is a block diagram of a radio network node according to other embodiments. 
         FIG.  8 B  is a block diagram of a radio network node according to still other embodiments. 
         FIG.  9    is a block diagram of a network node according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  10    is a block diagram of a network node according to other embodiments. 
         FIG.  11 A  is a timing diagram for calculating a remaining delay budget according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  11 B  is a timing diagram for signalling between IAB nodes according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  12    is a block diagram of a wireless communication network according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  13    is a block diagram of a user equipment according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  14    is a block diagram of a virtualization environment according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  15    is a block diagram of a communication network with a host computer according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  16    is a block diagram of a host computer according to some embodiments. 
         FIG.  17    is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG.  18    is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG.  19    is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG.  20    is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  2    shows a wireless communication system  10  according to some embodiments. The wireless communication system  10  includes a source node  12  and a destination node  14 . The source node  12  transmits a data block  16 , e.g., a packet or a transport block, to the destination node  14 . In some embodiments, the source node  12  is a network node, e.g., such as a core network node implementing a user plane function (UPF), and the destination node  14  is a wireless communication device, e.g., a user equipment (UE). In these embodiments, then, the data block  16  is a downlink data block transmitted in a downlink direction. In other embodiments, the source node  12  is a wireless communication device and the destination node  14  is a network node, e.g., in the core network of the system  10 , such that the data block  16  is an uplink data block transmitted in an uplink direction. 
     Regardless of whether the data block  16  is transmitted in the uplink or downlink,  FIG.  2    shows that the data block  16  is transmitted via a radio access network (RAN)  18 . The RAN  18  includes multiple radio network nodes that effectively relay or forward the data block  16  towards the destination node  14 , e.g., in a multi-hop fashion. At least some of the radio network nodes exploit a wireless backhaul between the radio network nodes in order to relay or forward the data block  16 .  FIG.  2    for example shows that a radio network node  20  may receive the data block  16  from an upstream radio network node  20 U over an upstream wireless backhaul  22 U. “Upstream” here refers to a direction that from the perspective of radio network node  20  is towards the source node  12 , e.g., on a path or route that the data block  16  takes. Alternatively or additionally, the radio network node  20  may transmit the data block  16  towards the destination node  14  over a downstream wireless backhaul  22 D to a downstream radio network node  20 D, “Downstream” here refers to a direction that from the perspective of radio network node  20  is towards the destination node  14 , e.g., on a path or route that the data block  16  takes. In an embodiment where the system  10  is a 5G system, the radio network node  20  may be an integrated access backhaul (IAB) donor or an IAB node. 
     Relaying or forwarding the data block  16  towards the destination node  14  in this way incurs delay in delivering the data block  16  to the destination node  14 , at least some of which may be exacerbated by or attributable to the wireless nature of the backhaul between radio network nodes. A delay budget  24  in this regard governs how much delay, e.g., between 5 ms and 300 ms, is budgeted for the data block  16  to reach the destination node  14 , e.g., in accordance with quality of service (QoS) requirements or expectations at the destination node  14 . In some embodiments where the data block  16  is a packet, for instance, the delay budget  24  may take the form of a packet delay budget (PDB), e.g., as defined in 3GPP Technical Specification 23.501 v. 15.1.0. Regardless, each hop or segment on the path that the data block  16  traverses on its way to the destination node  14  consumes at least some of that delay budget  24 , e.g., due to propagation delay, radio network node processing delay, delay caused by having to wait for radio resources to become available, etc. 
     Some embodiments herein exploit knowledge of how much of the delay budget  24  remains at a certain point in the data block&#39;s transmission path, in order to control or otherwise influence decisions about how or if to transmit the data block  16  towards the destination node  14 . For example, if only a relatively small portion of the delay budget  24  remains given a radio network node&#39;s position in the transmit path, the radio network node may make decision(s) that effectively expedite delivery of the data block  16  to the destination node  16  more so than would have otherwise occurred. Or, if the remaining portion of the delay budget  24  is so small that delivery within the budget  24  is unlikely or impossible, the radio network node may simply drop the data block  16 , e.g., to prompt its retransmission or to accept its loss. On the other hand, if a relatively large portion of the delay budget  24  remains given the radio network node&#39;s position in the transmit path, the radio network node may make decision(s) that effectively slow delivery of the data block  16  to the destination node  16  more so than would have otherwise occurred, e.g., in order to free up transmission resources for other data blocks with less delay budget remaining. Some embodiments herein may thereby advantageously facilitate delivery of data blocks in accordance with delay budget requirements or expectations, even in systems that employ wireless backhauls. This may contribute to ensuring the overall QoS requirements or expectations for data block delivery, e.g., so as to reduce user waiting time. 
     More particularly, in  FIG.  2   , the radio network node  20  receives the data block  16  to be transmitted by the radio network node  20  towards the destination node  14 . The data block  16  may be received for instance over the upstream wireless backhaul  22 U from the upstream radio network node  20 U. Alternatively or additionally, the data block  16  is to be transmitted towards the destination node  14  over the downstream wireless backhaul  22 D to the downstream radio network node  20 D. In any event, the radio network node  20  determines a remaining delay budget  24 R that indicates a remaining portion of the delay budget  24  for the data block  16  to reach the destination node  14 . 
     In some embodiments, the remaining delay budget  24 R is absolute in that it absolutely indicates the portion of time remaining in the delay budget  24 . In other embodiments, the remaining delay budget is relative in that it indicates the portion of time remaining in the delay budget  24  relative to a reference portion. The reference portion may be for instance a portion of delay budget deemed sufficient, e.g., under normal conditions, for delivery of the data block  16  from the radio network node  20  to the destination node  14  within the delay budget  24 , e.g., given the radio network node&#39;s position in the transmit path of the data block  16  and without the radio network node  20  having to expedite delivery. The remaining delay budget  24 R in this case may indicate the extent to which the radio network node  20  has a surplus or deficit of remaining delay budget, compared to a reference or threshold amount of remaining delay budget. 
     No matter the particular form of the remaining delay budget  24 R, the radio network node  20  uses that remaining delay budget  24 R in making a decision about how or if to transmit the data block  16  towards the destination node  14 . For example, in some embodiments, the radio network node  20  makes a scheduling decision for the data block  16  based on the remaining delay budget  24 R. In these and other embodiments, making the decision may entail deciding, based on the remaining delay budget  24 R, (i) whether or not to drop the data block  16 ; (ii) a modulation and coding scheme with which to schedule the data block  16  for transmission from the radio network node  20 ; (iii) which one or more transmission resources, e.g., radio resources in time, frequency, code, spatial, etc., to allocate for transmission of the data block  16 ; (iv) which of multiple possible routes to the destination node  14  the data block  16  is to be transmitted over; (v) whether the data block  16  is to be preempted by, or is to preempt, another data block in a transmit buffer of the radio network node  20 ; (vi) a priority or timeliness with which the data block  16  is to be transmitted from the radio network node  20 ; and/or (vii) one or more transmit parameters for transmission of the data block  16 . For example, if the remaining delay budget  24 R suggests that compliance with the delay budget  24  is in jeopardy, the radio network node  20  may allocate more transmission resources to the data block&#39;s transmission, may schedule the data block  16  to be transmitted more quickly from the radio network node such as by having the data block  16  preempt another data block in the transmit buffer, and/or otherwise promote the data block  16  to having a higher priority for transmission. In fact, in some embodiments, the radio network node  20  makes this decision with different outcomes for different amounts of remaining delay budget  24 R, e.g., according to a mapping or association between different amounts of remaining delay budget  24 R and different respective decision outcomes. No matter the particular nature of the decision, though, the radio network node  20  in making that decision may effectively control the delay with which the radio network node  20  relays or forwards the data block  16 , as needed for compliance with the delay budget  24 . 
     Note that, in some embodiments, the radio network node  20  makes the decision, e.g., in the form of a scheduling decision, based on the remaining delay budget  24 R instead of or in addition to the delay budget  24  itself. Indeed, the delay budget  24  itself may inherently and/or statically indicate how quickly the data block  16  needs to reach the destination node  14 , e.g., for higher QoS, so as to suggest certain treatment of the data block  16  by the radio network node  20 . But the radio network node  20  may alternatively or additionally exploit the remaining delay budget  24 R as a more specific and/or dynamic indicator of how the radio network node in particular is to treat the data block  16 . Indeed, the remaining delay budget  24 R more specifically represents the radio network node&#39;s unique position in the transmit chain and/or dynamically accounts for actual delays incurred upstream in the transmit chain. 
     Moreover, in some embodiments, the radio network node  20  makes the decision, e.g., in the form of a scheduling decision, based both on the remaining delay budget  24 R and on delay expected to be incurred after transmitting the data block  16  from the radio network node  20 ; that is, a delay that the radio network node  20  expects to be incurred downstream of the radio network node  20 .  FIG.  2    for instance shows that a delay  24 D is expected to be incurred downstream of the radio network node  20 . 
     The expected delay  24 D may for instance include propagation delay expected to be incurred, e.g., as indicating by control signaling received at the radio network node  20  and/or as estimated by the radio network node  20 . Such propagation delay may include the propagation delay expected to be incurred over one or more hops remaining in a transmit path to the destination node  14 , e.g., the cumulative propagation delay over some or all of the remaining hops in the transmit path. The expected delay  24 D may for example include the delay expected due to the propagation of the data block  16  over the downstream wireless backhaul  22 D to downstream radio network node  20 D. 
