Patent ID: 12192829

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As described above, certain challenges currently exist with configuring soft resource availability in an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) network. For example, the purpose of having soft IAB distributed unit (DU) resources is to enable the IAB-node to use the time resource in a more flexible and efficient way when the IAB-node is subject to a half-duplex constraint. According to the definition of soft IAB-DU resources, the availability of the corresponding time resource for the DU child link is explicitly controlled by the parent node if not implicitly derived. The control is supposed to be provided in a dynamic manner based on, for example, the traffic condition on the parent backhaul link and/or the child backhaul link. In this regard, the L1 signaling should be considered. However, there is no L1 signaling defined between the parent node and the IAB-DU.

Certain aspects of the present disclosure and their embodiments may provide solutions to these or other challenges. Particular embodiments provide a method for the parent node to dynamically grant resource availability to the IAB DU which is configured with soft resources. In some embodiments, the indicated time resources will not be scheduled by the parent node to the IAB-node, which means the IAB-DU may use its corresponding time resources.

Particular embodiments are described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings. Other embodiments, however, are contained within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein, the disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.

According to Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) specifications, if a soft resource is not (implicitly or explicitly) indicated as available, the IAB-DU cannot assume it can use the resource. In cases that implicit indication is not detected, explicit indication is needed from the parent node for notifying the availability of certain soft DU (time-domain) resource, which may be a downlink (DL) resource, an uplink (UL) resource, or a Flexible (F) resource.

The parent node typically does not know the IAB-node capability in terms of space division multiplexing (SDM) or full-duplex, i.e., it does not know to what extent the IAB-DU can use certain resources. To grant the resource availability to the IAB-DU, in some embodiments the parent node will not use the corresponding time-domain resources at the MT side.

Some embodiments provide an explicit indication of IAB-DU soft resource availability by the parent node sending a no-transmission indication to the MT side of the IAB-node regarding certain (future) time-domain resources, which means the indicated time resources will not be scheduled by the parent node to the IAB-node.

The time resources over which the no-transmission indication covers may or may not be aligned with the IAB-DU soft time resources. For example, the parent node can make use of the time misalignment information between the IAB-MT and DU, if provided, to make the no-transmission indication cover the time resources which are overlapped with the IAB-DU soft time resources.

According to some embodiments, the no-transmission indication can be further configured with certain transmission type to specify that the parent node will not schedule transmission in the indicated direction(s) during the indicated time resources. The indicated direction(s) can be:1) DL: meaning that the parent node will not schedule the IAB-MT in the downlink direction during the indicated time resources;2) UL: meaning that the parent node will not schedule the IAB-MT in the uplink direction during the indicated time resources;3) DL and UL: meaning that the parent node will not schedule any transmission to/from the IAB-MT during the indicated time resources.

If the no-transmission indication is not configured with any specific transmission direction, upon receiving the no-transmission indication, the IAB-MT will not prepare its receiver to receive signals from the parent backhaul link even if it has been configured as DL or Flexible regarding the indicated time resources; similarly, the IAB-MT will not prepare its transmitter to transmit on the parent backhaul link even if it has been configured as UL or Flexible regarding the indicated time resources.

If the no-transmission indication is configured with specific transmission direction(s):1) upon receiving the no-transmission indication with indicated direction in DL, the IAB-MT will not prepare its receiver to receive signals from the parent backhaul link even if it has been configured as DL or Flexible regarding the indicated time resources. The IAB-MT will still prepare its transmitter to transmit signals on the parent backhaul link if it has been configured as UL or Flexible regarding the indicated time resources.2) upon receiving the no-transmission indication with indicated direction in UL, the IAB-MT will not prepare its transmitter to transmit on the parent backhaul link even if it has been configured as UL or Flexible regarding the indicated time resources. The IAB-MT will still prepare its receiver to receive signals from the parent backhaul link if it has been configured as DL or Flexible regarding the indicated time resources.3) upon receiving the no-transmission indication with indicated directions in DL and UL, the IAB-MT will neither prepare its transmitter to transmit on the parent backhaul link nor prepare its receiver to receive from the parent backhaul link, even if it has been configured as DL, UL or Flexible regarding the indicated time resources.

When the IAB-DU is configured with soft resources and the IAB-node is subject to the half-duplex constraint, it will check if the corresponding time resources at the MT side of the same IAB-node has been scheduled or not, or if the MT side has received the no-transmission indication or not. Depending on the resource usage status at the IAB-MT over the overlapped time resources, the IAB-DU can derive how it can make use of the configured soft resources according to the IAB-node capability. For example, the IAB-MT configured as Flexible receives a no-transmission indication specified in the DL direction (meaning that the parent node will not schedule DL transmission to the IAB-MT during the indicated time resources), meanwhile the IAB-DU is configured as DL-S (downlink-soft) or F-S (flexible-soft) during time resource overlapped with the indicated time resources in the no-transmission direction. The IAB-DU can use the overlapped time resources to transmit in downlink towards its child node(s) or UEs if the IAB-node is capable of transmitting from the MT and the DU simultaneously because the MT may still be scheduled for uplink transmission.

Although particular examples include a no-transmission indication, other examples may use other indications. In some embodiments, the indication may be referred to generally as an availability indication that indicates available of particular time-domain resources at the IAB-node.

FIG.9illustrates an example wireless network, according to certain embodiments. The wireless network may comprise and/or interface with any type of communication, telecommunication, data, cellular, and/or radio network or other similar type of system. In some embodiments, the wireless network may be configured to operate according to specific standards or other types of predefined rules or procedures. Thus, particular embodiments of the wireless network may implement communication standards, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), Long Term Evolution (LTE), and/or other suitable 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G standards; wireless local area network (WLAN) standards, such as the IEEE 802.11 standards; and/or any other appropriate wireless communication standard, such as the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax), Bluetooth, Z-Wave and/or ZigBee standards.

Network106may comprise one or more backhaul networks, core networks, IP networks, public switched telephone networks (PSTNs), packet data networks, optical networks, wide-area networks (WANs), local area networks (LANs), wireless local area networks (WLANs), wired networks, wireless networks, metropolitan area networks, and other networks to enable communication between devices.

Network node160and WD110comprise various components described in more detail below. These components work together to provide network node and/or wireless device functionality, such as providing wireless connections in a wireless network. In different embodiments, the wireless network may comprise any number of wired or wireless networks, network nodes, base stations, controllers, wireless devices, relay stations, and/or any other components or systems that may facilitate or participate in the communication of data and/or signals whether via wired or wireless connections.

