Patent Description:
For example, a fifth generation (<NUM>) wireless communications technology (which may be referred to as new radio (NR)) is envisaged to expand and support diverse usage scenarios and applications with respect to current mobile network generations. In an aspect, <NUM> communications technology may include: enhanced mobile broadband addressing human-centric use cases for access to multimedia content, services and data; ultra-reliable-low latency communications (URLLC) with certain specifications for latency and reliability; and massive machine type communications, which may allow a very large number of connected devices and transmission of a relatively low volume of non-delay-sensitive information. As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, however, further improvements in NR communications technology and beyond may be desired.

In a wireless communication network, an integrated access and backhauling (IAB) node may include one or more mobile terminations (MTs) and one or more distributed units (DUs). When the IAB node switches between uplink transmission/reception and downlink transmission/reception, a guard symbol may be allocated for the time to transition. However, the amount of time to transition from MTs to DUs may vary. Therefore, improvements are desired.

<NPL>, introduces agreements from RAN1 #98bis and RAN1 #<NUM> meetings achieved for guard symbols between MT and DU and discusses MAC CE format of guard symbol.

<NPL> proposes that the indicated Guard Smbol MAC CE(s) should be applied to all serving cells within a TAG.

<NPL> provides the view after RAN1 #<NUM> on the required upper layer parameters needed to support the IAB physical layer operation agreed by RAN1. In the case of IAB the parameters to be configured are split between RRC and F1-AP.

<CIT> describes techniques for dynamically adjusting the access link timing alignment at the integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node. Techniques for signaling to one or more child nodes the timing advance and timing offset values associated with each operational mode of the IAB node that may impact the access link timing for the child node (for uplink and/or downlink transmissions). Aspects additionally or alternatively identify whether a gap period may be included in order to ensure that the child node has sufficient time to transition between states during the transition period (e.g., from downlink to uplink) when the IAB node dynamically adjusts the access link timing.

<NPL> describes RAN1 perspective is that the information received in the Guard Symbol MAC CE should apply to a TAG.

The invention is defined in the appended independent claims. Optional features are defined in the dependent claims.

Storage media may be any available media that may be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, such computer-readable media may comprise a random-access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage, other magnetic storage devices, combinations of the aforementioned types of computer-readable media, or any other medium that may be used to store computer executable code in the form of instructions or data structures that may be accessed by a computer.

In one implementation, an intermediate integrated access and backhauling (IAB) node may communicate with a parent IAB node via the intermediate mobile termination (MT). The intermediate IAB node may communicate with a child IAB node via an intermediate distributed unit (DU). However, in some instances, the transition from communicating with the parent IAB node (e.g., transmitting uplink (UL) information or receiving downlink (DL) information) to communicating with the child IAB node (e.g., transmitting DL information or receiving UL information) may require some time (e.g., due to hardware switching). During this transition, the child IAB node may not be able to properly transmit and/or receive information. Therefore, one or more guard symbols may be inserted into the first and/or last slot communicated to the intermediate IAB node.

In some implementations, the intermediate IAB node may request a desired guard symbol(s). The parent IAB node may respond with a provided guard symbol(s).

In some aspects of the present disclosure, the one or more guard symbols may vary in lengths. The parent IAB node may signal different guard symbol values to the intermediate IAB node to indicate the lengths of the guard symbols for transmission/reception via the MT and/or DU. The parent IAB node may signal the guard symbol values via one or more medium access control (MAC) control elements (CEs) and/or one or more radio resource control (RRC) messages.

In certain aspects, an IAB node may be implemented by a base station (BS). The IAB node may communicate with other IAB nodes and/or one or more user equipment (UE). In some implementations, a BS may implement more than one IAB node.

In an implementation, an IAB node may include one or more MTs and/or one or more DUs.

The wireless communications system (also referred to as a wireless wide area network (WWAN)) includes at least one BS <NUM>, UEs <NUM>, an Evolved Packet Core (EPC) <NUM>, and a <NUM> Core (5GC) <NUM>. The BS <NUM> may include macro cells (high power cellular base station) and/or small cells (low power cellular base station). In one implementation, the UE <NUM> may include a communication component <NUM> configured to communicate with the BS <NUM> via a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, or other wireless and wired networks. In some implementations, the communication component <NUM> may be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. In some implementations, the BS <NUM> may include a communication component <NUM> configured to communicate with the UE <NUM>. The BS <NUM> may include a transitioning component <NUM> that transitions from one cell to another. The BS <NUM> may include an indexing component <NUM> that indexes cells in a network. In some implementations, the communication component <NUM>, the transitioning component <NUM>, and/or the indexing component <NUM> may be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.

A BS <NUM> configured for <NUM> Long-Term Evolution (LTE) (collectively referred to as Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN)) may interface with the EPC <NUM> through backhaul links interfaces <NUM> (e.g., S1, X2, Internet Protocol (IP), or flex interfaces). A BS <NUM> configured for <NUM> NR (collectively referred to as Next Generation RAN (NG-RAN)) may interface with 5GC <NUM> through backhaul links interfaces <NUM> (e.g., S1, X2, Internet Protocol (IP), or flex interface). In addition to other functions, the BS <NUM> may perform one or more of the following functions: transfer of user data, radio channel ciphering and deciphering, integrity protection, header compression, mobility control functions (e.g., handover, dual connectivity), inter-cell interference coordination, connection setup and release, load balancing, distribution for non-access stratum (NAS) messages, NAS node selection, synchronization, radio access network (RAN) sharing, multimedia broadcast multicast service (MBMS), subscriber and equipment trace, RAN information management (RIM), paging, positioning, and delivery of warning messages. The BS <NUM> may communicate directly or indirectly (e.g., through the EPC <NUM> or 5GC <NUM>) with each other over the backhaul links interfaces <NUM>. The backhaul links <NUM>, <NUM> may be wired or wireless.

