Patent Description:
Background art can be found in the Patent Publications No. <CIT> and <CIT>.

In some aspects, millimeter wave (mmW) repeater <NUM> (sometimes referred to herein as a repeater <NUM>) may receive an analog millimeter wave signal from a base station <NUM>, may amplify the analog millimeter wave signal, and may transmit the amplified millimeter wave signal to one or more UEs <NUM> (e.g., shown as UE 120f). In some aspects, the mmW repeater <NUM> may be an analog mmW repeater, sometimes also referred to as a layer <NUM> mmW repeater. Additionally, or alternatively, the mmW repeater <NUM> may be a wireless TRP acting as a distributed unit (e.g., of a <NUM> access node) that communicates wirelessly with a base station <NUM> acting as a central unit or an access node controller (e.g., of the <NUM> access node). The mmW repeater may receive, amplify, and transmit the analog mmW signal without performing analog-to-digital conversion of the analog mmW signal and/or without performing any digital signal processing on the mmW signal. In this way, latency may be reduced and a cost to produce the mmW repeater <NUM> may be reduced. Additional details regarding mmW repeater <NUM> are provided elsewhere herein.

A channel processor may determine a reference signal received power (RSRP) parameter, a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) parameter, a reference signal received quality (RSRQ) parameter, and/or a CQI) parameter, among other examples.

The transceiver may be used by a processor (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>) and memory <NUM> to perform aspects of any of the methods described herein (for example, as described with reference to <FIG>).

The transceiver may be used by a processor (e.g., controller/processor <NUM>) and memory <NUM> to perform aspects of any of the methods described herein (for example, as described with reference to <FIG>).

Controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, and/or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform one or more techniques associated with configuration of a repeater via system information, as described in more detail elsewhere herein. For example, controller/processor <NUM> of base station <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM> of UE <NUM>, and/or any other component(s) of <FIG> may perform or direct operations of, for example, process <NUM> of <FIG>, process <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or other processes as described herein. Memories <NUM> and <NUM> may store data and program codes for base station <NUM> and UE <NUM>, respectively. In some aspects, memory <NUM> and/or memory <NUM> may include a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing one or more instructions (e.g., code and/or program code) for wireless communication. For example, the one or more instructions, when executed (e.g., directly, or after compiling, converting, and/or interpreting) by one or more processors of the base station <NUM> and/or the UE <NUM>, may cause the one or more processors, the UE <NUM>, and/or the base station <NUM> to perform or direct operations of, for example, process <NUM> of <FIG>, process <NUM> of <FIG> and/or other processes as described herein. In some aspects, executing instructions may include running the instructions, converting the instructions, compiling the instructions, and/or interpreting the instructions, among other examples.

In some aspects, UE <NUM> may include means for receiving a SIB including configuration information associated with configuring operation of a plurality of repeaters; means for communicating in a set of resources based at least in part on the configuration information included in the SIB, wherein repeaters in the plurality of repeaters are configured to receive signals from first wireless communication devices and forward the signals to second wireless communication devices; and/or the like. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of UE <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>, such as antenna <NUM>, DEMOD <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, MOD <NUM>, and/or the like.

In some aspects, base station <NUM> may include means for receiving a SIB including configuration information associated with configuring operation of a plurality of repeaters; means for communicating in a set of resources based at least in part on the configuration information included in the SIB, wherein repeaters in the plurality of repeaters are configured to receive signals from first wireless communication devices and forward the signals to second wireless communication devices; and/or the like. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of base station <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>, such as antenna <NUM>, DEMOD <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, MOD <NUM>, and/or the like.

In some aspects, base station <NUM> may include means for determining configuration information associated with configuring operation of a plurality of repeaters; means for broadcasting a SIB, including the configuration information, for reception by at least the plurality of repeaters, wherein repeaters in the plurality of repeaters are configured to receive signals from first wireless communication devices and forward the signals to second wireless communication devices; and/or the like. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of base station <NUM> described in connection with <FIG>, such as antenna <NUM>, DEMOD <NUM>, MIMO detector <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, TX MIMO processor <NUM>, MOD <NUM>, and/or the like.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating examples <NUM> of radio access networks, in accordance with the present disclosure.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, a traditional (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, LTE, and/or the like) radio access network may include multiple base stations <NUM> (e.g., access nodes (AN)), where each base station <NUM> communicates with a core network via a wired backhaul link <NUM>, such as a fiber connection. A base station <NUM> may communicate with a UE <NUM> via an access link <NUM>, which may be a wireless link. In some aspects, a base station <NUM> shown in <FIG> may correspond to a base station <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Similarly, a UE <NUM> shown in <FIG> may correspond to a UE <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, a radio access network may include a wireless backhaul network, sometimes referred to as an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) network. In an IAB network, at least one base station is an anchor base station <NUM> that communicates with a core network via a wired backhaul link <NUM>, such as a fiber connection. An anchor base station <NUM> may also be referred to as an IAB donor (or IAB-donor). The IAB network may include one or more non-anchor base stations <NUM>, sometimes referred to as relay base stations or IAB nodes (or IAB-nodes). The non-anchor base station <NUM> may communicate directly with or indirectly with (e.g., via one or more non-anchor base stations <NUM>) the anchor base station <NUM> via one or more backhaul links <NUM> to form a backhaul path to the core network for carrying backhaul traffic. Backhaul link <NUM> may be a wireless link. Anchor base station(s) <NUM> and/or non-anchor base station(s) <NUM> may communicate with one or more UEs <NUM> via access links <NUM>, which may be wireless links for carrying access traffic. In some aspects, an anchor base station <NUM> and/or a non-anchor base station <NUM> shown in <FIG> may correspond to a base station <NUM> shown in <FIG>. Similarly, a UE <NUM> shown in <FIG> may correspond to a UE <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