     Alternatively or additionally, the expected delay  24 D includes time duplexing delay expected to be incurred after transmitting the data block  16  from the radio network node  20 . This time duplexing delay may include delay attributable to wireless backhaul transmissions being duplexed in time with access link transmissions, i.e., transmissions on an access link to wireless communication devices. In some embodiments, the expected delay  24 D alternatively or additionally includes estimated or default processing time expected at one or more downstream radio network nodes. 
     In these and other cases, then, the expected delay  24 D may account for how many more hops occur after the radio network node  20  in the route or path to the destination node  14 . In some embodiments, the radio network node  20  may compute the expected delay  24 D based on expected delay at each hop and on knowledge of the route or path to the destination node  14 , e.g., according to network topology obtained by the radio network node  20 . In other embodiments, the radio network node  20  may receive the expected delay  24 D, e.g., as control signaling. 
     No matter which particular delays are accounted for in expected delay  24 D, the radio network node  20  in some embodiments uses the remaining delay budget  24 R and the expected delay  24 D to determine the extent to which compliance with the delay budget  24  might be in jeopardy, e.g., if the margin to the delay budget  24 R is expected to be below a threshold. As discussed above, the radio network node  20  may then control the delay with which the radio network node  20  relays or forwards the data block  16 , as needed for compliance with the delay budget  24 . 
     In some embodiments, the radio network node  20  determines the remaining delay budget  24 R based on an upstream delay  24 U. Upstream delay  24 U includes delay incurred up until when the upstream node from which the data block  16  was received, e.g., upstream radio network node  20 U or source node  12 , transmitted the data block  16  to the radio network node  20 . In some embodiments, the radio network node  20  receives control signaling from that upstream node indicating this upstream delay  24 U. 
     Alternatively or additionally, the radio network node  20  in some embodiments determines the remaining delay budget  24 R based on upstream propagation delay  24 P that includes propagation delay between the radio network node and the upstream node from which the data block  16  was received, shown as upstream radio network node  20 U in  FIG.  2   . In some embodiments, the radio network node  20  receives control signaling from that upstream node or a different network node indicating this upstream propagation delay  24 P. 
     Note that the combination of the upstream delay  24 U and the upstream propagation delay  24 P in some embodiments represents the cumulative delay incurred up until the radio network node  20  receives the data block  16 , e.g., at least relative to when the delay budget  24  is measured, which may be from the source node  12  itself or from some other upstream node. In some embodiments, then, the radio network node  20  determines the remaining delay budget  24 R as being the delay budget  24  minus the cumulative delay incurred up until the radio network node  20  receives the data block  20 . 
     In some embodiments, though, the radio network node  20  accounts for delay incurred by the radio network node itself, e.g., up until the radio network node  20  is ready to schedule the data block  16 . In one or more of these embodiments, for example, the radio network node  20  determines a self time delay (not shown) that is a delay between a receive time when the data block  16  passes a receive reference point in a receive chain of the radio network node  20  and a scheduling time when the data block  16  is available to be scheduled by the radio network node  20  for transmission. The radio network node  20  may then determine the remaining delay budget based on this self time delay. 
     In one embodiment, for instance, the radio network node  20  calculates a cumulative time delay as the sum of at least two or more of: the upstream delay  24 U, the upstream propagation delay  24 P, and the self time delay. The radio network node  20  may then calculate the remaining delay budget  24 R by subtracting the cumulative time delay from the delay budget  24 . The radio network node  20  may for instance receive the delay budget  24  via control signaling. 
     Embodiments herein correspondingly include a radio network node transmitting and/or receiving the control signaling that indicates upstream delay  24 U, e.g., to be used for remaining delay budget determination or for other purposes.  FIG.  3    illustrates one embodiment in this regard, which may be implemented separately from or in combination with the embodiments shown in  FIG.  2   . 
     As shown in  FIG.  3   , a wireless communication system  20  includes a source node  32  and a destination node  34 . The source node  32  transmits a data block  36 , e.g., a packet or a transport block, to the destination node  34 . In some embodiments, the source node  32  is a network node, e.g., such as a core network node implementing a user plane function (UPF) and the destination node  34  is a wireless communication device, e.g., a user equipment (UE). In these embodiments, then, the data block  36  is a downlink data block transmitted in a downlink direction. In other embodiments, the source node  32  is a wireless communication device and the destination node  34  is a network node, e.g., in the core network of the system  20 , such that the data block  36  is an uplink data block transmitted in an uplink direction. 
     Regardless of whether the data block  36  is transmitted in the uplink or downlink,  FIG.  3    shows that the data block  36  is transmitted via a radio access network (RAN)  38 . The RAN  38  includes multiple radio network nodes that effectively relay or forward the data block  36  towards the destination node  34 , e.g., in a multi-hop fashion. At least some of the radio network nodes exploit a wireless backhaul between the radio network nodes in order to relay or forward the data block  36 .  FIG.  3    for example shows that a radio network node  40  may receive the data block  36  from an upstream radio network node  40 U over an upstream wireless backhaul  42 U. “Upstream” here refers to a direction that from the perspective of radio network node  40  is towards the source node  32 , e.g., on a path or route that the data block  16  takes. Alternatively or additionally, the radio network node  40  may transmit the data block  36  towards the destination node  34  over a downstream wireless backhaul  42 D to a downstream radio network node  40 D. “Downstream” here refers to a direction that from the perspective of radio network node  40  is towards the destination node  34 , e.g., on a path or route that the data block  36  takes. In embodiment where the system  20  is a 5G system, the radio network node  40  may be an integrated access backhaul (IAB) donor or an IAB node. 
     Relaying or forwarding the data block  36  towards the destination node  34  in this way incurs delay in delivering the data block  36  to the destination node  34 , at least some of which may be exacerbated by or attributable to the wireless nature of the backhaul between radio network nodes. A delay budget  44  in this regard governs how much delay, e.g., between 5 ms and 300 ms, is budgeted for the data block  36  to reach the destination node  34 , e.g., in accordance with quality of service (QoS) requirements or expectations at the destination node  34 . In some embodiments were the data block  36  is a packet, for instance, the delay budget  44  may take the form of a packet delay budget (PDB), e.g., as defined in 3GPP Technical Specification 23.501 v. 15.1.0. Regardless, each hop or segment on the path that the data block  36  traverses on its way to the destination node  34  consumes at least some of that delay budget  44 , e.g., due to propagation delay, radio network node processing delay, delay caused by having to wait for radio resources to become available, etc. 
     According to some embodiments herein, the radio network node  40  transmits control signaling, e.g., along with or in association with the data block  36 , towards the destination node  34  indicating delay incurred for the data block  36 . The delay indicated may be for instance the delay incurred up until the time when the radio network node  40  received and/or transmitted the data block  36 . Alternatively, the delay indicated may be the delay incurred solely attributable to processing delay by the radio network node  40 . Regardless of the particular nature of the delay indicated, this enables the next-hop radio network node to exploit the indicated delay, e.g., for determining remaining delay budget or for some other purpose. 
     More particularly, the radio network node  40  according to some embodiments, determines a time delay  46 . In some embodiments, the time delay  46  is the delay between a reference time and a transmit time, e.g., when the data block  36  passes a transmit reference point in a transmit chain of the radio network node  40 . The radio network node  40  transmits towards the destination node  34  control signaling  48  that indicates the determined time delay  46 . The control signaling  48  in some embodiments also indicates the delay budget  44 . 
     In some embodiments, the reference time is a time from which the delay budget  44  is measured. This may be for instance when the source node  32  transmits the data block  36 . Regardless, in this case, the time delay  46  generally or effectively represents the cumulative delay incurred between when the source node  32  transmits the data block  36  and when the radio network node  40  transmits the data block  36 . 
     In some embodiments, the radio network node  40  determines the time delay  46  based on an upstream delay  44 U. Upstream delay  44 U includes delay incurred up until when the upstream node from which the data block  36  was received, e.g., upstream radio network node  40 U or source node  32 , transmitted the data block  16  to the radio network node  40 . In some embodiments, the radio network node  40  receives control signaling from that upstream node indicating this upstream delay  44 U. 
     Alternatively or additionally, the radio network node  40  in some embodiments determines the time delay  46  based on upstream propagation delay  44 P that includes propagation delay between the radio network node  40  and the upstream node from which the data block  36  was received, shown as upstream radio network node  40 U in  FIG.  3   . In some embodiments, the radio network node  40  receives control signaling from that upstream node or a different network node indicating this upstream propagation delay  44 P. 
     Note that the combination of the upstream delay  44 U and the upstream propagation delay  44 P in some embodiments represents the cumulative delay incurred up until the radio network node  40  receives the data block  36 , e.g., at least relative to when the delay budget  44  is measured, which may be from the source node  12  itself or from some other upstream node. In some embodiments, then, the radio network node  40  determines the time delay  46  as being the addition of the upstream delay  44 U and the upstream propagation delay  44 P. 