As used herein, network node refers to equipment capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate directly or indirectly with a wireless device and/or with other network nodes or equipment in the wireless network to enable and/or provide wireless access to the wireless device and/or to perform other functions (e.g., administration) in the wireless network.

Examples of network nodes include, but are not limited to, access points (APs) (e.g., radio access points), base stations (BSs) (e.g., radio base stations, Node Bs, evolved Node Bs (eNBs) and NR NodeBs (gNBs)). Base stations may be categorized based on the amount of coverage they provide (or, stated differently, their transmit power level) and may then also be referred to as femto base stations, pico base stations, micro base stations, or macro base stations.

A base station may be a relay node or a relay donor node controlling a relay. A network node may also include one or more (or all) parts of a distributed radio base station such as centralized digital units and/or remote radio units (RRUs), sometimes referred to as Remote Radio Heads (RRHs). Such remote radio units may or may not be integrated with an antenna as an antenna integrated radio. Parts of a distributed radio base station may also be referred to as nodes in a distributed antenna system (DAS). Yet further examples of network nodes include multi-standard radio (MSR) equipment such as MSR BSs, network controllers such as radio network controllers (RNCs) or base station controllers (BSCs), base transceiver stations (BTSs), transmission points, transmission nodes, multi-cell/multicast coordination entities (MCEs), core network nodes (e.g., MSCs, MMEs), O&M nodes, OSS nodes, SON nodes, positioning nodes (e.g., E-SMLCs), and/or MDTs.

As another example, a network node may be a virtual network node as described in more detail below. More generally, however, network nodes may represent any suitable device (or group of devices) capable, configured, arranged, and/or operable to enable and/or provide a wireless device with access to the wireless network or to provide some service to a wireless device that has accessed the wireless network.

InFIG.9, network node160includes processing circuitry170, device readable medium180, interface190, auxiliary equipment184, power source186, power circuitry187, and antenna162. Although network node160illustrated in the example wireless network ofFIG.9may represent a device that includes the illustrated combination of hardware components, other embodiments may comprise network nodes with different combinations of components.

It is to be understood that a network node comprises any suitable combination of hardware and/or software needed to perform the tasks, features, functions and methods disclosed herein. Moreover, while the components of network node160are depicted as single boxes located within a larger box, or nested within multiple boxes, in practice, a network node may comprise multiple different physical components that make up a single illustrated component (e.g., device readable medium180may comprise multiple separate hard drives as well as multiple RAM modules).

Similarly, network node160may be composed of multiple physically separate components (e.g., a NodeB component and a RNC component, or a BTS component and a BSC component, etc.), which may each have their own respective components. In certain scenarios in which network node160comprises multiple separate components (e.g., BTS and BSC components), one or more of the separate components may be shared among several network nodes. For example, a single RNC may control multiple NodeB's. In such a scenario, each unique NodeB and RNC pair, may in some instances be considered a single separate network node.

In some embodiments, network node160may be configured to support multiple radio access technologies (RATs). In such embodiments, some components may be duplicated (e.g., separate device readable medium180for the different RATs) and some components may be reused (e.g., the same antenna162may be shared by the RATs). Network node160may also include multiple sets of the various illustrated components for different wireless technologies integrated into network node160, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, or Bluetooth wireless technologies. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chip or set of chips and other components within network node160.

Processing circuitry170is configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being provided by a network node. These operations performed by processing circuitry170may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry170by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored in the network node, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination.

Processing circuitry170may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other network node160components, such as device readable medium180, network node160functionality.

For example, processing circuitry170may execute instructions stored in device readable medium180or in memory within processing circuitry170. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features, functions, or benefits discussed herein. In some embodiments, processing circuitry170may include a system on a chip (SOC).

In some embodiments, processing circuitry170may include one or more of radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry172and baseband processing circuitry174. In some embodiments, radio frequency (RF) transceiver circuitry172and baseband processing circuitry174may be on separate chips (or sets of chips), boards, or units, such as radio units and digital units. In alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry172and baseband processing circuitry174may be on the same chip or set of chips, boards, or units In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being provided by a network node, base station, eNB or other such network device may be performed by processing circuitry170executing instructions stored on device readable medium180or memory within processing circuitry170. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry170without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable medium, such as in a hard-wired manner. In any of those embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry170can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry170alone or to other components of network node160but are enjoyed by network node160as a whole, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.

Device readable medium180may comprise any form of volatile or non-volatile computer readable memory including, without limitation, persistent storage, solid-state memory, remotely mounted memory, magnetic media, optical media, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), mass storage media (for example, a hard disk), removable storage media (for example, a flash drive, a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/or computer-executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry170. Device readable medium180may store any suitable instructions, data or information, including a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry170and, utilized by network node160. Device readable medium180may be used to store any calculations made by processing circuitry170and/or any data received via interface190. In some embodiments, processing circuitry170and device readable medium180may be considered to be integrated.

Interface190is used in the wired or wireless communication of signaling and/or data between network node160, network106, and/or WDs110. As illustrated, interface190comprises port(s)/terminal(s)194to send and receive data, for example to and from network106over a wired connection. Interface190also includes radio front end circuitry192that may be coupled to, or in certain embodiments a part of, antenna162.

Radio front end circuitry192comprises filters198and amplifiers196. Radio front end circuitry192may be connected to antenna162and processing circuitry170. Radio front end circuitry may be configured to condition signals communicated between antenna162and processing circuitry170. Radio front end circuitry192may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry192may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters198and/or amplifiers196. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna162. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna162may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry192. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry170. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.

In certain alternative embodiments, network node160may not include separate radio front end circuitry192, instead, processing circuitry170may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna162without separate radio front end circuitry192. Similarly, in some embodiments, all or some of RF transceiver circuitry172may be considered a part of interface190. In still other embodiments, interface190may include one or more ports or terminals194, radio front end circuitry192, and RF transceiver circuitry172, as part of a radio unit (not shown), and interface190may communicate with baseband processing circuitry174, which is part of a digital unit (not shown).