As shown by reference number <NUM>, in some aspects, a radio access network that includes an IAB network may utilize millimeter wave technology and/or directional communications (e.g., beamforming, precoding and/or the like) for communications between base stations and/or UEs (e.g., between two base stations, between two UEs, and/or between a base station and a UE). For example, wireless backhaul links <NUM> between base stations may use millimeter waves to carry information and/or may be directed toward a target base station using beamforming, precoding, and/or the like. Similarly, the wireless access links <NUM> between a UE and a base station may use millimeter waves and/or may be directed toward a target wireless node (e.g., a UE and/or a base station). In this way, inter-link interference may be reduced.

In some aspects, an IAB network may support a multi-hop wireless backhaul. Additionally, or alternatively, nodes of an IAB network may use the same radio access technology (e.g., <NUM>/NR). Additionally, or alternatively, nodes of an IAB network may share resources for access links and backhaul links, such as time resources, frequency resources, spatial resources, and/or the like. Furthermore, various architectures of IAB nodes and/or IAB donors may be supported.

The configuration of base stations and UEs in <FIG> is shown as an example, and other examples are contemplated. For example, one or more base stations illustrated in <FIG> may be replaced by one or more UEs that communicate via a UE-to-UE access network (e.g., a peer-to-peer network, a device-to-device network, and/or the like). In this case, "anchor node" may refer to a UE that is directly in communication with a base station (e.g., an anchor base station or a non-anchor base station).

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> of communicating using an analog millimeter wave repeater, in accordance with the present disclosure.

Because millimeter wave communications have a higher frequency and shorter wavelength than other types of radio waves used for communications (e.g., sub-<NUM> communications), millimeter wave communications may have shorter propagation distances and may be more easily blocked by obstructions than other types of radio waves. For example, a wireless communication that uses sub-<NUM> radio waves may be capable of penetrating a wall of a building or a structure to provide coverage to an area on an opposite side of the wall from a base station <NUM> that communicates using the sub-<NUM> radio waves. However, a millimeter wave may not be capable of penetrating the same wall (e.g., depending on a thickness of the wall, a material from which the wall is constructed, and/or the like). Some techniques and apparatuses described herein use a millimeter wave repeater <NUM> to increase the coverage area of a base station <NUM>, to extend coverage to UEs <NUM> without line of sight to the base station <NUM> (e.g., due to an obstruction), and/or the like. Furthermore, the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> described herein may be a layer <NUM> or an analog millimeter wave repeater, which is associated with a lower cost, less processing, and lower latency than a layer <NUM> or layer <NUM> repeater.

As shown in <FIG>, a millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may perform directional communication by using beamforming to communicate with a base station <NUM> via a first beam (e.g., a backhaul beam over a backhaul link with the base station <NUM>) and to communicate with a UE <NUM> via a second beam (e.g., an access beam over an access link with the UE <NUM>). To achieve long propagation distances and/or to satisfy a required link budget, the millimeter wave repeater may use narrow beams (e.g., with a beam width less than a threshold) for such communications.

However, using a narrower beam requires the use of more resources of the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> (e.g., processing resources, memory resources, power, battery power, and/or the like) and more network resources (e.g., time resources, frequency resources, spatial resources, and/or the like), as compared to a wider beam, to perform beam training (e.g., to determine a suitable beam), beam maintenance (e.g., to find suitable beam as conditions change due to mobility and/or the like), beam management, and/or the like. This may waste resources of the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> and/or network resources as compared to using a wider beam, and may lead to increased cost of production of millimeter wave repeaters <NUM>, which may be deployed extensively throughout a radio access network.

For example, a millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may be deployed in a fixed location with limited or no mobility, similar to a base station <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may use a narrower beam to communicate with the base station <NUM> without unnecessarily consuming network resources and/or resources of the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> because the need for beam training, beam maintenance, and/or beam management may be limited, due to limited or no mobility of the base station <NUM> and the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> (and/or due to a line of sight communication path between the base station <NUM> and the millimeter wave repeater <NUM>).

As further shown in <FIG>, the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may use a wider beam (e.g., a pseudo-omnidirectional beam and/or the like) to communicate with one or more UEs <NUM>. This wider beam may provide wider coverage for access links, thereby providing coverage to mobile UEs <NUM> without requiring frequent beam training, beam maintenance, and/or beam management. In this way, network resources and/or resources of the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may be conserved. Furthermore, if the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> does not include digital signal processing capabilities, resources of the base station <NUM> (e.g., processing resources, memory resources, and/or the like) may be conserved that would otherwise be used to perform such signal processing for the millimeter wave repeater <NUM>, and network resources may be conserved that would otherwise be used to communicate input to or output of such processing between the base station <NUM> and the millimeter wave repeater <NUM>.

In this way, the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may increase a coverage area, provide access around obstructions (as shown), and/or the like, while conserving resources of the base station <NUM>, resources of the millimeter wave repeater <NUM>, network resources, and/or the like. Additional details are described below.