     In some embodiments, though, the radio network node  40  accounts for delay incurred by the radio network node itself, e.g., up until the radio network node  40  transmits the data block  36 . In one or more of these embodiments, for example, the radio network node  40  determines a self time delay (not shown) that is a delay between a receive time when the data block  36  passes a receive reference point in a receive chain of the radio network node  40  and a transmit time when the data block  36  passes a transmit reference point in a transmit chain of the radio network node  40 . The radio network node  20  may then determine the time delay  46  based on this self time delay. 
     In one embodiment, for instance, the radio network node  40  calculates the time delay  46  as the sum of at least two or more of: the upstream delay  44 U, the upstream propagation delay  44 P, and the self time delay. The radio network node  40  may then indicate this time delay  46  in control signaling  48  transmitted towards the destination node  34 , e.g., to the downstream radio network node  40 D. 
     Embodiments herein also include a network node transmitting and/or receiving control signaling that indicates propagation delay, e.g., between a pair of radio network nodes in the system  10 . 
     In view of the above modifications and variations,  FIG.  4    depicts a method performed by the radio network node  20  in accordance with particular embodiments. The method includes receiving a data block  16  to be transmitted by the radio network node  20  towards a destination node  14  (Block  410 ). In some embodiments, for example, the data block  16  is received over an upstream wireless backhaul  22 U from an upstream radio network node  20 U and/or is to be transmitted towards the destination node  14  over a downstream wireless backhaul  22 D to a downstream radio network node  20 D. Regardless, the method further includes determining a remaining delay budget  24 R that indicates a remaining portion of a delay budget  24  for the data block  16  to reach the destination node  14  (Block  420 ). The method then includes making a decision, e.g., a scheduling decision, for the data block  16  based on the remaining delay budget  24 R (Block  430 ). The decision may for instance dictate how or if the data block  16  is to be transmitted to the destination node  14 . 
     In some embodiments, making the decision for the data block comprises deciding, based on the remaining delay budget, one or more of: whether or not to drop the data block; a modulation and coding scheme with which to schedule the data block for transmission from the radio network node; which one or more transmission resources to allocate for transmission of the data block; which of multiple possible routes to the destination node the data block is to be transmitted over; whether the data block is to be preempted by, or is to preempt, another data block in a transmit buffer of the radio network node; or a priority or timeliness with which the data block is to be transmitted from the radio network node. 
     In some embodiments, the method also includes transmitting the data block  16  from the radio network node  20  in accordance with the decision (Block  440 ). 
     In some embodiments, the decision for the data block is made further based on expected delay that includes delay expected to be incurred after transmitting the data block from the radio network node. In one embodiment, the expected delay includes time duplexing delay expected to be incurred after transmitting the data block from the radio network node, wherein the time duplexing delay includes delay attributable to wireless backhaul transmissions being duplexed in time with access link transmission. Alternatively or additionally, the expected delay may include propagation delay expected to be incurred after transmitting the data block from the radio network node. In one embodiment, the propagation delay expected to be incurred after transmitting the data block from the radio network node includes propagation delay expected to be incurred over each of one or more hops remaining in a transmit path to the destination node. In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving control signaling that indicates the propagation delay expected. 
       FIG.  4    accordingly also shows that, in some embodiments, the method includes receiving certain control signalling. In particular, the method in some embodiments includes receiving control signalling indicating the delay budget  24  (Block  402 ). Alternatively or additionally, the method includes receiving control signalling indicating expected delay  24 D that is expected to be incurred, e.g., downstream of the radio network node  20  after transmitting the data block from the radio network node  20  (Block  404 ). The method in some embodiments alternatively or additionally includes receiving control signalling indicating upstream delay  24 U that includes delay incurred up until when an upstream node transmitted the data block  16  to the radio network node  20  (Block  406 ). 
     In some embodiments, the data block is received from an upstream node. In this case, the method may further comprise receiving from the upstream node control signaling indicating an upstream delay that includes delay incurred up until when the upstream node transmitted the data block to the radio network node. The remaining delay budget may then be determined based on the indicated upstream delay. 
     Alternatively or additionally, the method may further comprise determining a self time delay that is a delay between a receive time when the data block passes a receive reference point in a receive chain of the radio network node and a scheduling time when the data block is available to be scheduled by the radio network node for transmission. The remaining delay budget may be determined based on the self time delay. 
     Alternatively or additionally, the method may further comprise determining upstream propagation delay that includes propagation delay between the upstream node from which the data block was received and the radio network node. The remaining delay budget may be determined based on the upstream propagation delay. 
     In some embodiments, for example, the method comprises (i) receiving from the upstream node control signaling indicating an upstream delay that includes delay incurred up until when the upstream node transmitted the data block to the radio network node; (ii) determining upstream propagation delay that includes propagation delay between the upstream node and the radio network node; (iii) determining a self time delay that is a delay between a receive time when the data block passes a receive reference point in a receive chain of the radio network node and a scheduling time when the data block is available to be scheduled by the radio network node for transmission; (iv) calculating a cumulative time delay as a sum of a least the upstream delay, the upstream propagation delay, and the self time delay; and (v) calculating the remaining delay budget by subtracting the cumulative time delay from the delay budget. In any of these embodiments, the method may comprise receiving control signaling indicating the upstream propagation delay. 
     In some embodiments, the data block is a packet, and the delay budget is a packet delay budget, PDB. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the data block is a transport block that carries data from one or more packets. 
     In any of these embodiments, the method may further comprise receiving control signaling indicating the delay budget. 
     In any of these embodiments, the radio network node may be an integrated access backhaul, IAB, node in a New Radio wireless communication system. 
       FIG.  5    depicts a method performed by a radio network node  40  in accordance with other particular embodiments. The method includes receiving a data block  36  to be transmitted by the radio network node  40  towards a destination node  34  (Block  510 ). In some embodiments, for example, the data block  36  is received over an upstream wireless backhaul  42 U from an upstream radio network node  40 U and/or is to be transmitted towards the destination node  34  over a downstream wireless backhaul  42 D to a downstream radio network node  40 D. Regardless, the method further includes determining a time delay  46  between a reference time and a transmit time when the data block  36  passes a transmit reference point in a transmit chain of the radio network node  40  (Block  520 ). The method further includes transmitting the data block  36  from the radio network node  40  towards the destination node  34  (Block  530 ). The method also includes transmitting towards the destination node  34  control signaling  48  that indicates the determined time delay  46  (Block  540 ). The control signaling  48  in some embodiments may also include a delay budget  44  for the data block  36  to reach the destination node  34 . 
       FIG.  5    also shows that, in some embodiments, the method includes receiving certain control signalling. In particular, the method in some embodiments includes receiving control signalling indicating the delay budget  44  (Block  502 ). Alternatively or additionally, the method includes receiving control signalling indicating upstream propagation delay that includes propagation delay between an upstream node and the radio network node  40  (Block  504 ). The method in some embodiments alternatively or additionally includes receiving control signalling indicating upstream delay  44 U that includes delay incurred up until when an upstream node  40 U transmitted the data block  36  to the radio network node  40  (Block  506 ). 
     In some embodiments, the reference time is a time from which the delay budget is measured. In other embodiments, the reference time is a receive time when the data block passes a receive reference point in a receive chain of the radio network node. 
     In some embodiments, the data block is received from an upstream node. In this case, the method may further comprise receiving from the upstream node control signaling indicating an upstream delay that includes delay incurred between the reference time and a time when the upstream node transmitted the data block to the radio network node. The time delay may be determined based on the indicated upstream delay. 
     In some embodiments, the method further includes determining a self time delay that is a delay between a receive time when the data block passes a receive reference point in a receive chain of the radio network node and the transmit time. The time delay may be determined based on the self time delay. 
     In some embodiments, the data block is received from an upstream node. In this case, the method may further comprise determining upstream propagation delay that includes propagation delay between the upstream node and the radio network node. The time delay may be determined based on the upstream propagation delay. 
     In other embodiments, the data block is received from an upstream node. In this case, the method may further comprise (i) receiving from the upstream node control signaling indicating an upstream delay that includes delay incurred between the reference time and a time when the upstream node transmitted the data block to the radio network node; (ii) determining upstream propagation delay that includes propagation delay between the upstream node and the radio network node; (iii) determining a self time delay that is a delay between a receive time when the data block passes a receive reference point in a receive chain of the radio network node and the transmit time, and (iv) calculating the time delay as a sum of at least the indicated upstream delay, the upstream propagation delay, and the self time delay. In some embodiments, the method comprises receiving control signaling indicating the upstream propagation delay. 
     In some embodiments, the data block is a packet, and the delay budget is a packet delay budget, PDB. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the data block is a transport block that carries data from one or more packets. 
     In any of these embodiments, the method may further comprise receiving control signaling indicating the delay budget. 
     In any of these embodiments, the radio network node may be an integrated access backhaul, IAB, node in a New Radio wireless communication system. 
       FIG.  6    depicts a method performed by a network node in accordance with other particular embodiments. The method includes estimating, for each of one or more pairs of radio network nodes, a propagation delay over a wireless backhaul between the radio network nodes of the pair (Block  610 ). The method also includes transmitting to one or more radio network nodes control signaling indicating the estimated propagation delay for each of the one or more pairs of radio network nodes (Block  620 ). 
     In some embodiments, the one or more pairs of radio network nodes comprise one or more pairs of integrated access backhaul, IAB, nodes in a New Radio wireless communication system. 