Antenna162may include one or more antennas, or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals. Antenna162may be coupled to radio front end circuitry192and may be any type of antenna capable of transmitting and receiving data and/or signals wirelessly. In some embodiments, antenna162may comprise one or more omni-directional, sector or panel antennas operable to transmit/receive radio signals between, for example, 2 GHz and 66 GHz. An omni-directional antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals in any direction, a sector antenna may be used to transmit/receive radio signals from devices within a particular area, and a panel antenna may be a line of sight antenna used to transmit/receive radio signals in a relatively straight line. In some instances, the use of more than one antenna may be referred to as MIMO. In certain embodiments, antenna162may be separate from network node160and may be connectable to network node160through an interface or port.

Antenna162, interface190, and/or processing circuitry170may be configured to perform any receiving operations and/or certain obtaining operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment. Similarly, antenna162, interface190, and/or processing circuitry170may be configured to perform any transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a network node. Any information, data and/or signals may be transmitted to a wireless device, another network node and/or any other network equipment.

Power circuitry187may comprise, or be coupled to, power management circuitry and is configured to supply the components of network node160with power for performing the functionality described herein. Power circuitry187may receive power from power source186. Power source186and/or power circuitry187may be configured to provide power to the various components of network node160in a form suitable for the respective components (e.g., at a voltage and current level needed for each respective component). Power source186may either be included in, or external to, power circuitry187and/or network node160.

For example, network node160may be connectable to an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet) via an input circuitry or interface such as an electrical cable, whereby the external power source supplies power to power circuitry187. As a further example, power source186may comprise a source of power in the form of a battery or battery pack which is connected to, or integrated in, power circuitry187. The battery may provide backup power should the external power source fail. Other types of power sources, such as photovoltaic devices, may also be used.

Alternative embodiments of network node160may include additional components beyond those shown inFIG.9that may be responsible for providing certain aspects of the network node's functionality, including any of the functionality described herein and/or any functionality necessary to support the subject matter described herein. For example, network node160may include user interface equipment to allow input of information into network node160and to allow output of information from network node160. This may allow a user to perform diagnostic, maintenance, repair, and other administrative functions for network node160.

As used herein, wireless device (WD) refers to a device capable, configured, arranged and/or operable to communicate wirelessly with network nodes and/or other wireless devices. Unless otherwise noted, the term WD may be used interchangeably herein with user equipment (UE). Communicating wirelessly may involve transmitting and/or receiving wireless signals using electromagnetic waves, radio waves, infrared waves, and/or other types of signals suitable for conveying information through air.

In some embodiments, a WD may be configured to transmit and/or receive information without direct human interaction. For instance, a WD may be designed to transmit information to a network on a predetermined schedule, when triggered by an internal or external event, or in response to requests from the network.

Examples of a WD include, but are not limited to, a smart phone, a mobile phone, a cell phone, a voice over IP (VoIP) phone, a wireless local loop phone, a desktop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wireless cameras, a gaming console or device, a music storage device, a playback appliance, a wearable terminal device, a wireless endpoint, a mobile station, a tablet, a laptop, a laptop-embedded equipment (LEE), a laptop-mounted equipment (LME), a smart device, a wireless customer-premise equipment (CPE). a vehicle-mounted wireless terminal device, etc. A WD may support device-to-device (D2D) communication, for example by implementing a 3GPP standard for sidelink communication, vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V), vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2I), vehicle-to-everything (V2X) and may in this case be referred to as a D2D communication device.

As yet another specific example, in an Internet of Things (IoT) scenario, a WD may represent a machine or other device that performs monitoring and/or measurements and transmits the results of such monitoring and/or measurements to another WD and/or a network node. The WD may in this case be a machine-to-machine (M2M) device, which may in a 3GPP context be referred to as an MTC device. As one example, the WD may be a UE implementing the 3GPP narrow band internet of things (NB-IoT) standard. Examples of such machines or devices are sensors, metering devices such as power meters, industrial machinery, or home or personal appliances (e.g. refrigerators, televisions, etc.) personal wearables (e.g., watches, fitness trackers, etc.).

In other scenarios, a WD may represent a vehicle or other equipment that is capable of monitoring and/or reporting on its operational status or other functions associated with its operation. A WD as described above may represent the endpoint of a wireless connection, in which case the device may be referred to as a wireless terminal. Furthermore, a WD as described above may be mobile, in which case it may also be referred to as a mobile device or a mobile terminal.

As illustrated, wireless device110includes antenna111, interface114, processing circuitry120, device readable medium130, user interface equipment132, auxiliary equipment134, power source136and power circuitry137. WD110may include multiple sets of one or more of the illustrated components for different wireless technologies supported by WD110, such as, for example, GSM, WCDMA, LTE, NR, WiFi, WiMAX, or Bluetooth wireless technologies, just to mention a few. These wireless technologies may be integrated into the same or different chips or set of chips as other components within WD110.

Antenna111may include one or more antennas or antenna arrays, configured to send and/or receive wireless signals, and is connected to interface114. In certain alternative embodiments, antenna111may be separate from WD110and be connectable to WD110through an interface or port. Antenna111, interface114, and/or processing circuitry120may be configured to perform any receiving or transmitting operations described herein as being performed by a WD. Any information, data and/or signals may be received from a network node and/or another WD. In some embodiments, radio front end circuitry and/or antenna111may be considered an interface.

As illustrated, interface114comprises radio front end circuitry112and antenna111. Radio front end circuitry112comprise one or more filters118and amplifiers116. Radio front end circuitry112is connected to antenna111and processing circuitry120and is configured to condition signals communicated between antenna111and processing circuitry120. Radio front end circuitry112may be coupled to or a part of antenna111. In some embodiments, WD110may not include separate radio front end circuitry112; rather, processing circuitry120may comprise radio front end circuitry and may be connected to antenna111. Similarly, in some embodiments, some or all of RF transceiver circuitry122may be considered a part of interface114.

Radio front end circuitry112may receive digital data that is to be sent out to other network nodes or WDs via a wireless connection. Radio front end circuitry112may convert the digital data into a radio signal having the appropriate channel and bandwidth parameters using a combination of filters118and/or amplifiers116. The radio signal may then be transmitted via antenna111. Similarly, when receiving data, antenna111may collect radio signals which are then converted into digital data by radio front end circuitry112. The digital data may be passed to processing circuitry120. In other embodiments, the interface may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components.