<FIG> and <FIG> are diagrams illustrating examples of a millimeter wave repeater <NUM>, in accordance with the present disclosure. In some aspects, millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may correspond to millimeter wave repeater <NUM> shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may include one or more phased array antennas <NUM>-<NUM> through <NUM>-N (N > <NUM>), a gain component <NUM>, a controller <NUM>, a communication component <NUM>, and a multiplexer (MUX) and/or demultiplexer (DEMUX) (MUX/DEMUX) <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may include one or more metamaterial antennas <NUM>'-<NUM> through <NUM>'-N, gain component <NUM>, controller <NUM>, communication component <NUM>, and one or more MUX/DEMUX <NUM>.

An antenna <NUM>/<NUM>' includes one or more antenna elements capable of being configured for beamforming. In some aspects, as illustrated in <FIG>, millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may include one or more phased array antennas <NUM>, which may be referred to as a phased array because phase values and/or phase offsets of the antenna elements may be configured to form a beam, with different phase values and/or phase offsets being used for different beams (e.g., in different directions).

In some aspects, as illustrated in <FIG>, millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may include one or more metamaterial antennas <NUM>'. In some aspects, a metamaterial antenna may comprise a synthetic material with negative permittivity and/or permeability, which yields a negative refractive index. Due to the resulting superior antenna gain and electro-magnetic lensing, the metamaterial antenna may not need to be used in a phased-array configuration. However, if in phased-array configuration, antenna spacing could be less than a typically used spacing of lambda/<NUM>, where lambda refers to a wavelength of the radio frequency (RF) carrier signal. In some aspects, due to superior beamforming, the metamaterial antenna may reduce leakage back to the receive (RX) antenna and may reduce a chance of instability in the RF chain. Hence, the use of metamaterial antennas may reduce or obviate a need for a feedback path.

In some aspects, an antenna <NUM>/<NUM>' may be a fixed RX antenna capable of only receiving communications, and not transmitting communications. In some aspects, an antenna <NUM>/<NUM>' may be a fixed transmit (TX) antenna capable of only transmitting communications, and not receiving communications. In some aspects, an antenna <NUM>/<NUM>' may be capable of being configured to act as an RX antenna or a TX antenna (e.g., via a TX/RX switch, a MUX/DEMUX, and/or the like). The antennas <NUM>/<NUM>' may be capable of communicating using millimeter waves.

Gain component <NUM> includes a component capable of amplifying an input signal and outputting an amplified signal. For example, gain component <NUM> may include a power amplifier, a variable gain component, and/or the like. In some aspects, gain component <NUM> may have variable gain control. The gain component <NUM> may connect to an RX antenna (e.g., a first antenna <NUM>/<NUM>'-<NUM>) and a TX antenna (e.g., a second antenna <NUM>/<NUM>'-<NUM>) such that an analog millimeter wave signal, received via the RX antenna, can be amplified by the gain component <NUM> and output to the TX antenna for transmission. In some aspects, the level of amplification of the gain component <NUM> may be controlled by the controller <NUM>.

Controller <NUM> includes a component capable of controlling one or more other components of the millimeter wave repeater <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may include a controller, a microcontroller, a processor, and/or the like. In some aspects, the controller <NUM> may control the gain component <NUM> by controlling a level of amplification or gain applied by the gain component <NUM> to an input signal. Additionally, or alternatively, the controller <NUM> may control an antenna <NUM>/<NUM>' by controlling a beamforming configuration for the antenna <NUM>/<NUM>' (e.g., one or more phase values for the antenna <NUM>/<NUM>', one or more phase offsets for the antenna <NUM>/<NUM>', one or more power parameters for the antenna <NUM>/<NUM>', one or more beamforming parameters for the antenna <NUM>/<NUM>', a TX beamforming configuration, an RX beamforming configuration, and/or the like), by controlling whether the antenna <NUM>/<NUM>' acts as an RX antenna or a TX antenna (e.g., by configuring interaction and/or connections between the antenna <NUM>/<NUM>' and a MUX/DEMUX <NUM>), and/or the like. Additionally, or alternatively, the controller <NUM> may power on or power off one or more components of millimeter wave repeater <NUM> (e.g., when a base station <NUM> does not need to use the millimeter wave repeater to serve UEs <NUM>). In some aspects, the controller <NUM> may control a timing of one or more of the above configurations.

Communication component <NUM> may include a component capable of wirelessly communicating with a base station <NUM> using a wireless technology other than millimeter wave. For example, the communication component <NUM> may communicate with the base station <NUM> using a personal area network (PAN) technology (e.g., Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and/or the like), a <NUM> or LTE radio access technology, a narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) technology, a visible light communication technology, and/or the like. In general, the communication component <NUM> enables communication (e.g., with base station <NUM>) via a low frequency (LF) interface (e.g., an interface that uses a sub-<NUM> frequency). In some aspects, the communication component <NUM> may use a low frequency communication technology, and an antenna <NUM>/<NUM>' may use a higher frequency (HF) communication technology (e.g., millimeter wave and/or the like). In some aspects, an antenna <NUM>/<NUM>' may be used to transfer data between the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> and the base station <NUM>, and the communication component <NUM> may be used to transfer control information between the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> and the base station <NUM> (e.g., a report, a configuration, instructions to power on or power off one or more components, and/or the like).