The BS <NUM> may wirelessly communicate with the UEs <NUM>. Each of the BS <NUM> may provide communication coverage for a respective geographic coverage area <NUM>. For example, the small cell <NUM>' may have a coverage area <NUM>' that overlaps the coverage area <NUM> of one or more macro BS <NUM>. A network that includes both small cell and macro cells may be known as a heterogeneous network. The communication links <NUM> between the BS <NUM> and the UEs <NUM> may include uplink (UL) (also referred to as reverse link) transmissions from a UE <NUM> to a BS <NUM> and/or downlink (DL) (also referred to as forward link) transmissions from a BS <NUM> to a UE <NUM>. The BS <NUM> / UEs <NUM> may use spectrum up to Y MHz (e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, etc. MHz) bandwidth per carrier allocated in a carrier aggregation of up to a total of Yx MHz (x component carriers) used for transmission in each direction. Allocation of carriers may be asymmetric with respect to DL and UL (e.g., more or less carriers may be allocated for DL than for UL).

D2D communication may be through a variety of wireless D2D communications systems, such as for example, FlashLinQ, WiMedia, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Wi-Fi based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) <NUM> standard, LTE, or NR.

A BS <NUM>, whether a small cell <NUM>' or a large cell (e.g., macro base station), may include an eNB, gNodeB (gNB), or other type of base station. Extremely high frequency (EHF) is part of the radio frequency (RF) in the electromagnetic spectrum. The mmW base station <NUM> may utilize beamforming <NUM> with the UE <NUM> to compensate for the path loss and short range.

Generally, the MME <NUM> provides bearer and connection management All user Internet protocol (IP) packets are transferred through the Serving Gateway <NUM>, which itself is connected to the PDN Gateway <NUM>. The IP Services <NUM> may include the Internet, an intranet, an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), a packet switched (PS) Streaming Service, and/or other IP services. The MBMS Gateway <NUM> may be used to distribute MBMS traffic to the BS <NUM> belonging to a Multicast Broadcast Single Frequency Network (MBSFN) area broadcasting a particular service, and may be responsible for session management (start/stop) and for collecting eMBMS related charging information.

The 5GC <NUM> may include a Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) <NUM>, other AMFs <NUM>, a Session Management Function (SMF) <NUM>, and a User Plane Function (UPF) <NUM>. The AMF <NUM> is the control node that processes the signaling between the UEs <NUM> and the 5GC <NUM>.

The BS <NUM> may also be referred to as a gNB, Node B, evolved Node B (eNB), an access point, a base transceiver station, a radio base station, an access point, an access node, a radio transceiver, a NodeB, eNodeB (eNB), gNB, Home NodeB, a Home eNodeB, a relay, a transceiver function, a basic service set (BSS), an extended service set (ESS), a transmit reception point (TRP), or some other suitable terminology. The BS <NUM> provides an access point to the EPC <NUM> or 5GC <NUM> for a UE <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, one example of an implementation of the UE <NUM> may include a modem <NUM> having the communication component <NUM>. In one implementation, the UE <NUM> may include a communication component <NUM> configured to communicate with the BS <NUM> via a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, or other wireless and wired networks.

In some implementations, the UE <NUM> may include a variety of components, including components such as one or more processors <NUM> and memory <NUM> and transceiver <NUM> in communication via one or more buses <NUM>, which may operate in conjunction with the modem <NUM> and the communication component <NUM> to enable one or more of the functions described herein related to communicating with the BS <NUM>. Further, the one or more processors <NUM>, modem <NUM>, memory <NUM>, transceiver <NUM>, RF front end <NUM> and one or more antennas <NUM>, may be configured to support voice and/or data calls (simultaneously or non-simultaneously) in one or more radio access technologies. The one or more antennas <NUM> may include one or more antennas, antenna elements and/or antenna arrays.

In an aspect, the one or more processors <NUM> may include the modem <NUM> that uses one or more modem processors. The various functions related to the communication component <NUM> may be included in the modem <NUM> and/or processors <NUM> and, in an aspect, may be executed by a single processor, while in other aspects, different ones of the functions may be executed by a combination of two or more different processors. For example, in an aspect, the one or more processors <NUM> may include any one or any combination of a modem processor, or a baseband processor, or a digital signal processor, or a transmit processor, or a receiving device processor, or a transceiver processor associated with transceiver <NUM>. Additionally, the modem <NUM> may configure the UE <NUM> along with the processors <NUM>. In other aspects, some of the features of the one or more processors <NUM> and/or the modem <NUM> associated with the communication component <NUM> may be performed by transceiver <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> may be configured to store data used and/or local versions of application <NUM>. Also, the memory <NUM> may be configured to store data used herein and/or local versions of the communication component <NUM>, and/or one or more of the subcomponents being executed by at least one processor <NUM>. Memory <NUM> may include any type of computer-readable medium usable by a computer or at least one processor <NUM>, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), tapes, magnetic discs, optical discs, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and any combination thereof. In an aspect, for example, memory <NUM> may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores one or more computer-executable codes defining the communication component <NUM>, and/or one or more of the subcomponents, and/or data associated therewith, when UE <NUM> is operating at least one processor <NUM> to execute the communication component <NUM>, and/or one or more of the subcomponents.

Receiver <NUM> may include hardware, firmware, and/or software code executable by a processor for receiving data, the code comprising instructions and being stored in a memory (e.g., computer-readable medium). Receiver <NUM> may be, for example, a RF receiving device. In an aspect, the receiver <NUM> may receive signals transmitted by at least one BS <NUM>. Transmitter <NUM> may include hardware, firmware, and/or software code executable by a processor for transmitting data, the code comprising instructions and being stored in a memory (e.g., computer-readable medium).

Moreover, in an aspect, UE <NUM> may include RF front end <NUM>, which may operate in communication with one or more antennas <NUM> and transceiver <NUM> for receiving and transmitting radio transmissions, for example, wireless communications transmitted by at least one BS <NUM> or wireless transmissions transmitted by UE <NUM>. RF front end <NUM> may be coupled with one or more antennas <NUM> and may include one or more low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) <NUM>, one or more switches <NUM>, one or more power amplifiers (PAs) <NUM>, and one or more filters <NUM> for transmitting and receiving RF signals.