Processing circuitry120may comprise a combination of one or more of a microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, central processing unit, digital signal processor, application-specific integrated circuit, field programmable gate array, or any other suitable computing device, resource, or combination of hardware, software, and/or encoded logic operable to provide, either alone or in conjunction with other WD110components, such as device readable medium130, WD110functionality. Such functionality may include providing any of the various wireless features or benefits discussed herein. For example, processing circuitry120may execute instructions stored in device readable medium130or in memory within processing circuitry120to provide the functionality disclosed herein.

As illustrated, processing circuitry120includes one or more of RF transceiver circuitry122, baseband processing circuitry124, and application processing circuitry126. In other embodiments, the processing circuitry may comprise different components and/or different combinations of components. In certain embodiments processing circuitry120of WD110may comprise a SOC. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry122, baseband processing circuitry124, and application processing circuitry126may be on separate chips or sets of chips.

In alternative embodiments, part or all of baseband processing circuitry124and application processing circuitry126may be combined into one chip or set of chips, and RF transceiver circuitry122may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In still alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry122and baseband processing circuitry124may be on the same chip or set of chips, and application processing circuitry126may be on a separate chip or set of chips. In yet other alternative embodiments, part or all of RF transceiver circuitry122, baseband processing circuitry124, and application processing circuitry126may be combined in the same chip or set of chips. In some embodiments, RF transceiver circuitry122may be a part of interface114. RF transceiver circuitry122may condition RF signals for processing circuitry120.

In certain embodiments, some or all of the functionality described herein as being performed by a WD may be provided by processing circuitry120executing instructions stored on device readable medium130, which in certain embodiments may be a computer-readable storage medium. In alternative embodiments, some or all of the functionality may be provided by processing circuitry120without executing instructions stored on a separate or discrete device readable storage medium, such as in a hard-wired manner.

In any of those embodiments, whether executing instructions stored on a device readable storage medium or not, processing circuitry120can be configured to perform the described functionality. The benefits provided by such functionality are not limited to processing circuitry120alone or to other components of WD110, but are enjoyed by WD110, and/or by end users and the wireless network generally.

Processing circuitry120may be configured to perform any determining, calculating, or similar operations (e.g., certain obtaining operations) described herein as being performed by a WD. These operations, as performed by processing circuitry120, may include processing information obtained by processing circuitry120by, for example, converting the obtained information into other information, comparing the obtained information or converted information to information stored by WD110, and/or performing one or more operations based on the obtained information or converted information, and as a result of said processing making a determination.

Device readable medium130may be operable to store a computer program, software, an application including one or more of logic, rules, code, tables, etc. and/or other instructions capable of being executed by processing circuitry120. Device readable medium130may include computer memory (e.g., Random Access Memory (RAM) or Read Only Memory (ROM)), mass storage media (e.g., a hard disk), removable storage media (e.g., a Compact Disk (CD) or a Digital Video Disk (DVD)), and/or any other volatile or non-volatile, non-transitory device readable and/or computer executable memory devices that store information, data, and/or instructions that may be used by processing circuitry120. In some embodiments, processing circuitry120and device readable medium130may be integrated.

User interface equipment132may provide components that allow for a human user to interact with WD110. Such interaction may be of many forms, such as visual, audial, tactile, etc. User interface equipment132may be operable to produce output to the user and to allow the user to provide input to WD110. The type of interaction may vary depending on the type of user interface equipment132installed in WD110. For example, if WD110is a smart phone, the interaction may be via a touch screen; if WD110is a smart meter, the interaction may be through a screen that provides usage (e.g., the number of gallons used) or a speaker that provides an audible alert (e.g., if smoke is detected).

User interface equipment132may include input interfaces, devices and circuits, and output interfaces, devices and circuits. User interface equipment132is configured to allow input of information into WD110and is connected to processing circuitry120to allow processing circuitry120to process the input information. User interface equipment132may include, for example, a microphone, a proximity or other sensor, keys/buttons, a touch display, one or more cameras, a USB port, or other input circuitry. User interface equipment132is also configured to allow output of information from WD110, and to allow processing circuitry120to output information from WD110. User interface equipment132may include, for example, a speaker, a display, vibrating circuitry, a USB port, a headphone interface, or other output circuitry. Using one or more input and output interfaces, devices, and circuits, of user interface equipment132, WD110may communicate with end users and/or the wireless network and allow them to benefit from the functionality described herein.

Auxiliary equipment134is operable to provide more specific functionality which may not be generally performed by WDs. This may comprise specialized sensors for doing measurements for various purposes, interfaces for additional types of communication such as wired communications etc. The inclusion and type of components of auxiliary equipment134may vary depending on the embodiment and/or scenario.

Power source136may, in some embodiments, be in the form of a battery or battery pack. Other types of power sources, such as an external power source (e.g., an electricity outlet), photovoltaic devices or power cells, may also be used. WD110may further comprise power circuitry137for delivering power from power source136to the various parts of WD110which need power from power source136to carry out any functionality described or indicated herein. Power circuitry137may in certain embodiments comprise power management circuitry.

Power circuitry137may additionally or alternatively be operable to receive power from an external power source; in which case WD110may be connectable to the external power source (such as an electricity outlet) via input circuitry or an interface such as an electrical power cable. Power circuitry137may also in certain embodiments be operable to deliver power from an external power source to power source136. This may be, for example, for the charging of power source136. Power circuitry137may perform any formatting, converting, or other modification to the power from power source136to make the power suitable for the respective components of WD110to which power is supplied.

Although the subject matter described herein may be implemented in any appropriate type of system using any suitable components, the embodiments disclosed herein are described in relation to a wireless network, such as the example wireless network illustrated inFIG.9. For simplicity, the wireless network ofFIG.9only depicts network106, network nodes160and160b, and WDs110,110b, and110c. In practice, a wireless network may further include any additional elements suitable to support communication between wireless devices or between a wireless device and another communication device, such as a landline telephone, a service provider, or any other network node or end device. Of the illustrated components, network node160and wireless device (WD)110are depicted with additional detail. The wireless network may provide communication and other types of services to one or more wireless devices to facilitate the wireless devices' access to and/or use of the services provided by, or via, the wireless network.