     In some embodiments, the network node is an integrated access backhaul, IAB, donor node in a New Radio wireless communication system. 
     Note that the apparatuses described above may perform the methods herein and any other processing by implementing any functional means, modules, units, or circuitry. In one embodiment, for example, the apparatuses comprise respective circuits or circuitry configured to perform the steps shown in the method figures. The circuits or circuitry in this regard may comprise circuits dedicated to performing certain functional processing and/or one or more microprocessors in conjunction with memory. For instance, the circuitry may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory may include program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein, in several embodiments. In embodiments that employ memory, the memory stores program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, carries out the techniques described herein. 
       FIG.  7    for example illustrates a radio network node  700  as implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown, the radio network node  700  includes processing circuitry  710  and communication circuitry  720 . The communication circuitry  720 , e.g., radio circuitry, is configured to transmit and/or receive information to and/or from one or more other nodes, e.g., via any communication technology. Such communication may occur via one or more antennas that are either internal or external to the radio network node  700 . The processing circuitry  710  is configured to perform processing described above, e.g., in  FIGS.  4  and/or  5   , such as by executing instructions stored in memory  730 . The processing circuitry  710  in this regard may implement certain functional means, units, or modules. 
       FIG.  8 A  illustrates a schematic block diagram of a radio network node  800  in a wireless network according to still other embodiments; for example, the wireless network shown in  FIG.  12   . As shown, the radio network node  800  implements various functional means, units, or modules, e.g., via the processing circuitry  710  in  FIG.  7    and/or via software code. These functional means, units, or modules, e.g., for implementing the method in  FIG.  4   , include for instance a receiving unit  810  for receiving a data block  36  to be transmitted by the radio network node  40  towards a destination node  34 . Also included may be a determining unit  820  for determining a remaining delay budget  24 R that indicates a remaining portion of a delay budget  24  for the data block  16  to reach the destination node  14 . Further included may be a decision making unit  830  for making a decision, e.g., a scheduling decision, for the data block  16  based on the remaining delay budget  24 R. 
       FIG.  8 B  illustrates a schematic block diagram of a radio network node  850  in a wireless network according to still other embodiments; for example, the wireless network shown in  FIG.  12   . As shown, the radio network node  850  implements various functional means, units, or modules, e.g., via the processing circuitry  710  in  FIG.  7    and/or via software code. These functional means, units, or modules, e.g., for implementing the method in  FIG.  5   , include for instance a receiving unit  860  for receiving a data block  36  to be transmitted by the radio network node  40  towards a destination node  34 . Also included may be a determining unit  870  for determining a time delay  46  between a reference time and a transmit time when the data block  36  passes a transmit reference point in a transmit chain of the radio network node  40 . Further included may be a transmitting unit  880  for transmitting the data block  36  from the radio network node  40  towards the destination node  34  and for transmitting towards the destination node  34  control signaling  48  that indicates the determined time delay  46 . The control signaling  48  in some embodiments may also include a delay budget  44  for the data block  36  to reach the destination node  34 . 
       FIG.  9    illustrates a network node  900  as implemented in accordance with one or more embodiments. As shown, the network node  900  includes processing circuitry  910  and communication circuitry  920 . The communication circuitry  920  is configured to transmit and/or receive information to and/or from one or more other nodes, e.g., via any communication technology. The processing circuitry  910  is configured to perform processing described above, e.g., in  FIG.  6   , such as by executing instructions stored in memory  930 . The processing circuitry  910  in this regard may implement certain functional means, units, or modules. 
       FIG.  10    illustrates a schematic block diagram of a network node  1000  in a wireless network according to still other embodiments; for example, the wireless network shown in  FIG.  12   . As shown, the network node  1000  implements various functional means, units, or modules, e.g., via the processing circuitry  910  in  FIG.  9    and/or via software code. These functional means, units, or modules, e.g., for implementing the method(s) herein, include for instance an estimating unit  1010  for estimating, for each of one or more pairs of radio network nodes, a propagation delay over a wireless backhaul between the radio network nodes of the pair. Also included is a transmitting unit  1020  for transmitting to one or more radio network nodes control signaling indicating the estimated propagation delay for each of the one or more pairs of radio network nodes. 
     Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that embodiments herein further include corresponding computer programs. 
     A computer program comprises instructions which, when executed on at least one processor of an apparatus, cause the apparatus to carry out any of the respective processing described above. A computer program in this regard may comprise one or more code modules corresponding to the means or units described above. 
     Embodiments further include a carrier containing such a computer program. This carrier may comprise one of an electronic signal, optical signal, radio signal, or computer readable storage medium. 
     In this regard, embodiments herein also include a computer program product stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage or recording medium and comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor of an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform as described above. 
     Embodiments further include a computer program product comprising program code portions for performing the steps of any of the embodiments herein when the computer program product is executed by a computing device. This computer program product may be stored on a computer readable recording medium. 
     Additional embodiments will now be described. At least some of these embodiments may be described as applicable in certain contexts and/or wireless network types for illustrative purposes, but the embodiments are similarly applicable in other contexts and/or wireless network types not explicitly described. 
     Some embodiments address certain challenge(s). As an IAB system is a multi-hop system, a packet traversing the IAB system will be delayed in proportion to the number of hops, including waiting time in buffering queues. For some services, the delay needs to be controlled and ensured to not exceed the specified limits. In existing solutions there are no means for the individual RAN nodes (IAB nodes) to know how much of the delay budget has already been consumed when the scheduler in the IAB node(s) allocate resources for the next hop. 
     Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to these or other challenges. Some embodiments use the QoS parameter packet delay budget (PDB) and then estimate/measure the propagation delay and processing time when a data packet passes the different IAB nodes. This information may then be used by the scheduler in each IAB node to optimize resource allocation to meet the PDB requirement. 
     Certain embodiments may provide one or more of the following technical advantage(s): (1) Provide a mechanism for the schedulers in a multi-hop system to deliver data within a given delay budget; (2) Provide methods to measure how much time is consumed for a data packet in terms of either the overall delay or the processing time in each relay node; and/or (3) Utilize 1588 not only to ensure phase/time synchronization but also for delay. 
     More particularly, the Packet delay budget (PDB) is a quality of service characteristics parameter represented by a 5QI value, [ref: 3GPP TS 23.501]. In particular, a 5QI value is a 5G QoS Identifier, which is a scalar that is used as a reference to a specific QoS forwarding behavior, e.g. packet loss rate, packet delay budget, to be provided to a 5G QoS Flow. The Packet Delay Budget (PDB) defines an upper bound for the time that a packet may be delayed between the UE and the UPF that terminates the N6 interface. The 5QI value can be added to the header of the data packet in the UPF or can be read from the control data sent from the AMF to the NGRAN. By measuring or making estimations of the consumed processing time at each IAB node plus the propagation time between each relay node, some embodiments calculate how much time of the PDB has been consumed. In some embodiments, this information is used by the scheduler for the next hop when allocating the needed resources. A precision time protocol (PTP) such as 1588 is used in some embodiments to enable time synchronization of the IAB nodes and to generate data ingress and egress timestamps to be used to calculate the actual packet delay. 
     For example,  FIG.  11 A  describes in a time diagram the different delay contributions from propagation delay and processing delay when a transport block of a data packet is transmitted from an IAB donor down to a UE over an IAB system as the one in  FIG.  1   . It should also be noted that an IAB system in some embodiments will have a half duplexing constraint, meaning that the transmitter of the IAB node in normal data sending mode will not transmit when the receiver receives data to avoid self interference. One possible scheme for this is also illustrated in  FIG.  11 A . 
     As shown, the timestamps t 1 , t 2 , . . . , t 9  together with the propagation delays (p 1 , p 2 , p 3 ) are used to calculate the time elapsed since the data packet was sent from the donor. The consumed time when the packet arrives to the IAB Node  1  DU scheduler is t DU1_Sched =p 1 +(t 2 −t 1 )+t 0 , where to denotes the already processed time from when the data chunk arrived at the UPF function. When it is transmitted from the IAB-N1 DU, it becomes t DU1_Tx =t DU1_Sched +(t 3 −t 2 ). IAB-N2 DU Scheduler can be expressed as t DU2_Sched =p 2 +t DU1_Tx  (t 5 −t 4 ). The elapsed time when data is transmitted from the IAB-N2 DU is t DU2_Tx =t DU2_Sched +(t 6 −t 5 ). It should be noted that t 6 −t 5  also includes the time slot for the Access links as described in lower part of  FIG.  11   . IAB-N3 DU Scheduler can be expressed as t DU3_Sched =p 3 +t DU2_Tx  (t 8 −t 7 ). However, the last transmission from the IAB-N3 DU to the UE must take place in the Access link timeslot so the elapsed time at the last transmission is t DU3_Tx =t DU3_Sched +(t 9 −t 8 ). To be able to make the calculations for the elapsed time in each IAB node, in some embodiments the propagation delay between each of the nodes is known and a mechanism for taking the timestamps including a protocol for sending the timestamps is in place. Such a protocol in some embodiments is an IAB control channel which has fields allocated for time stamp. 
     Some embodiments include different alternatives to estimate the propagation delay. In one embodiment, a “radar” like approach is used by measuring the roundtrip time for the reflected echo of some robust signal like the signals in the Synchronization Signal Block (SSB). Another embodiment uses the delay estimation that is used when calculating the timing advance (TA) based on the Random Access Channel (RACH) signal. 