In an aspect, LNA <NUM> may amplify a received signal at a desired output level. In an aspect, RF front end <NUM> may use one or more switches <NUM> to select a particular LNA <NUM> and the specified gain value based on a desired gain value for a particular application.

In an aspect, RF front end <NUM> may use one or more switches <NUM> to select a particular PA <NUM> and the specified gain value based on a desired gain value for a particular application.

Also, for example, one or more filters <NUM> may be used by RF front end <NUM> to filter a received signal to obtain an input RF signal. Similarly, in an aspect, for example, a respective filter <NUM> may be used to filter an output from a respective PA <NUM> to produce an output signal for transmission. In an aspect, each filter <NUM> may be coupled with a specific LNA <NUM> and/or PA <NUM>. In an aspect, RF front end <NUM> may use one or more switches <NUM> to select a transmit or receive path using a specified filter <NUM>, LNA <NUM>, and/or PA <NUM>, based on a configuration as specified by transceiver <NUM> and/or processor <NUM>.

In an aspect, transceiver may be tuned to operate at specified frequencies such that UE <NUM> may communicate with, for example, one or more BS <NUM> or one or more cells associated with one or more BS <NUM>. In an aspect, for example, the modem <NUM> may configure transceiver <NUM> to operate at a specified frequency and power level based on the UE configuration of the UE <NUM> and the communication protocol used by the modem <NUM>.

In an aspect, the modem <NUM> may be a multiband-multimode modem, which may process digital data and communicate with transceiver <NUM> such that the digital data is sent and received using transceiver <NUM>. In an aspect, the modem <NUM> may be multiband and be configured to support multiple frequency bands for a specific communications protocol. In an aspect, the modem <NUM> may be multimode and be configured to support multiple operating networks and communications protocols. In an aspect, the modem <NUM> may control one or more components of UE <NUM> (e.g., RF front end <NUM>, transceiver <NUM>) to enable transmission and/or reception of signals from the network based on a specified modem configuration. In an aspect, the modem configuration may be based on the mode of the modem and the frequency band in use. In another aspect, the modem configuration may be based on UE configuration information associated with UE <NUM> as provided by the network.

Referring to <FIG>, one example of an implementation of the BS <NUM> may include a modem <NUM> having the communication component <NUM>, the transitioning component <NUM>, and/or the indexing component <NUM>. In some implementations, the BS <NUM> may include a communication component <NUM> configured to communicate with the UE <NUM>. The BS <NUM> may include a transitioning component <NUM> that transitions from one cell to another. The BS <NUM> may include an indexing component <NUM> that indexes cells in a network.

In some implementations, the BS <NUM> may include a variety of components, including components such as one or more processors <NUM> and memory <NUM> and transceiver <NUM> in communication via one or more buses <NUM>, which may operate in conjunction with the modem <NUM> and the communication component <NUM> to enable one or more of the functions described herein related to communicating with the UE <NUM>. Further, the one or more processors <NUM>, modem <NUM>, memory <NUM>, transceiver <NUM>, RF front end <NUM> and one or more antennas <NUM>, may be configured to support voice and/or data calls (simultaneously or non-simultaneously) in one or more radio access technologies.

In an aspect, the one or more processors <NUM> may include the modem <NUM> that uses one or more modem processors. The various functions related to the communication component <NUM>, the transitioning component <NUM>, and/or the indexing component <NUM> may be included in the modem <NUM> and/or processors <NUM> and, in an aspect, may be executed by a single processor, while in other aspects, different ones of the functions may be executed by a combination of two or more different processors. For example, in an aspect, the one or more processors <NUM> may include any one or any combination of a modem processor, or a baseband processor, or a digital signal processor, or a transmit processor, or a receiving device processor, or a transceiver processor associated with transceiver <NUM>. Additionally, the modem <NUM> may configure the BS <NUM> and processors <NUM>. In other aspects, some of the features of the one or more processors <NUM> and/or the modem <NUM> associated with the communication component <NUM> may be performed by transceiver <NUM>.

The memory <NUM> may be configured to store data used herein and/or local versions of applications <NUM>. Also, the memory <NUM> may be configured to store data used herein and/or local versions of the communication component <NUM>, the transitioning component <NUM>, and/or the indexing component <NUM>, and/or one or more of the subcomponents being executed by at least one processor <NUM>. Memory <NUM> may include any type of computer-readable medium usable by a computer or at least one processor <NUM>, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), tapes, magnetic discs, optical discs, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, and any combination thereof. In an aspect, for example, memory <NUM> may be a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores one or more computer-executable codes defining the communication component <NUM>, the transitioning component <NUM>, and/or the indexing component <NUM>, and/or one or more of the subcomponents, and/or data associated therewith, when the BS <NUM> is operating at least one processor <NUM> to execute the communication component <NUM>, the transitioning component <NUM>, and/or the indexing component <NUM>, and/or one or more of the subcomponents.

The at least one receiver <NUM> may include hardware, firmware, and/or software code executable by a processor for receiving data, the code comprising instructions and being stored in a memory (e.g., computer-readable medium). The receiver <NUM> may be, for example, a RF receiving device. In an aspect, receiver <NUM> may receive signals transmitted by the UE <NUM>. Transmitter <NUM> may include hardware, firmware, and/or software code executable by a processor for transmitting data, the code comprising instructions and being stored in a memory (e.g., computer-readable medium).

Moreover, in an aspect, the BS <NUM> may include RF front end <NUM>, which may operate in communication with one or more antennas <NUM> and transceiver <NUM> for receiving and transmitting radio transmissions, for example, wireless communications transmitted by other BS <NUM> or wireless transmissions transmitted by UE <NUM>. RF front end <NUM> may be coupled with one or more antennas <NUM> and may include one or more low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) <NUM>, one or more switches <NUM>, one or more power amplifiers (PAs) <NUM>, and one or more filters <NUM> for transmitting and receiving RF signals.