FIG.10illustrates an example user equipment, according to certain embodiments. As used herein, a user equipment or UE may not necessarily have a user in the sense of a human user who owns and/or operates the relevant device. Instead, a UE may represent a device that is intended for sale to, or operation by, a human user but which may not, or which may not initially, be associated with a specific human user (e.g., a smart sprinkler controller). Alternatively, a UE may represent a device that is not intended for sale to, or operation by, an end user but which may be associated with or operated for the benefit of a user (e.g., a smart power meter). UE200may be any UE identified by the 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP), including a NB-IoT UE, a machine type communication (MTC) UE, and/or an enhanced MTC (eMTC) UE. UE200, as illustrated inFIG.10, is one example of a WD configured for communication in accordance with one or more communication standards promulgated by the 3rdGeneration Partnership Project (3GPP), such as 3GPP's GSM, UMTS, LTE, and/or 5G standards. As mentioned previously, the term WD and UE may be used interchangeable. Accordingly, althoughFIG.10is a UE, the components discussed herein are equally applicable to a WD, and vice-versa.

InFIG.10, UE200includes processing circuitry201that is operatively coupled to input/output interface205, radio frequency (RF) interface209, network connection interface211, memory215including random access memory (RAM)217, read-only memory (ROM)219, and storage medium221or the like, communication subsystem231, power source213, and/or any other component, or any combination thereof. Storage medium221includes operating system223, application program225, and data227. In other embodiments, storage medium221may include other similar types of information. Certain UEs may use all the components shown inFIG.10, or only a subset of the components. The level of integration between the components may vary from one UE to another UE. Further, certain UEs may contain multiple instances of a component, such as multiple processors, memories, transceivers, transmitters, receivers, etc.

InFIG.10, processing circuitry201may be configured to process computer instructions and data. Processing circuitry201may be configured to implement any sequential state machine operative to execute machine instructions stored as machine-readable computer programs in the memory, such as one or more hardware-implemented state machines (e.g., in discrete logic, FPGA, ASIC, etc.); programmable logic together with appropriate firmware; one or more stored program, general-purpose processors, such as a microprocessor or Digital Signal Processor (DSP), together with appropriate software; or any combination of the above. For example, the processing circuitry201may include two central processing units (CPUs). Data may be information in a form suitable for use by a computer.

In the depicted embodiment, input/output interface205may be configured to provide a communication interface to an input device, output device, or input and output device. UE200may be configured to use an output device via input/output interface205.

An output device may use the same type of interface port as an input device. For example, a USB port may be used to provide input to and output from UE200. The output device may be a speaker, a sound card, a video card, a display, a monitor, a printer, an actuator, an emitter, a smartcard, another output device, or any combination thereof.

UE200may be configured to use an input device via input/output interface205to allow a user to capture information into UE200. The input device may include a touch-sensitive or presence-sensitive display, a camera (e.g., a digital camera, a digital video camera, a web camera, etc.), a microphone, a sensor, a mouse, a trackball, a directional pad, a trackpad, a scroll wheel, a smartcard, and the like. The presence-sensitive display may include a capacitive or resistive touch sensor to sense input from a user. A sensor may be, for instance, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a tilt sensor, a force sensor, a magnetometer, an optical sensor, a proximity sensor, another like sensor, or any combination thereof. For example, the input device may be an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a digital camera, a microphone, and an optical sensor.

InFIG.10, RF interface209may be configured to provide a communication interface to RF components such as a transmitter, a receiver, and an antenna. Network connection interface211may be configured to provide a communication interface to network243a. Network243amay encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network243amay comprise a Wi-Fi network. Network connection interface211may be configured to include a receiver and a transmitter interface used to communicate with one or more other devices over a communication network according to one or more communication protocols, such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, SONET, ATM, or the like. Network connection interface211may implement receiver and transmitter functionality appropriate to the communication network links (e.g., optical, electrical, and the like). The transmitter and receiver functions may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.

RAM217may be configured to interface via bus202to processing circuitry201to provide storage or caching of data or computer instructions during the execution of software programs such as the operating system, application programs, and device drivers. ROM219may be configured to provide computer instructions or data to processing circuitry201. For example, ROM219may be configured to store invariant low-level system code or data for basic system functions such as basic input and output (I/O), startup, or reception of keystrokes from a keyboard that are stored in a non-volatile memory.

Storage medium221may be configured to include memory such as RAM, ROM, programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), magnetic disks, optical disks, floppy disks, hard disks, removable cartridges, or flash drives. In one example, storage medium221may be configured to include operating system223, application program225such as a web browser application, a widget or gadget engine or another application, and data file227. Storage medium221may store, for use by UE200, any of a variety of various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.

Storage medium221may be configured to include a number of physical drive units, such as redundant array of independent disks (RAID), floppy disk drive, flash memory, USB flash drive, external hard disk drive, thumb drive, pen drive, key drive, high-density digital versatile disc (HD-DVD) optical disc drive, internal hard disk drive, Blu-Ray optical disc drive, holographic digital data storage (HDDS) optical disc drive, external mini-dual in-line memory module (DIMM), synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM), external micro-DIMM SDRAM, smartcard memory such as a subscriber identity module or a removable user identity (SIM/RUIM) module, other memory, or any combination thereof. Storage medium221may allow UE200to access computer-executable instructions, application programs or the like, stored on transitory or non-transitory memory media, to off-load data, or to upload data. An article of manufacture, such as one utilizing a communication system may be tangibly embodied in storage medium221, which may comprise a device readable medium.

InFIG.10, processing circuitry201may be configured to communicate with network243busing communication subsystem231. Network243aand network243bmay be the same network or networks or different network or networks. Communication subsystem231may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with network243b. For example, communication subsystem231may be configured to include one or more transceivers used to communicate with one or more remote transceivers of another device capable of wireless communication such as another WD, UE, or base station of a radio access network (RAN) according to one or more communication protocols, such as IEEE 802.2, CDMA, WCDMA, GSM, LTE, UTRAN, WiMax, or the like. Each transceiver may include transmitter233and/or receiver235to implement transmitter or receiver functionality, respectively, appropriate to the RAN links (e.g., frequency allocations and the like). Further, transmitter233and receiver235of each transceiver may share circuit components, software or firmware, or alternatively may be implemented separately.