     Yet another embodiment uses the method from 1588 of sending a signal from the DU to the MT and recording the time when it was transmitted and when it is received. Some embodiments thereby transmit another signal from the MT to the DU and recording the time when it is transmitted and received.  FIG.  11 B  describes the principle and how the propagation delay can be calculated with this method. The assumption here is that the propagation delay is symmetric and the delay can be 
     
       
         
           
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     calculated as 
     The calculated propagation delay is assumed to be static unless the path is changed so these values could be stored. 
     In some embodiments, the steps involved in ensuring that packet delay budget (PDB) is kept in the example of  FIG.  11 A  may be described as:
         1. The propagation delays between the nodes is known and have been distributed to the different IAB nodes   2. The PDB is given as a 5QI parameter, e.g., 100 ms for conversational voice is represented with the integer “1”, which is either added to the Service Data Adaptation Protocol (SDAP) header or communicated from the Access and Mobility Function (AMF) to the donor CU as an NG Application Protocol (NGAP) message.   3. The initial delay t 0  representing the average time for data to pass from UPF to CU-DU in the donor is loaded into the IAB control channel. The control channel is sent together with the first transport block of the data packet to IAB-N1.   4. IAB-N1 takes the timestamp t 1  when the first sample of the first Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol of the received data is entering the analog-to-digital converter in the MT   5. IAB-N1 takes the timestamp t 2  after MT has decoded the first transport block.   6. IAB-N1 calculates t DU1_Sched =p 1 +(t 2 −t 1 )+t 0 ,   7. IAB-N1 calculates PDB-t DU1_Sched  to know how much is left of the PDB. The result is used by the IAB-N1 scheduler.   8. The DU of IAB-N1 takes a timestamp t 3  when the last sample of the last OFDM symbol of the transmitted transport block is leaving the digital-to-analog converter or the Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT)   9. IAB-N1 calculates t DU1_Tx =t DU1_Sched +(t 3 −t 2 ) and adds this value to the IAB control channel which is sent to the IAB-N2.   10. IAB-N2 takes the timestamp t 4  when the first sample of the first OFDM symbol of the received data is entering the analog-to-digital converter in the MT   11. IAB-N2 takes the timestamp t 5  after MT has decoded the first transport block.   12. IAB-N2 calculates t DU2_Sched =p 2 +t DU1_Tx  (t 5 −t 4 ).   13. IAB-N2 calculates PDB-t DU2_Sched  to know how much is left of the PDB. The result is used by the IAB-N2 scheduler.   14. The DU of IAB-N1 takes a timestamp t 3  when the last sample of the last OFDM symbol of the transmitted transport block is leaving the digital-to-analog converter or the IFFT   15. IAB-N1 calculates t DU2_Tx =t DU1_Sched +(t 6 −t 5 ) and adds this value to the IAB control channel which is sent to the IAB-N2.   16. IAB-N3 takes the timestamp t 7  when the first sample of the first OFDM symbol of the received data is entering the analog-to-digital converter in the MT   17. IAB-N3 takes the timestamp t 8  after MT has decoded the first transport block.   18. IAB-N3 calculates t DU3_Sched =p 3 +t DU2_Tx +(t 8 −t 7 ).   19. IAB-N3 calculates PDB-t DU3_Sched  to know how much is left of the PDB.       

     The result is used by the IAB-N3 scheduler. 
     As a multihop system will have to have a mechanism for routing a data packet either to the next hop through a backhaul to the next node or to an access UE, the time stamp information in some embodiments is carried over the backhaul links. But in some embodiments the time stamp information is discarded from the data sent on the access link. Accordingly, some embodiments define an IAB control channel for the time stamp information. Other embodiments enhance the F1 Application Protocol (F1AP) with IAB related control messages enabling the donor-CU to control the IAB nodes like configuring time slot allocation for the selected duplexing scheme. 
     Although these embodiments were exemplified in the downlink, other embodiments are extended for the upstream direction. In this case, the IAB-N3 will be the first node to take the initial time stamps. 
     With CU being cloudified, some embodiments in advance, given the delay estimations, simulate and find possible optimal configurations resulting in keeping packet delay within a programmed limit. These simulations/calculations may be done in the background represented by different delay profiles which could be programmable by the operator or some artificial intelligence (AI) function from the core network. 
     Although the subject matter described herein may be implemented in any appropriate type of system using any suitable components, the embodiments disclosed herein are described in relation to a wireless network, such as the example wireless network illustrated in  FIG.  12   . For simplicity, the wireless network of  FIG.  12    only depicts network  1206 , network nodes  1260  and  1260   b , and WDs  1210 ,  1210   b , and  1210   c . In practice, a wireless network may further include any additional elements suitable to support communication between wireless devices or between a wireless device and another communication device, such as a landline telephone, a service provider, or any other network node or end device. Of the illustrated components, network node  1260  and wireless device (VVD)  1210  are depicted with additional detail. The wireless network may provide communication and other types of services to one or more wireless devices to facilitate the wireless devices&#39; access to and/or use of the services provided by, or via, the wireless network. 
     The wireless network may comprise and/or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, and/or radio network or other similar type of system. In some embodiments, the wireless network may be configured to operate according to specific standards or other types of predefined rules or procedures. Thus, particular embodiments of the wireless network may implement communication standards, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT), and/or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G standards; wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the IEEE 802.11 standards; and/or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave and/or ZigBee standards. 
     Network  1206  may comprise one or more backhaul networks, core networks, IP networks, public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), packet data networks, optical networks, wide-area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), wireless local area networks (VVLANs), wired networks, wireless networks, metropolitan area networks, and other networks to enable communication between devices. 
     Network node  1260  and WD  1210  comprise various components described in more detail below. These components work together in order to provide network node and/or wireless device functionality, such as providing wireless connections in a wireless network. In different embodiments, the wireless network may comprise any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, base stations, controllers, wireless devices, relay stations, and/or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and/or signals whether via wired or wireless connections. 
     As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a wireless device and/or with other network nodes or equipment in the wireless network to enable and/or provide wireless access to the wireless device and/or to perform other functions (e.g., administration) in the wireless network. Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)). Base stations may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and may then also be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations. A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units and/or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS). Yet further examples of network nodes include multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, multi-cell/multicast coordination entities (MCEs), core network nodes (e.g., MSCs, MMEs), O&amp;M nodes, OSS nodes, SON nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., E-SMLCs), and/or MDTs. As another example, a network node may be a virtual network node as described in more detail below. More generally, however, network nodes may represent any suitable device (or group of devices) capable, configured, arranged, and/or operable to enable and/or provide a wireless device with access to the wireless network or to provide some service to a wireless device that has accessed the wireless network. 
     In  FIG.  12   , network node  1260  includes processing circuitry  1270 , device readable medium  1280 , interface  1290 , auxiliary equipment  1284 , power source  1286 , power circuitry  1287 , and antenna  1262 . Although network node  1260  illustrated in the example wireless network of  FIG.  12    may represent a device that includes the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise network nodes with different combinations of components. It is to be understood that a network node comprises any suitable combination of hardware and/or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein. Moreover, while the components of network node  1260  are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, a network node may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component (e.g., device readable medium  1280  may comprise multiple separate hard drives as well as multiple RAM modules). 
     Similarly, network node  1260  may be composed of multiple physically separate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their own respective components. In certain scenarios in which network node  1260  comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components), one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeB&#39;s. In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in some instances be considered a single separate network node. In some embodiments, network node  1260  may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate device readable medium  1280  for the different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., the same antenna  1262  may be shared by the RATs). Network node  1260  may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node  1260 , such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, VViFi, or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within network node  1260 . 
     Processing circuitry  1270  is configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being provided by a network node. These operations performed by processing circuitry  1270  may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry  1270  by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored in the network node, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination. 
     Processing circuitry  1270  may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node  1260  components, such as device readable medium  1280 , network node  1260  functionality. For example, processing circuitry  1270  may execute instructions stored in device readable medium  1280  or in memory within processing circuitry  1270 . Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features, functions, or benefits discussed herein. In some embodiments, processing circuitry  1270  may include a system on a chip (SOC). 
     In some embodiments, processing circuitry  1270  may include one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry  1272  and baseband processing circuitry  1274 . In some embodiments, radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry  1272  and baseband processing circuitry  1274  may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry  1272  and baseband processing circuitry  1274  may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units 
     In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being provided by a network node, base station, eNB or other such network device may be performed by processing circuitry  1270  executing instructions stored on device readable medium  1280  or memory within processing circuitry  1270 . In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry  1270  without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry  1270  can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry  1270  alone or to other components of network node  1260 , but are enjoyed by network node  1260  as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally. 
     Device readable medium  1280  may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/or computer-executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry  1270 . Device readable medium  1280  may store any suitable instructions, data or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry  1270  and, utilized by network node  1260 . Device readable medium  1280  may be used to store any calculations made by processing circuitry  1270  and/or any data received via interface  1290 . In some embodiments, processing circuitry  1270  and device readable medium  1280  may be considered to be integrated. 