In an aspect, transceiver may be tuned to operate at specified frequencies such that BS <NUM> may communicate with, for example, the UE <NUM> or one or more cells associated with one or more BS <NUM>. In an aspect, for example, the modem <NUM> may configure transceiver <NUM> to operate at a specified frequency and power level based on the base station configuration of the BS <NUM> and the communication protocol used by the modem <NUM>.

In an aspect, the modem <NUM> may be a multiband-multimode modem, which may process digital data and communicate with transceiver <NUM> such that the digital data is sent and received using transceiver <NUM>. In an aspect, the modem <NUM> may be multiband and be configured to support multiple frequency bands for a specific communications protocol. In an aspect, the modem <NUM> may be multimode and be configured to support multiple operating networks and communications protocols. In an aspect, the modem <NUM> may control one or more components of the BS <NUM> (e.g., RF front end <NUM>, transceiver <NUM>) to enable transmission and/or reception of signals from the network based on a specified modem configuration. In an aspect, the modem configuration may be based on the mode of the modem and the frequency band in use. In another aspect, the modem configuration may be based on base station configuration associated with the BS <NUM>.

<FIG> illustrates an example of an environment for signaling guard symbol values in a network implementing integrated access and backhauling. In some implementations, an environment <NUM> may include a central unit <NUM>. The environment <NUM> may include IAB node-<NUM><NUM> having MT-<NUM><NUM> and DU-<NUM><NUM>, IAB node-<NUM><NUM> having MT-<NUM><NUM> and DU-<NUM><NUM>, and IAB node-<NUM><NUM> having MT-<NUM><NUM> and DU-<NUM><NUM>. The environment <NUM> may include additional IAB nodes. The environment <NUM> may include a user equipment (UE) <NUM>. The IAB nodes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may be implemented as the BS <NUM>, the gNB <NUM>, the Wi-Fi STA <NUM> or other transmission/reception points. The IAB nodes <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, may communicate with each other via the backhaul links <NUM>, <NUM>. The IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may communicate with the UE <NUM> via the wireless communication links <NUM>.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may be a parent IAB node, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may be an intermediate IAB node, and the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may be a child IAB node. The IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may communicate (e.g., transmission (TX) or reception (RX)) with the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> via one or more MT cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>,<NUM>-<NUM>. <NUM>-m (where m is a positive integer) associated with the MT-<NUM><NUM>. The IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may communicate (e.g., TX or RX) with the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> via one or more DU cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. <NUM>-n (where n is a positive integer) associated with the DU-<NUM><NUM>. During a transition between the MT-<NUM><NUM> (or the one or more MT cells <NUM>) and the DU-<NUM><NUM> (or the one or more DU cells <NUM>), a certain amount of guard symbols (of the last slot transmitted and/or received by the MT-<NUM><NUM> and/or DU-<NUM><NUM> before the transition or the first slot transmitted and/or received by the MT-<NUM><NUM> and/or DU-<NUM><NUM> after the transition) may be allocated to allow the transition to occur, during which the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may be unable to transmit or receive data. In some implementations, up to eight different transitions may occur for each pair of MT cell and DU cell between the MT-<NUM><NUM> and the DU-<NUM><NUM>: MT-<NUM> TX to DU-<NUM> TX, MT-<NUM> TX to DU-<NUM> RX, MT-<NUM> RX to DU-<NUM> TX, MT-<NUM> RX to DU-<NUM> RX, DU-<NUM> TX to MU-<NUM> TX, DU-<NUM> TX to MU-<NUM> RX, DU-<NUM> RX to MU-<NUM> TX, and DU-<NUM> RX to MU-<NUM> RX. The eight different transitions may include the same or different guard symbols. The number of guard symbols for the transitions may be signaled by the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM>. In one instance, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> relies on one or more medium access control (MAC) control elements (CEs) and radio resource control (RRC) messages to signal the number of guard symbols for the transitions.

In a first example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> transmits a MAC CE to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM>. The MAC CE may include eight numbers (e.g., <NUM> bits each) associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions (described above) for a pair of MT cell and DU cell between the MU-<NUM><NUM> and the DU-<NUM><NUM>. The eight numbers may indicate the amount of time the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> has to perform the transitions. For example, the MAC CE may include <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> indicating that during any of the eight transitions between the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> of the MU-<NUM><NUM> and the DU cell <NUM>-<NUM> of the DU-<NUM><NUM>, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> has a time equivalent to one guard symbol to perform the transition.

For example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may be transitioning from receiving DL information via the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> of the MT-<NUM><NUM> to transmitting DL information via the DU cell <NUM>-<NUM> of the DU-<NUM><NUM>. One guard symbol may be inserted into the end of the slot received by the MT-<NUM><NUM> immediately prior to the transition. During the guard symbol, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transition from receiving DL information via the MT-<NUM><NUM> to transmitting DL information via the DU-<NUM><NUM>. After the transition, the DU-<NUM><NUM> may transmit DL information.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the MAC CE may include an MT identification (ID) associated with the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> of the MT-<NUM><NUM> and a DU ID associated with the DU cell <NUM>-<NUM> of the DU-<NUM><NUM>. Based on the MT ID and the DU ID, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may indicate to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> that the eight numbers associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions in the MAC CE are associated with the MT-<NUM><NUM> and DU-<NUM><NUM>.

In another aspect of the present disclosure, the eight numbers may be associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions between another pair of MT cell and DU cell, such as the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and the DU cell <NUM>-n.

In certain aspects of the present disclosure, the MAC CE may include one or more MT IDs associated with some or all of the one or more MT cells <NUM> and one or more DU IDs associated with some or all of the one or more DU cells <NUM>.

In yet another aspect, the eight numbers may be associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions for one MT cell and some of all of the DU cells <NUM> (e.g., DU cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-n).