In the illustrated embodiment, the communication functions of communication subsystem231may include data communication, voice communication, multimedia communication, short-range communications such as Bluetooth, near-field communication, location-based communication such as the use of the global positioning system (GPS) to determine a location, another like communication function, or any combination thereof. For example, communication subsystem231may include cellular communication, Wi-Fi communication, Bluetooth communication, and GPS communication. Network243bmay encompass wired and/or wireless networks such as a local-area network (LAN), a wide-area network (WAN), a computer network, a wireless network, a telecommunications network, another like network or any combination thereof. For example, network243bmay be a cellular network, a Wi-Fi network, and/or a near-field network. Power source213may be configured to provide alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) power to components of UE200. The features, benefits and/or functions described herein may be implemented in one of the components of UE200or partitioned across multiple components of UE200. Further, the features, benefits, and/or functions described herein may be implemented in any combination of hardware, software or firmware. In one example, communication subsystem231may be configured to include any of the components described herein. Further, processing circuitry201may be configured to communicate with any of such components over bus202. In another example, any of such components may be represented by program instructions stored in memory that when executed by processing circuitry201perform the corresponding functions described herein. In another example, the functionality of any of such components may be partitioned between processing circuitry201and communication subsystem231. In another example, the non-computationally intensive functions of any of such components may be implemented in software or firmware and the computationally intensive functions may be implemented in hardware.

FIG.11Ais a flowchart illustrating an example method in an IAB network node, according to certain embodiments. In particular embodiments, one or more steps ofFIG.11Amay be performed by network node160described with respect toFIG.9. The network node comprises an IAB network node with an IAB-MT and an IAB-DU.

The method begins at step1112, where the network node (e.g., network node160) receives an availability indication at the IAB-MT. The availability indication enables the IAB network node to determine what time resources are available to the IAB-DU and what time resources are available to the IAB-MT.

At step114, the network node determines an IAB-DU soft resource availability based on the received availability indication. For example, if the IAB-MT availability indication comprises a no-transmission indication for some of its time-domain resources, the network node may determine the IAB-DU may use its corresponding time-domain resources.

In some embodiments, the availability indication may refer to MT resources, and the DU may determine its time resource availability based on the MT availability. In some embodiments, the availability indication may refer to DU resources, and the MT may determine its time resource availability based on the DU availability. In some embodiments, the availability indication may indicate availability of both DU and MT time resources.

In some embodiments, the IAB-DU may determine how it can use the soft resources overlapped with certain MT time resources based on the IAB-node's multiplexing capability.

At step1116, the network node prepares the IAB-MT for transmission and reception. For example, in some embodiments, the availability indication comprises a transmission direction. The transmission direction may comprise one of downlink, DL, uplink, UL, or Flexible. Determining the IAB-DU soft resource availability comprises determining the IAB soft DU resource availability with respect to the transmission direction.

In some embodiments, the IAB-MT comprises a transmitter and a receiver. The IAB-MT does not prepare the receiver to receive signals from a parent backhaul link even if the IAB-MT has been configured as DL or Flexible regarding the associated time resources, and the IAB-MT optionally prepares the transmitter to transmit signals on the parent backhaul link if the IAB-MT has been configured as UL or Flexible regarding the associated time resources when no transmission in the DL from the parent node is determined from the availability indication.

The IAB-MT does not prepare the transmitter to transmit on the parent backhaul link even if the IAB-MT has been configured as UL or Flexible regarding the associated time resources, and the IAB-MT optionally prepares the receiver to receive signals from the parent backhaul link if the IAB-MT has been configured as DL or Flexible regarding the indicated time resources when no-transmission in UL to the parent node is determined from the availability indication.

The IAB-MT neither prepares the transmitter to transmit on the parent backhaul link nor prepares the receiver to receive from the parent backhaul link, even the IAB-MT has been configured as DL, UL or Flexible regarding the associated time resources when no transmission in DL and UL from or to the parent node is determined from the availability indication.

At step1118, the network node transmits or receives according to the determined IAB-DU soft resource availability.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to method1100ofFIG.11A. Additionally, one or more steps in the method ofFIG.11Amay be performed in parallel or in any suitable order.

FIG.11Bis a flowchart illustrating another example method in an IAB network node, according to certain embodiments. In particular embodiments, one or more steps ofFIG.11Bmay be performed by network node160described with respect toFIG.9. The network node comprises an IAB network node with an IAB-DU.

The method begins at step1152, where the network node (e.g., network node160) determines resource availability based at least in part on a traffic condition on one or more backhaul links. In some examples the traffic condition may relate to an IAB parent network node backhaul link and in some examples the traffic condition may related in additionally or alternatively to an IAB child node backhaul link. The network node may determine the resource availability according to any of the embodiments and examples described herein.

At step1154, the network node transmits an availability indication of the determined resource availability to the IAB child node. The availability indication may comprise a transmission direction and when the transmission direction is indicated the method may proceed with step1156.

At step1156, the network node prepares to receive and transmit signals based on the availability indication. For example, the method may include preparing to receive signals at the IAB-DU if the IAB child node has been configured as UL or Flexible regarding the associated time resources when no transmission in the DL from the IAB network node is indicated by the availability indication and not transmitting signals from the IAB-DU to the IAB child node even if the IAB child node has been configured as DL or Flexible regarding the associated time resources.

The method may include preparing to transmit signals from the IAB-DU to the IAB child node if the IAB-MT child node has been configured as DL or Flexible regarding the indicated time resources when no-transmission in UL to the IAB network node is indicated by the availability indication and not preparing to receive at the IAB-DU even if the IAB-MT child node has been configured as UL or Flexible regarding the associated time resources.

The method may include preparing neither to transmit to nor receive from the IAB child node, even if the IAB-MT child node has been configured as DL, UL or Flexible regarding the associated time resources when no transmission in DL and UL from or to the IAB network node is indicated by the availability indication.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to method1150ofFIG.11B. Additionally, one or more steps in the method ofFIG.11Bmay be performed in parallel or in any suitable order.

FIG.12illustrates a schematic block diagram of an apparatus in a wireless network (for example, the wireless network illustrated inFIG.9). The apparatus may comprise a network node (e.g., network node160inFIG.9). Apparatus1600is operable to carry out the example method described with reference toFIG.11. Apparatus1600may be operable to carry out other processes or methods disclosed herein. It is also to be understood that the method ofFIG.11is not necessarily carried out solely by apparatus1600. At least some operations of the method can be performed by one or more other entities.

Virtual apparatus1600may comprise processing circuitry, which may include one or more microprocessor or microcontrollers, as well as other digital hardware, which may include digital signal processors (DSPs), special-purpose digital logic, and the like. The processing circuitry may be configured to execute program code stored in memory, which may include one or several types of memory such as read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory, cache memory, flash memory devices, optical storage devices, etc. Program code stored in memory includes program instructions for executing one or more telecommunications and/or data communications protocols as well as instructions for carrying out one or more of the techniques described herein, in several embodiments.