     Interface  1290  is used in the wired or wireless communication of signalling and/or data between network node  1260 , network  1206 , and/or WDs  1210 . As illustrated, interface  1290  comprises port(s)/terminal(s)  1294  to send and receive data, for example to and from network  1206  over a wired connection. Interface  1290  also includes radio front end circuitry  1292  that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, antenna  1262 . Radio front end circuitry  1292  comprises filters  1298  and amplifiers  1296 . Radio front end circuitry  1292  may be connected to antenna  1262  and processing circuitry  1270 . Radio front end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna  1262  and processing circuitry  1270 . Radio front end circuitry  1292  may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry  1292  may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters  1298  and/or amplifiers  1296 . The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna  1262 . Similarly, when receiving data, antenna  1262  may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry  1292 . The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry  1270 . In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components. 
     In certain alternative embodiments, network node  1260  may not include separate radio front end circuitry  1292 , instead, processing circuitry  1270  may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna  1262  without separate radio front end circuitry  1292 . Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of RF transceiver circuitry  1272  may be considered a part of interface  1290 . In still other embodiments, interface  1290  may include one or more ports or terminals  1294 , radio front end circuitry  1292 , and RF transceiver circuitry  1272 , as part of a radio unit (not shown), and interface  1290  may communicate with baseband processing circuitry  1274 , which is part of a digital unit (not shown). 
     Antenna  1262  may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals. Antenna  1262  may be coupled to radio front end circuitry  1290  and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and/or signals wirelessly. In some embodiments, antenna  1262  may comprise one or more omni-directional, sector or panel antennas operable to transmit/receive radio signals between, for example, 2 GHz and 66 GHz. An omni-directional antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals in any direction, a sector antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals from devices within a particular area, and a panel antenna may be a line of sight antenna used to transmit/receive radio signals in a relatively straight line. In some instances, the use of more than one antenna may be referred to as MIMO. In certain embodiments, antenna  1262  may be separate from network node  1260  and may be connectable to network node  1260  through an interface or port. 
     Antenna  1262 , interface  1290 , and/or processing circuitry  1270  may be configured to perform any receiving operations and/or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment. Similarly, antenna  1262 , interface  1290 , and/or processing circuitry  1270  may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be transmitted to a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment. 
     Power circuitry  1287  may comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry and is configured to supply the components of network node  1260  with power for performing the functionality described herein. Power circuitry  1287  may receive power from power source  1286 . Power source  1286  and/or power circuitry  1287  may be configured to provide power to the various components of network node  1260  in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). Power source  1286  may either be included in, or external to, power circuitry  1287  and/or network node  1260 . For example, network node  1260  may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry  1287 . As a further example, power source  1286  may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry  1287 . The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail. Other types of power sources, such as photovoltaic devices, may also be used. 
     Alternative embodiments of network node  1260  may include additional components beyond those shown in  FIG.  12    that may be responsible for providing certain aspects of the network node&#39;s functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and/or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, network node  1260  may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into network node  1260  and to allow output of information from network node  1260 . This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for network node  1260 . 
     As used herein, wireless device (VVD) refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and/or other wireless devices. Unless otherwise noted, the term WD may be used interchangeably herein with user equipment (UE). Communicating wirelessly may involve transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying information through air. In some embodiments, a WD may be configured to transmit and/or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a WD may be designed to transmit information to a network on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the network. Examples of a WD include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a cell phone, a voice over IP (VoIP) phone, a wireless local loop phone, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless cameras, a gaming console or device, a music storage device, a playback appliance, a wearable terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, a tablet, a laptop, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mounted equipment (LME), a smart device, a wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE). a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, etc. A WD may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and may in this case be referred to as a D2D communication device. As yet another specific example, in an Internet of Things (loT) scenario, a WD may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and/or measurements, and transmits the results of such monitoring and/or measurements to another WD and/or a network node. The WD may in this case be a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one particular example, the WD may be a UE implementing the 3GPP narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT) standard. Particular examples of such machines or devices are sensors, metering devices such as power meters, industrial machinery, or home or personal appliances (e.g. refrigerators, televisions, etc.) personal wearables (e.g., watches, fitness trackers, etc.). In other scenarios, a WD may represent a vehicle or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and/or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation. A WD as described above may represent the endpoint of a wireless connection, in which case the device may be referred to as a wireless terminal. Furthermore, a WD as described above may be mobile, in which case it may also be referred to as a mobile device or a mobile terminal. 
     As illustrated, wireless device  1210  includes antenna  1211 , interface  1214 , processing circuitry  1220 , device readable medium  1230 , user interface equipment  1232 , auxiliary equipment  1234 , power source  1236  and power circuitry  1237 . WD  1210  may include multiple sets of one or more of the illustrated components for different wireless technologies supported by WD  1210 , such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, WiMAX, NB-IoT, or Bluetooth wireless technologies, just to mention a few. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chips or set of chips as other components within WD  1210 . 
     Antenna  1211  may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals, and is connected to interface  1214 . In certain alternative embodiments, antenna  1211  may be separate from WD  1210  and be connectable to WD  1210  through an interface or port. Antenna  1211 , interface  1214 , and/or processing circuitry  1220  may be configured to perform any receiving or transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a WD. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a network node and/or another WD. In some embodiments, radio front end circuitry and/or antenna  1211  may be considered an interface. 
     As illustrated, interface  1214  comprises radio front end circuitry  1212  and antenna  1211 . Radio front end circuitry  1212  comprise one or more filters  1218  and amplifiers  1216 . Radio front end circuitry  1214  is connected to antenna  1211  and processing circuitry  1220 , and is configured to condition signals communicated between antenna  1211  and processing circuitry  1220 . Radio front end circuitry  1212  may be coupled to ora part of antenna  1211 . In some embodiments, WD  1210  may not include separate radio front end circuitry  1212 ; rather, processing circuitry  1220  may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna  1211 . Similarly, in some embodiments, some or all of RF transceiver circuitry  1222  may be considered a part of interface  1214 . Radio front end circuitry  1212  may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry  1212  may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters  1218  and/or amplifiers  1216 . The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna  1211 . Similarly, when receiving data, antenna  1211  may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry  1212 . The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry  1220 . In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components. 
     Processing circuitry  1220  may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software, and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other WD  1210  components, such as device readable medium  1230 , WD  1210  functionality. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features or benefits discussed herein. For example, processing circuitry  1220  may execute instructions stored in device readable medium  1230  or in memory within processing circuitry  1220  to provide the functionality disclosed herein. 
     As illustrated, processing circuitry  1220  includes one or more of RF transceiver circuitry  1222 , baseband processing circuitry  1224 , and application processing circuitry  1226 . In other embodiments, the processing circuitry may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components. In certain embodiments processing circuitry  1220  of WD  1210  may comprise a SOC. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry  1222 , baseband processing circuitry  1224 , and application processing circuitry  1226  may be on separate chips or sets of chips. In alternative embodiments, part or all of baseband processing circuitry  1224  and application processing circuitry  1226  may be combined into one chip or set of chips, and RF transceiver circuitry  1222  may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In still alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry  1222  and baseband processing circuitry  1224  may be on the same chip or set of chips, and application processing circuitry  1226  may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In yet other alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry  1222 , baseband processing circuitry  1224 , and application processing circuitry  1226  may be combined in the same chip or set of chips. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry  1222  may be a part of interface  1214 . RF transceiver circuitry  1222  may condition RF signals for processing circuitry  1220 . 
     In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being performed by a WD may be provided by processing circuitry  1220  executing instructions stored on device readable medium  1230 , which in certain embodiments may be a computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry  1220  without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable storage medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those particular embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry  1220  can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry  1220  alone or to other components of WD  1210 , but are enjoyed by WD  1210  as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally. 
     Processing circuitry  1220  may be configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being performed by a WD. These operations, as performed by processing circuitry  1220 , may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry  1220  by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored by WD  1210 , and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination. 
     Device readable medium  1230  may be operable to store a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry  1220 . Device readable medium  1230  may include computer memory (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM) or Read Only Memory (ROM)), mass storage media (e.g., a hard disk), removable storage media (e.g., a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/or computer executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry  1220 . In some embodiments, processing circuitry  1220  and device readable medium  1230  may be considered to be integrated. 
     User interface equipment  1232  may provide components that allow for a human user to interact with WD  1210 . Such interaction may be of many forms, such as visual, audial, tactile, etc. User interface equipment  1232  may be operable to produce output to the user and to allow the user to provide input to WD  1210 . The type of interaction may vary depending on the type of user interface equipment  1232  installed in WD  1210 . For example, if WD  1210  is a smart phone, the interaction may be via a touch screen; if WD  1210  is a smart meter, the interaction may be through a screen that provides usage (e.g., the number of gallons used) or a speaker that provides an audible alert (e.g., if smoke is detected). User interface equipment  1232  may include input interfaces, devices and circuits, and output interfaces, devices and circuits. User interface equipment  1232  is configured to allow input of information into WD  1210 , and is connected to processing circuitry  1220  to allow processing circuitry  1220  to process the input information. User interface equipment  1232  may include, for example, a microphone, a proximity or other sensor, keys/buttons, a touch display, one or more cameras, a USB port, or other input circuitry. User interface equipment  1232  is also configured to allow output of information from WD  1210 , and to allow processing circuitry  1220  to output information from WD  1210 . User interface equipment  1232  may include, for example, a speaker, a display, vibrating circuitry, a USB port, a headphone interface, or other output circuitry. Using one or more input and output interfaces, devices, and circuits, of user interface equipment  1232 , WD  1210  may communicate with end users and/or the wireless network, and allow them to benefit from the functionality described herein. 