In one aspect, the eight numbers may be associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions for some of all of the MT cells <NUM> (e.g., DU cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-m) and one DU cell.

In a second example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> transmits a MAC CE to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM>. The MAC CE may include eight numbers (e.g., <NUM> bits each) associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions (described above) between the MU-<NUM><NUM> (or the one or more MT cells <NUM>) and the DU-<NUM><NUM> (or the one or more DU cells <NUM>). The eight numbers may indicate the amount of time the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> has to perform the transitions. For example, the MAC CE may include the numbers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> indicating the numbers of guard symbols for the eight transitions between a cell of the MU-<NUM><NUM> and a cell of the DU-<NUM><NUM>.

For example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may be transitioning from transmitting UL information via the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> of the MT-<NUM><NUM> to transmitting DL information via the DU cell <NUM>-<NUM> of the DU-<NUM><NUM>. Two guard symbols ("<NUM>") may be inserted into the end of the slot received by the MT-<NUM><NUM> immediately prior to the transition. During the guard symbols, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transition from transmitting UL information via the MT-<NUM><NUM> to transmitting DL information via the DU-<NUM><NUM>. After the transition, the DU-<NUM><NUM> may transmit DL information.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, prior to transmitting the MAC CE, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may index the MT cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. <NUM>-m with alphanumeric characters different from the MT IDs of the MTs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in the environment <NUM>. The IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may index the DU cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. <NUM>-n with alphanumeric characters different from the DU IDs of the DUs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may assign indices of <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to the MT cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively. The IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may assign indices of e, b, c, d, a, f to DU cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively. The assignment of the indices may depend on a sorted list of MT and/or DU IDs, geographic locations, cell sizes, cell types, timing advance groups, or other criteria.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> transmits, in a RRC message to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM>, the indices <NUM> and c to indicate the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> of the MT-<NUM><NUM> and the DU cell <NUM>-<NUM> of the DU-<NUM><NUM>, respectively. Based on the indices, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> indicates to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> that the eight numbers associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions in the MAC CE are associated with the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> of the MT-<NUM><NUM> and the DU cell <NUM>-<NUM> of the DU-<NUM><NUM>.

In a third example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transmit a MAC CE to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM>. The MAC CE may include eight numbers (e.g., <NUM> bits each) associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions (described above) for each pair of MT cell and DU cell in the environment <NUM>. For example, the MT-<NUM><NUM> may communicate via <NUM> cells (MT cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) and the DU-<NUM><NUM> may communicate via <NUM> cells (DU cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>). The MAC CE may include six sets of eight numbers each indicating the numbers of guard symbols for the eight transitions between the six pairs of MT cells and DU cells: MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>, MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>, MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>, MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>, MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>, and MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>. The first <NUM> bits (<NUM> transitions multiplied by <NUM> bits representing the symbols for each transition) may be associated with the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>, the second <NUM> bits may be associated with the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>, and so forth and so on.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> transmits a RRC message to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM>. The RRC message may include an indication to the bit locations associated with the pair of MT cell and DU cell (e.g., bits #<NUM> to #<NUM> for the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM> transitions) associated with the eight numbers. Based on the indices, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> indicates to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> that the eight numbers (from bits #<NUM> to #<NUM>) associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions are associated with the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, the RRC message may include indications to the bit locations associated with more than one pair of MT cells and DU cells.

In a fourth example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transmit a MAC CE to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM>. The MAC CE may include eight numbers (e.g., <NUM> bits each) associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions (described above) between the MU-<NUM><NUM> (or the one or more MT cells <NUM>) and the DU-<NUM><NUM> (or the one or more DU cells <NUM>). The eight numbers may indicate the amount of time the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> has to perform the transitions.

In some aspects of the present disclosure, prior to transmitting the MAC CE, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may index the pairs of the MT cells <NUM> and the DU cells <NUM> with alphanumeric characters. For example, the MT-<NUM><NUM> may communicate via <NUM> cells (MT cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>) and the DU-<NUM><NUM> may communicate via <NUM> cells (DU cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>). The IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may assign indices of <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to the six pairs of MT cells and DU cells: MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>, MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>, MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>, MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>, MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>, and MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>, respectively. The assignment of the indices may depend on a sorted list of MT and/or DU IDs, geographic locations, cell sizes, cell types, timing advance groups, or other criteria. The index list may include the indices associated with the six pairs of MT cells and DU cells. In an implementation, the MAC CE may include m x (<NUM> + log<NUM>(index list length)) bits.

In an aspect, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transmit, via a RRC message, the list of indices for the six pairs of MTs and DUs to the IAB nod-<NUM><NUM>. The IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transmit, in the MAC CE with the eight numbers associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions, the index <NUM> to indicate to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> that the eight numbers are associated with the pair MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>.

In a fifth example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transmit a MAC CE to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM>. The MAC CE may include eight numbers (e.g., <NUM> bits each) associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions (described above) between a MT cell of the one or more MT cells <NUM> of the MU-<NUM><NUM> and some or all of the one or more DU cells <NUM> of the DU-<NUM><NUM>. For example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transmit the MAC CE to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM>. The MAC CE may include indications, based on the MT IDs and DU IDs or indices as described above, indicating that the eight numbers associated with the number of guard symbols may be associated with the transitions between the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> of the MT-<NUM><NUM> and the DU cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM> of the DU-<NUM><NUM>.

In a sixth example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transmit a MAC CE to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> via a MT cell of the one or more MT cells <NUM>. The MAC CE may include eight numbers (e.g., <NUM> bits each) associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions (described above) between the MT cell of the one or more MT cells <NUM> of the MU-<NUM><NUM> and the DU cells <NUM> of the DU-<NUM><NUM>. The MT cell may belong to one or more of a timing advance group (TAG), a master cell group (MCG), and/or a secondary cell group (SCG). The IAB node-<NUM><NUM>, upon receiving the MAC CE, may associate the eight numbers with some or other MT cells in the one or more of the TAG, MCG, and/or SCG.