MUX/DEMUX <NUM> may be used to multiplex and/or demultiplex communications received from and/or transmitted to an antenna <NUM>/<NUM>'. For example, MUX/DEMUX <NUM> may be used to switch an RX antenna to a TX antenna.

In some aspects, the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> does not include any components for digital signal processing. For example, the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may not include a digital signal processor, a baseband processor, a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), and/or the like. In this way, a cost to produce the millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may be reduced. Furthermore, latency may be reduced by eliminating digital processing of received millimeter wave signals prior to transmission of corresponding amplified millimeter wave signals.

In some aspects, one or more antennas <NUM>/<NUM>', gain component <NUM>, controller <NUM>, communication component <NUM>, MUX/DEMUX <NUM>, and/or the like may perform one or more operations associated with configuration of a repeater via system information, as described in more detail elsewhere herein. For example, one or more components of millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may perform or direct operations of, for example, process <NUM> of <FIG>, and/or other processes as described herein.

In some aspects, millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may include means for receiving a SIB including configuration information associated with configuring operation of a plurality of repeaters, wherein repeaters in the plurality of repeaters are configured to receive signals from first wireless communication devices and forward the signals to second wireless communication devices; means for communicating in a set of resources based at least in part on the configuration information included in the SIB; and/or the like. In some aspects, such means may include one or more components of millimeter wave repeater <NUM> described in connection with <FIG> and <FIG>, such as antenna <NUM>/<NUM>', gain component <NUM>, controller <NUM>, communication component <NUM>, MUX/DEMUX <NUM>, and/or the like.

As indicated above, <FIG> and <FIG> are provided as an example. For example, millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may include additional components, fewer components, different components, or differently arranged components than those shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. Furthermore, two or more components shown in <FIG> and <FIG> may be implemented within a single component, or a single component shown in <FIG> and <FIG> may be implemented as multiple components. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of components (e.g., one or more components) of millimeter wave repeater <NUM> may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of components of millimeter wave repeater <NUM>.

In a wireless communication system, a backhaul link may be established between a base station (e.g., a base station <NUM>) and a repeater (e.g., a mmW repeater <NUM>). The backhaul link can be used, for example, as a control path for carrying signals (e.g., uplink signals and/or downlink signals) associated with configuring the repeater. A repeater for which operation can be configured in such a way can be referred to as a smart repeater or a hybrid node. In some cases, the backhaul link may use a relatively small bandwidth part in the mmW frequency range (e.g., in FR2) and may achieve a relatively low data rate. Further, an access link may be established between the base station and a UE (e.g., UE <NUM>), with the repeater being configured to act as a relay between the base station and the UE (e.g., such that the repeater receives and forwards signals on the access link). The access link can be used, for example, as a data path for carrying signals (e.g., uplink signals and/or downlink signals) between the base station and the UE. In some cases, the access link may use a relatively larger bandwidth in the mmW frequency range and may achieve a relatively high data rate. In some deployments, signals on the backhaul link can be multiplexed (e.g., frequency domain multiplexed (FDM)) with signals on the access link.

Operation of the repeater with respect to the access link can be configured via the backhaul link. That is, operation of the repeater in association with receiving and forwarding signals on the access link can be configured via the backhaul link. For example, the backhaul link can be used to configure the repeater with a beamforming configuration to be used on the access link (e.g., a configuration indicating one or more beams to be used for receiving or forwarding a signal), a switching configuration to be used on the access link (e.g., a configuration indicating whether the repeater is to receive and forward signals on the downlink or the uplink), and a schedule to be used on the access link (e.g., an indication of time resources in which to adopt the beamforming and switching configurations). Additional examples of configurations that may be provided via the backhaul link include a transmit power configuration for the access link (e.g., a configuration indicating a transmit power to be used when forwarding a signal) and an on-off configuration to be used on the access link (e.g., a configuration indicating whether the repeater is to forward signals or refrain from forwarding signals).

In some cases, such configurations of the repeater can be provided using a control signal on the backhaul link. For example, a downlink control information (DCI) format may be defined to enable information associated with one or more of the above configurations to be provided. In some cases, such a control signal may be a common-purpose control signal (e.g., a DCI) that can be used to configure (e.g., dynamically and/or semi-statically) operation of the repeater in a set of upcoming resources. A common-purpose control signal may, in some cases, be designed to be used for configuring operation of the repeater as related to any procedure associated with the access link.

Typically, a base station transmits control signals (e.g., common-purpose control signals) to each repeater in a group of multiple repeaters (individually) in association with configuring operation of the group of repeaters. For example, the base station can transmit one or more control signals to a first repeater in the group of repeaters in association with configuring operation of the first repeater, can transmit one or more second control signals to a second repeater in the group of repeaters in association with configuring operation of the second repeater, and so on. However, individual configuration of the group of repeaters in such a way may result in an undesirable amount of signaling overhead and/or inefficient resource usage (e.g., due to the number or frequency of control signals needed and/or the amount of information to be conveyed in the common-purpose control signals).