In some implementations, the processing circuitry may be used to cause obtaining module1602, transmitting/receiving module1604, and any other suitable units of apparatus1600to perform corresponding functions according one or more embodiments of the present disclosure.

As illustrated inFIG.12, apparatus1600includes obtaining module1602configured to obtain an availability indication, according to any of the embodiments and examples described herein. Transmitting/receiving module1604is configured to transmit and receive based on the availability of time-domain resources based on the availability indication, according to any of the embodiments and examples described herein.

FIG.13is a schematic block diagram illustrating a virtualization environment300in which functions implemented by some embodiments may be virtualized. In the present context, virtualizing means creating virtual versions of apparatuses or devices which may include virtualizing hardware platforms, storage devices and networking resources. As used herein, virtualization can be applied to a node (e.g., a virtualized base station or a virtualized radio access node) or to a device (e.g., a UE, a wireless device or any other type of communication device) or components thereof and relates to an implementation in which at least a portion of the functionality is implemented as one or more virtual components (e.g., via one or more applications, components, functions, virtual machines or containers executing on one or more physical processing nodes in one or more networks).

In some embodiments, some or all of the functions described herein may be implemented as virtual components executed by one or more virtual machines implemented in one or more virtual environments300hosted by one or more of hardware nodes330. Further, in embodiments in which the virtual node is not a radio access node or does not require radio connectivity (e.g., a core network node), then the network node may be entirely virtualized.

The functions may be implemented by one or more applications320(which may alternatively be called software instances, virtual appliances, network functions, virtual nodes, virtual network functions, etc.) operative to implement some of the features, functions, and/or benefits of some of the embodiments disclosed herein. Applications320are run in virtualization environment300which provides hardware330comprising processing circuitry360and memory390. Memory390contains instructions395executable by processing circuitry360whereby application320is operative to provide one or more of the features, benefits, and/or functions disclosed herein.

Virtualization environment300, comprises general-purpose or special-purpose network hardware devices330comprising a set of one or more processors or processing circuitry360, which may be commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) processors, dedicated Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), or any other type of processing circuitry including digital or analog hardware components or special purpose processors. Each hardware device may comprise memory390-1which may be non-persistent memory for temporarily storing instructions395or software executed by processing circuitry360. Each hardware device may comprise one or more network interface controllers (NICs)370, also known as network interface cards, which include physical network interface380. Each hardware device may also include non-transitory, persistent, machine-readable storage media390-2having stored therein software395and/or instructions executable by processing circuitry360. Software395may include any type of software including software for instantiating one or more virtualization layers350(also referred to as hypervisors), software to execute virtual machines340as well as software allowing it to execute functions, features and/or benefits described in relation with some embodiments described herein.

Virtual machines340, comprise virtual processing, virtual memory, virtual networking or interface and virtual storage, and may be run by a corresponding virtualization layer350or hypervisor. Different embodiments of the instance of virtual appliance320may be implemented on one or more of virtual machines340, and the implementations may be made in different ways.

During operation, processing circuitry360executes software395to instantiate the hypervisor or virtualization layer350, which may sometimes be referred to as a virtual machine monitor (VMM). Virtualization layer350may present a virtual operating platform that appears like networking hardware to virtual machine340.

As shown inFIG.13, hardware330may be a standalone network node with generic or specific components. Hardware330may comprise antenna3225and may implement some functions via virtualization. Alternatively, hardware330may be part of a larger cluster of hardware (e.g. such as in a data center or customer premise equipment (CPE)) where many hardware nodes work together and are managed via management and orchestration (MANO)3100, which, among others, oversees lifecycle management of applications320.

Virtualization of the hardware is in some contexts referred to as network function virtualization (NFV). NFV may be used to consolidate many network equipment types onto industry standard high-volume server hardware, physical switches, and physical storage, which can be located in data centers, and customer premise equipment.

In the context of NFV, virtual machine340may be a software implementation of a physical machine that runs programs as if they were executing on a physical, non-virtualized machine. Each of virtual machines340, and that part of hardware330that executes that virtual machine, be it hardware dedicated to that virtual machine and/or hardware shared by that virtual machine with others of the virtual machines340, forms a separate virtual network elements (VNE).

Still in the context of NFV, Virtual Network Function (VNF) is responsible for handling specific network functions that run in one or more virtual machines340on top of hardware networking infrastructure330and corresponds to application320inFIG.14.

In some embodiments, one or more radio units3200that each include one or more transmitters3220and one or more receivers3210may be coupled to one or more antennas3225. Radio units3200may communicate directly with hardware nodes330via one or more appropriate network interfaces and may be used in combination with the virtual components to provide a virtual node with radio capabilities, such as a radio access node or a base station.

In some embodiments, some signaling can be effected with the use of control system3230which may alternatively be used for communication between the hardware nodes330and radio units3200.

With reference toFIG.14, in accordance with an embodiment, a communication system includes telecommunication network410, such as a 3GPP-type cellular network, which comprises access network411, such as a radio access network, and core network414. Access network411comprises a plurality of base stations412a,412b,412c, such as NBs, eNBs, gNBs or other types of wireless access points, each defining a corresponding coverage area413a,413b,413c. Each base station412a,412b,412cis connectable to core network414over a wired or wireless connection415. A first UE491located in coverage area413cis configured to wirelessly connect to, or be paged by, the corresponding base station412c. A second UE492in coverage area413ais wirelessly connectable to the corresponding base station412a. While a plurality of UEs491,492are illustrated in this example, the disclosed embodiments are equally applicable to a situation where a sole UE is in the coverage area or where a sole UE is connecting to the corresponding base station412.

Telecommunication network410is itself connected to host computer430, which may be embodied in the hardware and/or software of a standalone server, a cloud-implemented server, a distributed server or as processing resources in a server farm. Host computer430may be under the ownership or control of a service provider or may be operated by the service provider or on behalf of the service provider. Connections421and422between telecommunication network410and host computer430may extend directly from core network414to host computer430or may go via an optional intermediate network420. Intermediate network420may be one of, or a combination of more than one of, a public, private or hosted network; intermediate network420, if any, may be a backbone network or the Internet; in particular, intermediate network420may comprise two or more sub-networks (not shown).