For example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transmit the MAC CE (having the eight numbers associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions) via the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM>. The MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> may be part of a TAG that shares the same timing advance (TA) value as other cells of the group. Other cells include MT cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, and <NUM>-m. As a result, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM>, upon receiving the MAC CE via the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM>, may associate the eight numbers with the number of guard symbols allocated for the transitions between MT cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-m and the DU cells <NUM>.

In a seventh example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transmit a MAC CE to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> including a DU group index identifying a DU cell group. The MAC CE may include eight numbers (e.g., <NUM> bits each) associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions (described above) between a MT cell of the one or more MT cells <NUM> of the MU-<NUM><NUM> and the DU cells in the DU cell group.

For example, the MAC CE may include an index of <NUM> identifying a DU cell group including the DU cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>. Upon receiving the MAC CE, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may associate the eight numbers associated with the number of guard symbols for the transitions between a MT cell, e.g., the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM>, and the DU cells <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>, <NUM>-<NUM>.

In an eight example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transmit a MAC CE to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> include one or more flags indicating the eight numbers (e.g., <NUM> bits each) associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions (described above) is associated with at least two of a pair of MT cell and DU cell, a MT cell group, a TAG, a MCG, a SCG, or a DU cell group.

For example, the MAC CE may include the eight numbers and a two-bit flag having values <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>. Flag values of <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may indicate that the eight numbers are associated with a pair of MT cell and DU cell, a MT cell group, a DU cell group, and a MT cell and a DU cell group, respectively.

In some implementations, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> and/or the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may signal to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> guard symbol information.

In a ninth example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may sent one or more signals to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> to indicate the grouping of the DU cells <NUM>. For example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transmit a RRC message, a F1 interface application protocol (F1-AP) message, and/or a MAC CE to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> indicating the grouping of the DU cells <NUM> associated with the DU-<NUM><NUM>.

In a tenth example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transmit a signal to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> including eight numbers (e.g., <NUM> bits each) associated with the number of guard symbols for the eight transitions (described above) for a group of pairs of MT cells and DU cells. The signal may indicate that the guard symbols do not apply to some of the pairs of MT cells and DU cells. For example, the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transmit a MAC CE to the IAB node-<NUM><NUM>. The MAC CE may include the eight numbers associated with the guard symbols for all MT cells <NUM> and all DU cells <NUM>. The IAB node-<NUM><NUM> may transmit, in the MAC CE or other signals, that the guard symbols do not apply to the pair of the MT cell <NUM>-<NUM> and DU cell <NUM>-<NUM>. This may be due to the difference in multiplexing capabilities among the cells.

In yet another example, it may be implicitly determined (by the IAB node-<NUM><NUM> or the IAB node-<NUM><NUM>) whether the indicated guard symbols are applicable to a pair of MT cell and DU cell, or not. This determination may be based on prior signaling indicating the multiplexing capabilities among the two cells. For example, in case it was indicated that a first communication of an MT cell and a second communication of a DU cell can be multiplexed on overlapping time resources (i.e. no need to allocate nonoverlapping time resources to these two communication), then the guard symbols may not apply to this pair of MT cell and DU cell.

In some implementations, the indicated multiplexing capability may be indicating that one or more of the following simultaneous communications are supported: MT cell TX, and DU cell TX, MT cell TX and DU cell RX, MT cell RX and DU cell RX, MT cell RX and DU cell TX, or alternatively MT cell communications (TX and/or RX) may be time-domain multiplexed (TDMed) with DU cell communications (TX and/or RX). Other types of simultaneous communications may also be supported.

Based on the indicated multiplexing cases supported by the IAB-node, it may be determined which type(s) of guard symbols are not applicable to the pair of MT cell and DU cell. For example, if simultaneous MT cell TX and DU cell RX is supported, then no guard symbol would be required when there is a transition from MT sending UL (i.e. MT cell TX) to DU receiving UL (i.e. DU cell RX).

<FIG> illustrates an example of a method for receiving guard symbol values by an LAB. For example, a method <NUM> may be performed by the one or more of the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the applications <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, the RF front end <NUM>, the communication component <NUM>, the transitioning component <NUM>, and/or the indexing component <NUM>, and/or one or more other components of an IAB, such as the BS <NUM> in the wireless communication network <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, the method <NUM> receives a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) comprising at least a set of guard symbol values associated with a mobile termination (MT) and a distributed unit (DU). For example, the communication component <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, the RF front end <NUM>, the subcomponents of the RF front end <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, and/or the applications <NUM> of the BS <NUM> may receive a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) comprising at least a set of guard symbol values associated with a mobile termination (MT) and a distributed unit (DU) as described above (e.g., first example under <FIG>). The RF front end <NUM> may receive the electrical signals converted from electro-magnetic signals. The RF front end <NUM> may filter and/or amplify the electrical signals. The transceiver <NUM> or the receiver <NUM> may convert the electrical signals to digital signals, and send the digital signals to the communication component <NUM>.

In certain implementations, the communication component <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, the RF front end <NUM>, the subcomponents of the RF front end <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, and/or the applications <NUM> may be configured to and/or may define means for receiving a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) comprising at least a set of guard symbol values associated with a mobile termination (MT) and a distributed unit (DU).

At block <NUM>, the method <NUM> performs transitioning first communication via MT cell associated with the MT to second communication via the DU cell associated with the DU or from the second communication via the DU cell associated with the DU to the first communication via the MT cell associated with the MT during at least a guard symbol signaled by a guard symbol value of the set of guard symbol values. For example, the transitioning component <NUM> the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, and/or the applications <NUM> of the BS <NUM> receive a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) comprising at least a set of guard symbol values associated with a mobile termination (MT) and a distributed unit (DU) as described above.