Some aspects described herein provide techniques and apparatuses for configuration of a repeater (e.g., a mmW repeater <NUM>) via system information. In some aspects, as described below, system information (e.g., a system information block (SIB)) that is broadcast for reception by a group of repeaters may be used to simplify configuration of the group of repeaters, which may reduce signaling overhead and/or improve resource usage efficiency associated with configuring operation of the group of repeaters. For example, one or more cell-specific configurations may be applicable to all repeaters in a cell associated with a base station. In such a case, broadcasting configuration information in the SIB (e.g., in remaining minimum system information (RMSI), in other system information, or the like) for reception by the repeaters reduces signaling overhead and/or improves resource usage efficiency in association with configuration of operation of the group of repeaters.

In some aspects, configuration of the group of repeaters via system information reduces a number of control signals that need to be transmitted by a base station and received by a given repeater. Further, configuration of the group of repeaters via system information may require a comparatively smaller amount of configuration information via typical control signals. In some aspects, as described in further detail below, a base station determines configuration information associated with configuring operation of a group of repeaters, and broadcast a SIB including the configuration information (e.g., such that the SIB can be received by the group of repeaters). A repeater receives the SIB including the configuration information, and communicates a set of resources based at least in part on the configuration information included in the SIB. Similarly, in some aspects, another type of wireless communication device (e.g., a UE, an IAB node, or the like) may receive the SIB including the configuration information, and may communicate in a set of resources based at least in part on the configuration information.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example <NUM> associated with configuration of a repeater (e.g., a mmW repeater <NUM>) via system information, in accordance with the present disclosure.

As shown by reference <NUM>, a base station (e.g., a base station <NUM>) determines configuration information associated with configuring operation of a plurality of repeaters (e.g., a plurality of mmW repeaters <NUM>) in association with receiving and/or forwarding signals. In some aspects, the configuration information may include information that is applicable to the plurality of repeaters. That is, the configuration information includes configuration information that can be used in association with configuring each of the plurality of repeaters for operation in association with receiving and/or forwarding signals. As an example, in some aspects, the configuration information may include information associated with a cell-specific configuration that applies to each repeater of the plurality of repeaters.

The configuration information is used for partitioning resources associated with an access procedure (e.g., resources that are to carry signals associated with an initial access procedure). The configuration information is for partitioning resources associated with an access procedure into a first set of resources and a second set of resources. In some aspects, the first set of resources may be, for example, a set of resources in which signals are not to be forwarded by the plurality of repeaters (e.g., a set of resources in which the plurality of repeaters are to refrain from forwarding signals associated with the access procedure), while the second set of resources may be a set of resources in which signals are to be forwarded by the plurality of repeaters (e.g., a set of resources in which the plurality of repeaters are to forward signals associated with the access procedure). In some aspects, the partitioning of the resources may be indicated by a set of synchronization signal block (SSB) indices. Here, each SSB index of the set of SSB indices may correspond to a respective SSB in a set of SSBs associated with an access procedure. In some aspects, the configuration information may include information indicating a set of SSB indices associated with the first set of resources (e.g., the set of resources in which the repeaters are not to forward signals) and/or may indicate a set of SSB indices associated with the second set of resources in association with partitioning the resources (e.g., the set of resources in which the repeaters are to forward signals).

The first set of resources is used for providing direct connections to the base station. For example, since the repeaters are not to forward signals in the first set of resources, the first set of resources can be used by wireless communication devices (e.g., repeaters, UEs, IAB nodes, or the like) to directly connect to the base station (e.g., rather than connecting to the base station via one or more of the plurality of repeaters). Conversely, the second set of resources can, is used for providing indirect connections to the base station. For example, since the repeaters are to forward signals in the second set of resources, the second set of resources can be used by wireless communication devices to connect to the base station via one or more of the plurality of repeaters (e.g., rather than directly connecting to the base station). In one example of operation, during an initial integration with the base station, a given repeater may identify, based at least in part on the SSB indices indicated in the configuration information, one or more SSBs that would provide a direct connection to the base station, and may use the identified one or more SSBs for initial integration. Here, the repeater may avoid (or deprioritize) the use of SSBs that may result in accessing the base station indirectly (e.g., through another repeater). A similar operation can be performed during initial access by a wireless communication device of another type (e.g., a UE, an IAB node, or the like) when the wireless communication device can receive and process the configuration information, associated with configuring the plurality of repeaters, that is broadcast by the base station.

In some aspects, resources that are to carry signals associated with the set of SSBs can be similarly partitioned based at least in part on the indicated SSB indices. The resources that are to carry the signals associated with the set of SSBs may include, for example, resources associated with carrying physical downlink control channels (PDCCHs) associated with scheduling RMSI associated with the set of SSBs, RACH messages carried in RACH occasions associated with the set of SSBs, PDCCHs associated with scheduling RACH responses, and/or the like. In some aspects, a given repeater would have previously received information indicating a location (e.g., in a time-domain) of the set of SSBs (e.g., based on a bitmap received in SIB1 and/or one or more radio resource control (RRC) messages that indicate the location of actually transmitted SSBs) and the resources of the signals associated with the set of SSBs. Here, this previously received information can be leveraged to partition the resources that are to carry the signals associated with the set of SSBs, thereby simplifying configuration of partitioning for a given repeater.

In some aspects, the configuration information may be associated with configuring a parameter associated with control messages. That is, in some aspects, the configuration information can include information associated with configuring a parameter associated with a repeater control message (and broadcast in the system information). The parameter may be associated with, for example, a cell-specific PDCCH (e.g., a cell-specific PDCCH configuration and resources) for a DCI format to be used for the control messages. As another example, the parameter may be associated with a bandwidth part configuration associated with the control messages.