     Auxiliary equipment  1234  is operable to provide more specific functionality which may not be generally performed by WDs. This may comprise specialized sensors for doing measurements for various purposes, interfaces for additional types of communication such as wired communications etc. The inclusion and type of components of auxiliary equipment  1234  may vary depending on the embodiment and/or scenario. 
     Power source  1236  may, in some embodiments, be in the form of a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic devices or power cells, may also be used. WD  1210  may further comprise power circuitry  1237  for delivering power from power source  1236  to the various parts of WD  1210  which need power from power source  1236  to carry out any functionality described or indicated herein. Power circuitry  1237  may in certain embodiments comprise power management circuitry. Power circuitry  1237  may additionally or alternatively be operable to receive power from an external power source; in which case WD  1210  may be connectable to the external power source (such as an electricity outlet) via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Power circuitry  1237  may also in certain embodiments be operable to deliver power from an external power source to power source  1236 . This may be, for example, for the charging of power source  1236 . Power circuitry  1237  may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from power source  1236  to make the power suitable for the respective components of WD  1210  to which power is supplied. 
       FIG.  13    illustrates one embodiment of a UE in accordance with various aspects described herein. As used herein, a user equipment or UE may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and/or operates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE may represent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, an end user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter). UE  13200  may be any UE identified by the 3 rd  Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), including a NB-IoT UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and/or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE. UE  1300 , as illustrated in  FIG.  13   , is one example of a WD configured for communication in accordance with one or more communication standards promulgated by the 3 rd  Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), such as 3GPP&#39;s GSM, UMTS, LTE, and/or 5G standards. As mentioned previously, the term WD and UE may be used interchangeable. Accordingly, although  FIG.  13    is a UE, the components discussed herein are equally applicable to a WD, and vice-versa. 
     In  FIG.  13   , UE  1300  includes processing circuitry  1301  that is operatively coupled to input/output interface  1305 , radio frequency (RF) interface  1309 , network connection interface  1311 , memory  1315  including random access memory (RAM)  1317 , read-only memory (ROM)  1319 , and storage medium  1321  or the like, communication subsystem  1331 , power source  1333 , and/or any other component, or any combination thereof. Storage medium  1321  includes operating system  1323 , application program  1325 , and data  1327 . In other embodiments, storage medium  1321  may include other similar types of information. Certain UEs may utilize all of the components shown in  FIG.  13   , or only a subset of the components. The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc. 
     In  FIG.  13   , processing circuitry  1301  may be configured to process computer instructions and data. Processing circuitry  1301  may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operative to execute machine instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs in the memory, such as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, FPGA, ASIC, etc.); programmable logic together with appropriate firmware; one or more stored program, general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or Digital Signal Processor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combination of the above. For example, the processing circuitry  1301  may include two central processing units (CPUs). Data may be information in a form suitable for use by a computer. 
     In the depicted embodiment, input/output interface  1305  may be configured to provide a communication interface to an input device, output device, or input and output device. UE  1300  may be configured to use an output device via input/output interface  1305 . An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example, a USB port may be used to provide input to and output from UE  1300 . The output device may be a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof. UE  1300  may be configured to use an input device via input/output interface  1305  to allow a user to capture information into UE  1300 . The input device may include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, another like sensor, or any combination thereof. For example, the input device may be an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a digital camera, a microphone, and an optical sensor. 
     In  FIG.  13   , RF interface  1309  may be configured to provide a communication interface to RF components such as a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna. Network connection interface  1311  may be configured to provide a communication interface to network  1343   a . Network  1343   a  may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network  1343   a  may comprise a Wi-Fi network. Network connection interface  1311  may be configured to include a receiver and a transmitter interface used to communicate with one or more other devices over a communication network according to one or more communication protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, SONET, ATM, or the like. Network connection interface  1311  may implement receiver and transmitter functionality appropriate to the communication network links (e.g., optical, electrical, and the like). The transmitter and receiver functions may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately. 
     RAM  1317  may be configured to interface via bus  1302  to processing circuitry  1301  to provide storage or caching of data or computer instructions during the execution of software programs such as the operating system, application programs, and device drivers. ROM  1319  may be configured to provide computer instructions or data to processing circuitry  1301 . For example, ROM  1319  may be configured to store invariant low-level system code or data for basic system functions such as basic input and output (I/O), startup, or reception of keystrokes from a keyboard that are stored in a non-volatile memory. Storage medium  1321  may be configured to include memory such as RAM, ROM, programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, or flash drives. In one example, storage medium  1321  may be configured to include operating system  1323 , application program  1325  such as a web browser application, a widget or gadget engine or another application, and data file  1327 . Storage medium  1321  may store, for use by UE  1300 , any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems. 
     Storage medium  1321  may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), floppy disk drive, flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as a subscriber identity module or a removable user identity (SIM/RUIM) module, other memory, or any combination thereof. Storage medium  1321  may allow UE  1300  to access computer-executable instructions, application programs or the like, stored on transitory or non-transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system may be tangibly embodied in storage medium  1321 , which may comprise a device readable medium. 
     In  FIG.  13   , processing circuitry  1301  may be configured to communicate with network  1343   b  using communication subsystem  1331 . Network  1343   a  and network  1343   b  may be the same network or networks or different network or networks. Communication subsystem  1331  may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with network  1343   b . For example, communication subsystem  1331  may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication such as another WD, UE, or base station of a radio access network (RAN) according to one or more communication protocols, such as IEEE 802.13, CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, LTE, UTRAN, WiMax, or the like. Each transceiver may include transmitter  1333  and/or receiver  1335  to implement transmitter or receiver functionality, respectively, appropriate to the RAN links (e.g., frequency allocations and the like). Further, transmitter  1333  and receiver  1335  of each transceiver may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the communication functions of communication subsystem  1331  may include data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communication such as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof. For example, communication subsystem  1331  may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth communication, and GPS communication. Network  1343   b  may encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network  1343   b  may be a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, and/or a near-field network. Power source  1313  may be configured to provide alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power to components of UE  1300 . 
     The features, benefits and/or functions described herein may be implemented in one of the components of UE  1300  or partitioned across multiple components of UE  1300 . Further, the features, benefits, and/or functions described herein may be implemented in any combination of hardware, software or firmware. In one example, communication subsystem  1331  may be configured to include any of the components described herein. Further, processing circuitry  1301  may be configured to communicate with any of such components over bus  1302 . In another example, any of such components may be represented by program instructions stored in memory that when executed by processing circuitry  1301  perform the corresponding functions described herein. In another example, the functionality of any of such components may be partitioned between processing circuitry  1301  and communication subsystem  1331 . In another example, the non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware and the computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware. 
       FIG.  14    is a schematic block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment  1400  in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networking resources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to a node (e.g., a virtualized base station or a virtualized radio access node) or to a device (e.g., a UE, a wireless device or any other type of communication device) or components thereof and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components (e.g., via one or more applications, components, functions, virtual machines or containers executing on one or more physical processing nodes in one or more networks). 
     In some embodiments, some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in one or more virtual environments  1400  hosted by one or more of hardware nodes  1430 . Further, in embodiments in which the virtual node is not a radio access node or does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node), then the network node may be entirely virtualized. 
     The functions may be implemented by one or more applications  1420  (which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) operative to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein. Applications  1420  are run in virtualization environment  1400  which provides hardware  1430  comprising processing circuitry  1460  and memory  1490 . Memory  1490  contains instructions  1495  executable by processing circuitry  1460  whereby application  1420  is operative to provide one or more of the features, benefits, and/or functions disclosed herein. 
     Virtualization environment  1400 , comprises general-purpose or special-purpose network hardware devices  1430  comprising a set of one or more processors or processing circuitry  1460 , which may be commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) processors, dedicated Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or any other type of processing circuitry including digital or analog hardware components or special purpose processors. Each hardware device may comprise memory  1490 - 1  which may be non-persistent memory for temporarily storing instructions  1495  or software executed by processing circuitry  1460 . Each hardware device may comprise one or more network interface controllers (NICs)  1470 , also known as network interface cards, which include physical network interface  1480 . Each hardware device may also include non-transitory, persistent, machine-readable storage media  1490 - 2  having stored therein software  1495  and/or instructions executable by processing circuitry  1460 . Software  1495  may include any type of software including software for instantiating one or more virtualization layers  1450  (also referred to as hypervisors), software to execute virtual machines  1440  as well as software allowing it to execute functions, features and/or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein. 
     Virtual machines  1440 , comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by a corresponding virtualization layer  1450  or hypervisor. Different embodiments of the instance of virtual appliance  1420  may be implemented on one or more of virtual machines  1440 , and the implementations may be made in different ways. 
     During operation, processing circuitry  1460  executes software  1495  to instantiate the hypervisor or virtualization layer  1450 , which may sometimes be referred to as a virtual machine monitor (VMM). Virtualization layer  1450  may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to virtual machine  1440 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  14   , hardware  1430  may be a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware  1430  may comprise antenna  14225  and may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware  1430  may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or customer premise equipment (CPE)) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration (MANO)  14100 , which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications  1420 . 
     Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to as network function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers, and customer premise equipment. 
     In the context of NFV, virtual machine  1440  may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of virtual machines  1440 , and that part of hardware  1430  that executes that virtual machine, be it hardware dedicated to that virtual machine and/or hardware shared by that virtual machine with others of the virtual machines  1440 , forms a separate virtual network elements (VNE). 
     Still in the context of NFV, Virtual Network Function (VNF) is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more virtual machines  1440  on top of hardware networking infrastructure  1430  and corresponds to application  1420  in  FIG.  14   . 
     In some embodiments, one or more radio units  14200  that each include one or more transmitters  14220  and one or more receivers  14210  may be coupled to one or more antennas  14225 . Radio units  14200  may communicate directly with hardware nodes  1430  via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station. 
     In some embodiments, some signalling can be effected with the use of control system  14230  which may alternatively be used for communication between the hardware nodes  1430  and radio units  14200 . 
       FIG.  15    illustrates a telecommunication network connected via an intermediate network to a host computer in accordance with some embodiments. In particular, with reference to  FIG.  15   , in accordance with an embodiment, a communication system includes telecommunication network  1510 , such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises access network  1511 , such as a radio access network, and core network  1514 . Access network  1511  comprises a plurality of base stations  1512   a ,  1512   b ,  1512   c , such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area  1513   a ,  1513   b ,  1513   c . Each base station  1512   a ,  1512   b ,  1512   c  is connectable to core network  1514  over a wired or wireless connection  1515 . A first UE  1591  located in coverage area  1513   c  is configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station  1512   c . A second UE  1592  in coverage area  1513   a  is wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station  1512   a . While a plurality of UEs  1591 ,  1592  are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station  1512 . 
     Telecommunication network  1510  is itself connected to host computer  1530 , which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. Host computer  1530  may be under the ownership or control of a service provider, or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. Connections  1521  and  1522  between telecommunication network  1510  and host computer  1530  may extend directly from core network  1514  to host computer  1530  or may go via an optional intermediate network  1520 . Intermediate network  1520  may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network; intermediate network  1520 , if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, intermediate network  1520  may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown). 
     The communication system of  FIG.  15    as a whole enables connectivity between the connected UEs  1591 ,  1592  and host computer  1530 . The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection  1550 . Host computer  1530  and the connected UEs  1591 ,  1592  are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via OTT connection  1550 , using access network  1511 , core network  1514 , any intermediate network  1520  and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. OTT connection  1550  may be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which OTT connection  1550  passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, base station  1512  may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from host computer  1530  to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE  1591 . Similarly, base station  1512  need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE  1591  towards the host computer  1530 . 
     Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment, of the UE, base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference to  FIG.  16   .  FIG.  16    illustrates host computer communicating via a base station with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection in accordance with some embodiments In communication system  1600 , host computer  1610  comprises hardware  1615  including communication interface  1616  configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system  1600 . Host computer  1610  further comprises processing circuitry  1618 , which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. In particular, processing circuitry  1618  may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Host computer  1610  further comprises software  1611 , which is stored in or accessible by host computer  1610  and executable by processing circuitry  1618 . Software  1611  includes host application  1612 . Host application  1612  may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as UE  1630  connecting via OTT connection  1650  terminating at UE  1630  and host computer  1610 . In providing the service to the remote user, host application  1612  may provide user data which is transmitted using OTT connection  1650 . 
     Communication system  1600  further includes base station  1620  provided in a telecommunication system and comprising hardware  1625  enabling it to communicate with host computer  1610  and with UE  1630 . Hardware  1625  may include communication interface  1626  for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system  1600 , as well as radio interface  1627  for setting up and maintaining at least wireless connection  1670  with UE  1630  located in a coverage area (not shown in  FIG.  16   ) served by base station  1620 . Communication interface  1626  may be configured to facilitate connection  1660  to host computer  1610 . Connection  1660  may be direct or it may pass through a core network (not shown in  FIG.  16   ) of the telecommunication system and/or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In the embodiment shown, hardware  1625  of base station  1620  further includes processing circuitry  1628 , which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Base station  1620  further has software  1621  stored internally or accessible via an external connection. 
     Communication system  1600  further includes UE  1630  already referred to. Its hardware  1635  may include radio interface  1637  configured to set up and maintain wireless connection  1670  with a base station serving a coverage area in which UE  1630  is currently located. Hardware  1635  of UE  1630  further includes processing circuitry  1638 , which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. UE  1630  further comprises software  1631 , which is stored in or accessible by UE  1630  and executable by processing circuitry  1638 . Software  1631  includes client application  1632 . Client application  1632  may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via UE  1630 , with the support of host computer  1610 . In host computer  1610 , an executing host application  1612  may communicate with the executing client application  1632  via OTT connection  1650  terminating at UE  1630  and host computer  1610 . In providing the service to the user, client application  1632  may receive request data from host application  1612  and provide user data in response to the request data. OTT connection  1650  may transfer both the request data and the user data. Client application  1632  may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides. 
     It is noted that host computer  1610 , base station  1620  and UE  1630  illustrated in  FIG.  16    may be similar or identical to host computer  1530 , one of base stations  1512   a ,  1512   b ,  1512   c  and one of U Es  1591 ,  1592  of  FIG.  15   , respectively. This is to say, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown in  FIG.  16    and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that of  FIG.  15   . 
     In  FIG.  16   , OTT connection  1650  has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between host computer  1610  and UE  1630  via base station  1620 , without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from UE  1630  or from the service provider operating host computer  1610 , or both. While OTT connection  1650  is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., on the basis of load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network). 
     Wireless connection  1670  between UE  1630  and base station  1620  is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to UE  1630  using OTT connection  1650 , in which wireless connection  1670  forms the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of these embodiments may improve the quality of service (QoS), data rate, and/or latency and thereby provide benefits such as reduced user waiting time, relaxed restriction on file size, and better responsiveness. 
     A measurement procedure may be provided for the purpose of monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection  1650  between host computer  1610  and UE  1630 , in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection  1650  may be implemented in software  1611  and hardware  1615  of host computer  1610  or in software  1631  and hardware  1635  of UE  1630 , or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which OTT connection  1650  passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above, or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software  1611 ,  1631  may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of OTT connection  1650  may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect base station  1620 , and it may be unknown or imperceptible to base station  1620 . Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling facilitating host computer  1610 &#39;s measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may be implemented in that software  1611  and  1631  causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using OTT connection  1650  while it monitors propagation times, errors etc. 
       FIG.  17    is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to  FIGS.  15  and  16   . For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to  FIG.  17    will be included in this section. In step  1710 , the host computer provides user data. In substep  1711  (which may be optional) of step  1710 , the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step  1720 , the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. In step  1730  (which may be optional), the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step  1740  (which may also be optional), the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer. 
       FIG.  18    is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to  FIGS.  15  and  16   . For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to  FIG.  18    will be included in this section. In step  1810  of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step  1820 , the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step  1830  (which may be optional), the UE receives the user data carried in the transmission. 
       FIG.  19    is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to  FIGS.  15  and  16   . For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to  FIG.  19    will be included in this section. In step  1910  (which may be optional), the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally or alternatively, in step  1920 , the UE provides user data. In substep  1921  (which may be optional) of step  1920 , the UE provides the user data by executing a client application. In substep  1911  (which may be optional) of step  1910 , the UE executes a client application which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed client application may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE initiates, in substep  1930  (which may be optional), transmission of the user data to the host computer. In step  1940  of the method, the host computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. 
       FIG.  20    is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference to  FIGS.  15  and  16   . For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references to  FIG.  20    will be included in this section. In step  2010  (which may be optional), in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the base station receives user data from the UE. In step  2020  (which may be optional), the base station initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer. In step  2030  (which may be optional), the host computer receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the base station. 
     Any appropriate steps, methods, features, functions, or benefits disclosed herein may be performed through one or more functional units or modules of one or more virtual apparatuses. Each virtual apparatus may comprise a number of these functional units. These functional units may be implemented via processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein. In some implementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause the respective functional unit to perform corresponding functions according one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Generally, all terms used herein are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the relevant technical field, unless a different meaning is clearly given and/or is implied from the context in which it is used. All references to a/an/the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc. are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of the element, apparatus, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise. The steps of any methods disclosed herein do not have to be performed in the exact order disclosed, unless a step is explicitly described as following or preceding another step and/or where it is implicit that a step must follow or precede another step. Any feature of any of the embodiments disclosed herein may be applied to any other embodiment, wherever appropriate. Likewise, any advantage of any of the embodiments may apply to any other embodiments, and vice versa. Other objectives, features and advantages of the enclosed embodiments will be apparent from the description. 
     The term unit may have conventional meaning in the field of electronics, electrical devices and/or electronic devices and may include, for example, electrical and/or electronic circuitry, devices, modules, processors, memories, logic solid state and/or discrete devices, computer programs or instructions for carrying out respective tasks, procedures, computations, outputs, and/or displaying functions, and so on, as such as those that are described herein. 
     Some of the embodiments contemplated herein are described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments, however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein. The disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.