In certain implementations, the transitioning component <NUM> the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, and/or the applications <NUM> may be configured to and/or may define means for transitioning from first communication via one or more MT cells associated with the MT to second communication via one or more DU cells associated with the DU or from the second communication via the one or more DU cells associated with the DU to the first communication via the one or more MT cells associated with the MT during at least a guard symbol signaled by a guard symbol value of the set of guard symbol values.

At block <NUM>, the method <NUM> is transmitting or receiving information via the transitioned MT cell or the transitioned cell. For example, the communication component <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, the RF front end <NUM>, the subcomponents of the RF front end <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, and/or the applications <NUM> of the BS <NUM> may transmit or receive information via the transitioned one or more MT cells or the transitioned one or more DU cells. The communication component <NUM> may send the digital signals to the transceiver <NUM> or the transmitter <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> or the transmitter <NUM> may convert the digital signals to electrical signals and send to the RF front end <NUM>. The RF front end <NUM> may filter and/or amplify the electrical signals. The RF front end <NUM> may send the electrical signals as electro-magnetic signals via the one or more antennas <NUM>.

In certain implementations, the communication component <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, the RF front end <NUM>, the subcomponents of the RF front end <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, and/or the applications <NUM> may be configured to and/or may define means for transmitting or receiving information via the transitioned one or more MT cells or the transitioned one or more DU cells.

Alternatively or additionally, the method <NUM> may further include any of the methods above, wherein the MAC CE comprises one or more MT identifications (ID) for the one or more MT cells associated with the MT and one or more DU IDs for the one or more DU cells associated with the DU.

Additionally, the method <NUM> further includes any of the methods above, further comprising receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message comprising one or more MT indices identifying the one or more MT cells and one or more DU indices identifying the one or more DU cells, wherein the set of guard symbol values is associated with the one or more MT indices and the one or more DU indices.

Alternatively or additionally, the method <NUM> may further include any of the methods above, wherein the MAC-CE comprises a plurality of bits indicating a plurality of sets of guard symbol values associated with a plurality of pairs of MT cells and DU cells, and receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message indicating the association between bit positions of a subset of the plurality of bits associated with the set of guard symbol values and a pair of MT cell and DU cell of the plurality of pairs of MT cells and DU cells, and identifying, based on the bit positions, the set of guard symbol values of the plurality of sets of guard symbol values associated with the pair of MT cell and DU cell.

Alternatively or additionally, the method <NUM> may further include any of the methods above, wherein the set of guard symbol values is associated with a second pair of MT cell and DU cell, of the plurality of pairs of MT cells and DU cells, different from the pair of MT cell and DU cell.

Alternatively or additionally, the method <NUM> may further include any of the methods above, further comprising receiving a radio resource control (RRC) message comprising a plurality of indices each associated with a pair of MT cell and DU cell of a plurality of pairs of MT cell and DU cell, and wherein receiving the MAC CE comprises receiving one or more indices, of the plurality of indices, associated with the one or more pairs of MT cells and DU cells.

Alternatively or additionally, the method <NUM> may further include any of the methods above, wherein the set of guard symbol values is associated with an MT cell and a plurality of DU cells.

Alternatively or additionally, the method <NUM> may further include any of the methods above, wherein receiving the MAC CE comprises receiving the MAC CE from a cell associated with a timing advance group, a master cell group, or a secondary cell group, and the set of guard symbol values is associated with the timing advance group, the master cell group, or the secondary cell group.

Alternatively or additionally, the method <NUM> may further include any of the methods above, wherein receiving the MAC CE further comprises receiving a DU group index identifying a DU cell group.

Alternatively or additionally, the method <NUM> may further include any of the methods above, wherein receiving the MAC CE comprises receiving a flag indicating whether the set of guard symbol values is associated with a pair of MT cell and DU cell of a plurality of pairs of MT cells and DU cells or one of a MT cell group, a timing advance group, or a DU cell group.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a method for transmitting guard symbol values to an IAB. For example, a method <NUM> may be performed by the one or more of the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the applications <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, the RF front end <NUM>, the communication component <NUM>, the transitioning component <NUM>, and/or the indexing component <NUM>, and/or one or more other components of the BS <NUM> in the wireless communication network <NUM>.

At block <NUM>, the method <NUM> may optionally determine an indication for referencing at least one of a mobile termination (MT) cell of a MT and a distributed unit (DU) cell of a DU of a receiving IAB. For example, the indexing component <NUM> may index (<NUM>) at least one of the MT cell and/or the DU cell as discussed above (e.g., first example under <FIG>). In alternatively examples, the indexing component <NUM> may assign (<NUM>) a MT ID to the MT cell and a DU ID to the DU cell. In another example, the indexing component <NUM> may index (<NUM>) a pair of the MT cell and the DU cell.

In certain implementations, the indexing component <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, and/or the applications <NUM> may be configured to and/or may define means for determining an indication for referencing at least one of a mobile termination (MT) cell of a MT and a distributed unit (DU) cell of a DU of a receiving IAB.

At block <NUM>, the method <NUM> may transmit, to the receiving IAB, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) comprising the at least a set of guard symbol values associated with the MT and the DU. For example, the communication component <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, the RF front end <NUM>, the subcomponents of the RF front end <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, and/or the applications <NUM> of the BS <NUM> may transmit a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) comprising at least a set of guard symbol values associated with a mobile termination (MT) and a distributed unit (DU) as described above. The communication component <NUM> may send the digital signals to the transceiver <NUM> or the transmitter <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> or the transmitter <NUM> may convert the digital signals to electrical signals and send to the RF front end <NUM>. The RF front end <NUM> may filter and/or amplify the electrical signals. The RF front end <NUM> may send the electrical signals as electro-magnetic signals via the one or more antennas <NUM>.

In certain implementations, the communication component <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, the RF front end <NUM>, the subcomponents of the RF front end <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, and/or the applications <NUM> may be configured to and/or may define means for transmitting, to the receiving IAB, a medium access control (MAC) control element (CE) comprising at least a set of guard symbol values associated with a mobile termination (MT) and a distributed unit (DU).