In some aspects, the configuration information may be associated with configuring a value for a parameter. The parameter may be associated with, for example, a maximum number of beams or a maximum number of SSBs that can be used by a given repeater of the plurality of repeaters (e.g., a maximum number of beams a repeater can use on a service-side). As another example, the parameter may be associated with configuring or scheduling a given repeater of the plurality of repeaters. Here, the value may be a time offset value (e.g., a value for a time offset between a time DCI is sent and a time a configuration should be implemented). As another example, the value may be an offset or absolute value associated with controlling power of a repeater of the plurality of repeaters.

In some aspects, the configuration information may include a time division duplexing (TDD) configuration (e.g., a default TDD configuration) associated with determining a forwarding direction for a set of resources. A forwarding direction may indicate a direction associated with forwarding signals carried in the set of resources. For example, the forwarding direction may be a downlink forwarding direction, meaning that a signal carried in the set of resources is associated with a downlink communication and, therefore, that the repeater should forward the signal on the downlink. As another example, the forwarding direction may be an uplink forwarding direction, meaning that a signal carried in the set of resources is associated with an uplink communication and, therefore, that the repeater should forward the signal on the uplink. As another example, the forwarding direction may be a full-duplex forwarding direction, meaning that the repeater should forward the signal on both the downlink and the uplink. As another example, the forwarding direction may be a null forwarding direction, meaning that a signal carried in the set of resources should not be forwarded by the repeater (i.e., the repeater should refrain from forwarding the signal).

In some aspects, the configuration information may include a RACH configuration associated with an access procedure. That is, in some aspects, the configuration information may include a RACH configuration (e.g., a specific RACH configuration, a dedicated RACH configuration) that can be used by the plurality repeaters for an initial access procedure and/or another access procedure (e.g., a contention free random access (CFRA) procedure, or a contention based random access (CBRA) procedure).

As shown by reference <NUM>, the base station may broadcast a SIB, including the configuration information, for reception by (at least) the plurality of repeaters. In some aspects, the configuration information is included in RMSI in the SIB. In some aspects, the configuration information is included in other system information in the SIB.

In some aspects, a wireless communication device (e.g., a repeater, a UE, an IAB node, or the like) may receive the SIB including the configuration information associated with configuring operation of the plurality of repeaters, and may communicate in a set of resources based at least in part on the configuration information included in the SIB. That is, the wireless communication device may receive the SIB including the configuration information associated with the plurality of repeaters, and may receive, (selectively) forward, and/or transmit communications based at least in part on the configuration information.

As shown by reference <NUM>, in some aspects, the wireless communication device may be a repeater (i.e., a repeater included in the plurality of repeaters). In some aspects, the repeater has a control interface to the base station associated with configuring operation of the repeater. As shown by reference <NUM>, in some aspects, the wireless communication device may be an IAB node (e.g., a base station <NUM>, a non-anchor base station <NUM>, or the like). As shown by reference <NUM>, in some aspects, the wireless communication device may be a UE (e.g., a UE <NUM>).

In some aspects, communicating in the set of resources includes selectively forwarding a signal received in the set of resources based at least in part on the configuration information. In some aspects, the signal may be associated with an SSB corresponding to an SSB index (e.g., an SSB index included in a set of SSB indices indicated in the configuration information), or may be a signal associated with the SSB (e.g., a PDCCH associated with scheduling RMSI associated with the SSB, a RACH message associated with the SSB, a PDCCH associated with scheduling RACH responses for the RACH messages associated with the SSB, or the like). For example, the configuration information may include information associated with partitioning resources associated with an access procedure into a first set of resources and a second set of resources, as described above. Here, the wireless communication device may select, based at least in part on the configuration information, an SSB to be used in association with performing an access procedure (e.g., the repeater may select an SSB corresponding to an SSB index indicated as one for which repeaters are to forward signals). The wireless communication device may then identify resources carrying the SSB and/or resources carrying the signals associated with the SSB, and may forward signals in the resources associated with the SSB and in the resources carrying signals associated with the SSB.

In some aspects, communicating in the set of resources includes selecting an SSB to be used in association with performing an access procedure based at least in part on the configuration information, identifying the set of resources based at least in part on the selected SSB, and receiving the selected SSB in the set of resources. For example, the configuration information may include information associated with partitioning resources associated with an access procedure into a first set of resources and a second set of resources, as described above. Here, the wireless communication device may select an SSB to be used in association with performing an access procedure based at least in part on the configuration information (e.g., the wireless communication device may select an SSB corresponding to an SSB index indicated as one for which repeaters are to forward signals). The wireless communication device may then identify the set of resources based at least in part on the selected SSB, and receive the selected SSB in the set of resources.

In some aspects, communicating in the set of resources includes receiving a control message in the set of resources based at least in part on the configuration information. For example, the configuration information may be associated with configuring a parameter associated with control messages for configuring repeaters, as described above. Here, the wireless communication device may receive the configuration information and, thus, may determine the configuration for the parameter associated with control messages. The repeater may then receive a control message in the set of resources based at least in part on the configuration of the parameter.

In some aspects, communicating in the set of resources comprises transmitting or receiving a signal in the set of resources based at least in part on a value for a parameter. For example, the configuration information may be associated with configuring a value for a parameter, as described above. Here, the wireless communication device may receive the configuration information and, thus, may determine the value for the parameter. The repeater may then transmit a communication or receive a communication in the set of resources based at least in part on the value of the parameter.

In some aspects, communicating in the set of resources includes selectively forwarding a signal received in the set of resources based at least in part on a TDD configuration (e.g., a default TDD configuration). For example, the configuration information may include a TDD configuration associated with determining a forwarding direction for a set of resources, as described above. Here, the wireless communication device may receive the configuration information and, thus, determine the forwarding direction for the set of resources. The wireless communication device may then receive a signal in the set of resources and selectively forward (e.g., forward or refrain from forwarding) the signal based at least in part on the forwarding direction.

In some aspects, communicating in the set of resources includes sending a RACH signal in the set of resources based at least in part on the RACH configuration associated with the access procedure. For example, the configuration information may include a RACH configuration associated with an access procedure, as described above. Here, the wireless communication device may receive the configuration information and, thus, determine the RACH configuration. The wireless communication device may then send a RACH signal in the set of resources based at least in part on the RACH configuration. In some aspects, the RACH signal may be a RACH signal that the wireless communication device sends to the base station (e.g., to stablish a link with the base station, to recover from a beam failure, to recover from a link failure, or the like).

In some aspects, the wireless communication device may communicate in the set of resources based at least in part on a beamforming configuration received by the wireless communication device. For example, the base station may provide (e.g., at an earlier time) a beamforming configuration to the wireless communication device, and the wireless communication device may communicate in the set of resources based at least in part on the beamforming configuration.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a wireless communication device, in accordance with the present disclosure. Example process <NUM> is an example where the wireless communication device (e.g., base station <NUM>, UE <NUM>, mmW repeater <NUM>, or the like) performs operations associated with configuration of a repeater via system information.

As shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include receiving a SIB including configuration information associated with configuring operation of a plurality of repeaters, wherein repeaters in the plurality of repeaters are configured to receive signals from first wireless communication devices and forward the signals to second wireless communication devices (block <NUM>). For example, the wireless communication device (e.g., using antenna <NUM>/<NUM>', gain component <NUM>, controller <NUM>, communication component <NUM>, MUX/DEMUX <NUM>, or the like when the wireless communication device is a mmW repeater <NUM>; using receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like when the wireless communication device is a UE <NUM>; using receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, or the like when the wireless communication device is a base station <NUM>) may receive a SIB including configuration information associated with configuring operation of a plurality of repeaters, wherein repeaters in the plurality of repeaters are configured to receive signals from first wireless communication devices and forward the signals to second wireless communication devices, as described above.

As further shown in <FIG>, in some aspects, process <NUM> may include communicating in a set of resources based at least in part on the configuration information included in the SIB (block <NUM>). For example, the wireless communication device (e.g., using antenna <NUM>/<NUM>', gain component <NUM>, controller <NUM>, communication component <NUM>, MUX/DEMUX <NUM>, or the like when the wireless communication device is a mmW repeater <NUM>; using receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like when the wireless communication device is a UE <NUM>; using receive processor <NUM>, transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, or the like when the wireless communication device is a base station <NUM>) may communicate in a set of resources based at least in part on the configuration information included in the SIB, as described above.

In a first aspect, the configuration information includes information associated with a cell-specific configuration that applies to each repeater of the plurality of repeaters.

In a second aspect, alone or in combination with the first aspect, the configuration information is included in remaining minimum system information in the SIB.

In a third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first and second aspects, the configuration information is included in other system information in the SIB.

The configuration information is associated with partitioning resources associated with an access procedure into a first set of resources and a second set of resources.

The the first set of resources is a set of resources in which signals are not to be forwarded by the plurality of repeaters and the second set of resources is a set of resources in which signals are to be forwarded by the plurality of repeaters.

In a sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifth aspects, the configuration information indicates a set of SSB indices associated with either the first set of resources or the second set of resources.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects, communicating in the set of resources comprises selectively forwarding a signal received in the set of resources based at least in part on the configuration information.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, the signal is associated with at least one of: an SSB corresponding to an SSB index of a set of SSB indices, a PDCCH associated with scheduling remaining minimum system information associated with the SSB, a RACH message associated with the SSB, or a PDCCH associated with scheduling a RACH response for the RACH message associated with the SSB.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighth aspects, communicating in the set of resources comprises: selecting a SSB to be used in association with performing an access procedure based at least in part on the configuration information; identifying the set of resources based at least in part on the selected SSB, and receiving the selected SSB in the set of resources.

In a tenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through ninth aspects, the configuration information is associated with configuring a parameter associated with control messages.

In an eleventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through tenth aspects, the parameter is associated with a cell-specific PDCCH for a DCI format to be used for the control messages.

In a twelfth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eleventh aspects, the parameter is associated with a bandwidth part configuration associated with the control messages.

In a thirteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twelfth aspects, communicating in the set of resources comprises receiving a control message in the set of resources based at least in part on the configuration information.

In a fourteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through thirteenth aspects, the configuration information is associated with configuring a value for a parameter.

In a fifteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourteenth aspects, the parameter is a maximum number of beams that can be used by the wireless communication device.

In a sixteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifteenth aspects, the parameter is associated with configuring or scheduling the wireless communication device.

In a seventeenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixteenth aspects, the value is a time offset value.

In an eighteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventeenth aspects, the value is an offset or absolute value associated with controlling power of the wireless communication device.