At block <NUM>, the method <NUM> may transmit the indication to the receiving IAB. For example, the communication component <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, the RF front end <NUM>, the subcomponents of the RF front end <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, and/or the applications <NUM> of the BS <NUM> may transmit the indication (via the MAC CE or a RRC message) to the receiving IAB. The communication component <NUM> may send the digital signals to the transceiver <NUM> or the transmitter <NUM>. The transceiver <NUM> or the transmitter <NUM> may convert the digital signals to electrical signals and send to the RF front end <NUM>. The RF front end <NUM> may filter and/or amplify the electrical signals. The RF front end <NUM> may send the electrical signals as electro-magnetic signals via the one or more antennas <NUM>.

In certain implementations, the communication component <NUM>, the transceiver <NUM>, the receiver <NUM>, the transmitter <NUM>, the RF front end <NUM>, the subcomponents of the RF front end <NUM>, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the modem <NUM>, and/or the applications <NUM> may be configured to and/or may define means for transmitting the indication to the receiving IAB.

Alternatively or additionally, the method <NUM> may further include any of the methods above, wherein the MAC CE comprises one or more MT identifications (ID) for one or more MT cells associated with the MT and one or more DU IDs for one or more DU cells associated with the DU.

Alternatively or additionally, the method <NUM> may further include any of the methods above, transmitting a radio resource control (RRC) message comprising one or more MT indices identifying one or more MT cells and one or more DU indices identifying one or more DU cells, wherein the set of guard symbol values is associated with the one or more MT indices and the one or more DU indices.

Alternatively or additionally, the method <NUM> may further include any of the methods above, wherein the MAC-CE comprises a plurality of bits indicating a plurality of sets of guard symbol values associated with a plurality of pairs of MT cells and DU cells, further comprising transmitting a radio resource control (RRC) message indicating the association between bit positions of a subset of the plurality of bits associated with the set of guard symbol values and a pair of MT cell and DU cell of the plurality of pairs of MT cells and DU cells.

Alternatively or additionally, the method <NUM> may further include any of the methods above, further comprising a radio resource control (RRC) message comprising a plurality of indices each associated with a pair of MT cell and DU cell of a plurality of pairs of MT cell and DU cell wherein transmitting the MAC CE comprises transmitting one or more indices, of the plurality of indices, associated with the one or more pairs of MT cells and DU cells.

Alternatively or additionally, the method <NUM> may further include any of the methods above, wherein transmitting the MAC CE comprises transmitting the MAC CE from a cell associated with a timing advance group, a master cell group, or a secondary cell group and the set of guard symbol values is associated with the timing advance group, the master cell group, or the secondary cell group.

Alternatively or additionally, the method <NUM> may further include any of the methods above, wherein transmitting the MAC CE further comprises transmitting a DU group index identifying a DU cell group.

Alternatively or additionally, the method <NUM> may further include any of the methods above, wherein transmitting the MAC CE comprises transmitting a flag indicating whether the set of guard symbol values is associated with a pair of MT cell and DU cell of a plurality of pairs of MT cells and DU cells or one of a MT cell group, a timing advance group, or a DU cell group.

It should be noted that the techniques described herein may be used for various wireless communication networks such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, and other systems. The terms "system" and "network" are often used interchangeably. IS-<NUM> Releases <NUM> and A are commonly referred to as CDMA2000 1X, 1X, etc. IS-<NUM> (TIA-<NUM>) is commonly referred to as CDMA2000 1xEV-DO, High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), etc. UTRA includes Wideband CDMA (WCDMA) and other variants of CDMA. An OFDMA system may implement a radio technology such as Ultra Mobile Broadband (UMB), Evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), IEEE <NUM> (Wi-Fi), IEEE <NUM> (WiMAX), IEEE <NUM>, Flash-OFDM™, etc. UTRA and E-UTRA are part of Universal Mobile Telecommunication System (UMTS). 3GPP LTE and LTE-Advanced (LTE-A) are new releases of UMTS that use E-UTRA. UTRA, E-UTRA, UMTS, LTE, LTE-A, and GSM are described in documents from an organization named "3rd Generation Partnership Project" (3GPP). The techniques described herein may be used for the systems and radio technologies mentioned above as well as other systems and radio technologies, including cellular (e.g., LTE) communications over a shared radio frequency spectrum band. The description herein, however, describes an LTE/LTE-A system or <NUM> system for purposes of example, and LTE terminology is used in much of the description below, although the techniques may be applicable other next generation communication systems.

For example, due to the nature of software, functions described above may be implemented using software executed by a specially programmed processor, hardware, firmware, hardwiring, or combinations of any of these.

A storage medium may be any available medium that may be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer. By way of example, and not limitation, computer-readable media may comprise RAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that may be used to carry or store desired program code means in the form of instructions or data structures and that may be accessed by a general-purpose or special-purpose computer, or a general-purpose or special-purpose processor.

Claim 1:
A method (<NUM>) of wireless communication by an integrated access and backhauling node in a network, comprising:
receiving (<NUM>) a medium access control, MAC, control element, CE, indicating one or more sets of guard symbol values associated with a mobile termination, MT, and a distributed unit, DU;
receiving a radio resource control, RRC, message indicating association of each set of the one or more sets of guard symbol values with a corresponding MT cell and a corresponding DU cell, wherein the corresponding MT cell is among one or more MT cells associated with the MT and the corresponding DU cell is among one or more DU cells associated with the DU;
identifying, for an MT cell and a DU cell, a set of guard symbol values from the one or more sets of guard symbol values, based on the association indicated by the RRC message;
transitioning (<NUM>) from first communication via the MT cell to second communication via the DU cell or from the second communication via the DU cell to the first communication via the MT cell during at least a guard symbol signaled by a guard symbol value of the set of guard symbol values; and
transmitting or receiving (<NUM>) information via the transitioned MT cell or the transitioned DU cell.