In a nineteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighteenth aspects, communicating in the set of resources comprises transmitting or receiving a signal in the set of resources based at least in part on the value for the parameter.

In a twentieth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through nineteenth aspects, the configuration information includes a default TDD configuration associated with determining a forwarding direction for the set of resources.

In a twenty-first aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twentieth aspects, the forwarding direction is one of: a downlink forwarding direction, an uplink forwarding direction, a full-duplex forwarding direction, or a null forwarding direction.

In a twenty-second aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twenty-first aspects, communicating in the set of resources comprises selectively forwarding a signal received in the set of resources based at least in part on the default TDD configuration.

In a twenty-third aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twenty-second aspects, the configuration information includes a RACH configuration associated with an access procedure.

In a twenty-fourth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twenty-third aspects, the access procedure is one of: an initial access procedure, a contention free random access procedure, or a contention based random access procedure.

In a twenty-fifth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twenty-fourth aspects, communicating in the set of resources comprises sending a RACH signal received in the set of resources based at least in part on the RACH configuration associated with the access procedure.

In a twenty-sixth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twenty-fifth aspects, the wireless communication device is a repeater.

In a twenty-seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twenty-sixth aspects, the repeater operates in a millimeter wave frequency range.

In a twenty-eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twenty-seventh aspects, the repeater has a control interface to a base station associated with configuring operation of the repeater.

In a twenty-ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twenty-eighth aspects, communicating in the set of resources is further based at least in part on a beamforming configuration received by the wireless communication device.

In a thirtieth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twenty-ninth aspects, the wireless communication device is an integrated access and backhaul node (e.g., a base station <NUM>).

In a thirty first aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through thirtieth aspects, the wireless communication device is a UE (e.g., a UE <NUM>).

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example process <NUM> performed, for example, by a base station, in accordance with the present disclosure. Example process <NUM> is an example where the base station (e.g., base station <NUM> and/or the like) performs operations associated with configuration of a repeater via system information.

As shown in <FIG>, process <NUM> includes determining configuration information associated with configuring operation of a plurality of repeaters, wherein repeaters in the plurality of repeaters are configured to receive signals from first wireless communication devices and forward the signals to second wireless communication devices (block <NUM>). For example, the base station (e.g., using transmit processor <NUM>, receive processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) may determine configuration information associated with configuring operation of a plurality of repeaters (e.g., a plurality of mmW repeaters <NUM>), wherein repeaters in the plurality of repeaters are configured to receive signals from first wireless communication devices and forward the signals to second wireless communication devices, as described above.

As further shown in <FIG>, process <NUM> includes broadcasting a SIB, including the configuration information, for reception by at least the plurality of repeaters (block <NUM>). The base station (e.g., using transmit processor <NUM>, controller/processor <NUM>, memory <NUM>, and/or the like) broadcasts a SIB, including the configuration information, for reception by at least the plurality of repeaters, as described above.

The first set of resources is a set of resources in which signals are not to be forwarded by the plurality of repeaters and the second set of resources is a set of resources in which signals are to be forwarded by the plurality of repeaters.

In a seventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixth aspects, the configuration information is associated with configuring a parameter associated with control messages.

In an eighth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventh aspects, the parameter is associated with a cell-specific PDCCH for a DCI format to be used for the control messages.

In a ninth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eighth aspects, the parameter is associated with a bandwidth part configuration associated with the control messages.

In a tenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through ninth aspects, the configuration information is associated with configuring a value for a parameter.

In an eleventh aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through tenth aspects, the parameter is associated with a maximum number of beams that can be used by a repeater of the plurality of repeaters.

In a twelfth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through eleventh aspects, the parameter is associated with configuring or scheduling a repeater of the plurality of repeaters.

In a thirteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through twelfth aspects, the value is a time offset value.

In a fourteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through thirteenth aspects, the value is an offset or absolute value associated with controlling power of a repeater of the plurality of repeaters.

In a fifteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fourteenth aspects, the configuration information includes a default TDD configuration associated with determining a forwarding direction for a set of resources.

In a sixteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through fifteenth aspects, the forwarding direction is one of: a downlink forwarding direction, an uplink forwarding direction, a full-duplex forwarding direction, or a null forwarding direction.

In a seventeenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through sixteenth aspects, the configuration information includes a RACH configuration associated with an access procedure.

In an eighteenth aspect, alone or in combination with one or more of the first through seventeenth aspects, the access procedure is one of: an initial access procedure, a contention free random access procedure, or a contention based random access procedure.

Claim 1:
A method of wireless communication performed by a repeater (<NUM>), comprising:
receiving (<NUM>), from a base station, BS (<NUM>), a system information block, SIB (<NUM>), including configuration information associated with configuring operation of a plurality of repeaters (<NUM>) including the repeater (<NUM>),
wherein the configuration information is associated with partitioning a set of resources associated with performing an access procedure into a first set of resources and a second set of resources,
wherein the first set of resources are allocated for providing a direct connection between the repeater (<NUM>) and the base station, BS (<NUM>), and
the second set of resources are allocated for providing an indirect connection between a wireless communication device (<NUM>) and the base station, BS (<NUM>) via the repeater (<NUM>); and
communicating (<NUM>), with the base station, BS (<NUM>), in the set of resources based at least in part on the configuration information included in the SIB (<NUM>).