The communication system ofFIG.14as a whole enables connectivity between the connected UEs491,492and host computer430. The connectivity may be described as an over-the-top (OTT) connection450. Host computer430and the connected UEs491,492are configured to communicate data and/or signaling via OTT connection450, using access network411, core network414, any intermediate network420and possible further infrastructure (not shown) as intermediaries. OTT connection450may be transparent in the sense that the participating communication devices through which OTT connection450passes are unaware of routing of uplink and downlink communications. For example, base station412may not or need not be informed about the past routing of an incoming downlink communication with data originating from host computer430to be forwarded (e.g., handed over) to a connected UE491. Similarly, base station412need not be aware of the future routing of an outgoing uplink communication originating from the UE491towards the host computer430.

FIG.15illustrates an example host computer communicating via a base station with a user equipment over a partially wireless connection, according to certain embodiments. Example implementations, in accordance with an embodiment of the UE, base station and host computer discussed in the preceding paragraphs will now be described with reference toFIG.15. In communication system500, host computer510comprises hardware515including communication interface516configured to set up and maintain a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system500. Host computer510further comprises processing circuitry518, which may have storage and/or processing capabilities. In particular, processing circuitry518may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Host computer510further comprises software511, which is stored in or accessible by host computer510and executable by processing circuitry518. Software511includes host application512. Host application512may be operable to provide a service to a remote user, such as UE530connecting via OTT connection550terminating at UE530and host computer510. In providing the service to the remote user, host application512may provide user data which is transmitted using OTT connection550.

Communication system500further includes base station520provided in a telecommunication system and comprising hardware525enabling it to communicate with host computer510and with UE530. Hardware525may include communication interface526for setting up and maintaining a wired or wireless connection with an interface of a different communication device of communication system500, as well as radio interface527for setting up and maintaining at least wireless connection570with UE530located in a coverage area (not shown inFIG.15) served by base station520. Communication interface526may be configured to facilitate connection560to host computer510. Connection560may be direct, or it may pass through a core network (not shown inFIG.15) of the telecommunication system and/or through one or more intermediate networks outside the telecommunication system. In the embodiment shown, hardware525of base station520further includes processing circuitry528, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. Base station520further has software521stored internally or accessible via an external connection.

Communication system500further includes UE530already referred to. Its hardware535may include radio interface537configured to set up and maintain wireless connection570with a base station serving a coverage area in which UE530is currently located. Hardware535of UE530further includes processing circuitry538, which may comprise one or more programmable processors, application-specific integrated circuits, field programmable gate arrays or combinations of these (not shown) adapted to execute instructions. UE530further comprises software531, which is stored in or accessible by UE530and executable by processing circuitry538. Software531includes client application532. Client application532may be operable to provide a service to a human or non-human user via UE530, with the support of host computer510. In host computer510, an executing host application512may communicate with the executing client application532via OTT connection550terminating at UE530and host computer510. In providing the service to the user, client application532may receive request data from host application512and provide user data in response to the request data. OTT connection550may transfer both the request data and the user data. Client application532may interact with the user to generate the user data that it provides.

It is noted that host computer510, base station520and UE530illustrated inFIG.15may be similar or identical to host computer430, one of base stations412a,412b,412cand one of UEs491,492ofFIG.14, respectively. This is to say, the inner workings of these entities may be as shown inFIG.15and independently, the surrounding network topology may be that ofFIG.14.

InFIG.15, OTT connection550has been drawn abstractly to illustrate the communication between host computer510and UE530via base station520, without explicit reference to any intermediary devices and the precise routing of messages via these devices. Network infrastructure may determine the routing, which it may be configured to hide from UE530or from the service provider operating host computer510, or both. While OTT connection550is active, the network infrastructure may further take decisions by which it dynamically changes the routing (e.g., based on load balancing consideration or reconfiguration of the network).

Wireless connection570between UE530and base station520is in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. One or more of the various embodiments improve the performance of OTT services provided to UE530using OTT connection550, in which wireless connection570forms the last segment. More precisely, the teachings of these embodiments may improve the signaling overhead and reduce latency, which may provide faster internet access for users.

A measurement procedure may be provided for monitoring data rate, latency and other factors on which the one or more embodiments improve. There may further be an optional network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection550between host computer510and UE530, in response to variations in the measurement results. The measurement procedure and/or the network functionality for reconfiguring OTT connection550may be implemented in software511and hardware515of host computer510or in software531and hardware535of UE530, or both. In embodiments, sensors (not shown) may be deployed in or in association with communication devices through which OTT connection550passes; the sensors may participate in the measurement procedure by supplying values of the monitored quantities exemplified above or supplying values of other physical quantities from which software511,531may compute or estimate the monitored quantities. The reconfiguring of OTT connection550may include message format, retransmission settings, preferred routing etc.; the reconfiguring need not affect base station520, and it may be unknown or imperceptible to base station520. Such procedures and functionalities may be known and practiced in the art. In certain embodiments, measurements may involve proprietary UE signaling facilitating host computer510's measurements of throughput, propagation times, latency and the like. The measurements may be implemented in that software511and531causes messages to be transmitted, in particular empty or ‘dummy’ messages, using OTT connection550while it monitors propagation times, errors etc.

FIG.16is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference toFIGS.14and15. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references toFIG.16will be included in this section.

In step610, the host computer provides user data. In substep611(which may be optional) of step610, the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step620, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. In step630(which may be optional), the base station transmits to the UE the user data which was carried in the transmission that the host computer initiated, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step640(which may also be optional), the UE executes a client application associated with the host application executed by the host computer.

FIG.17is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference toFIGS.14and15. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references toFIG.17will be included in this section.

In step710of the method, the host computer provides user data. In an optional substep (not shown) the host computer provides the user data by executing a host application. In step720, the host computer initiates a transmission carrying the user data to the UE. The transmission may pass via the base station, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure. In step730(which may be optional), the UE receives the user data carried in the transmission.

FIG.18is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference toFIGS.14and15. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references toFIG.18will be included in this section.

In step810(which may be optional), the UE receives input data provided by the host computer. Additionally, or alternatively, in step820, the UE provides user data. In substep821(which may be optional) of step820, the UE provides the user data by executing a client application. In substep811(which may be optional) of step810, the UE executes a client application which provides the user data in reaction to the received input data provided by the host computer. In providing the user data, the executed client application may further consider user input received from the user. Regardless of the specific manner in which the user data was provided, the UE initiates, in substep830(which may be optional), transmission of the user data to the host computer. In step840of the method, the host computer receives the user data transmitted from the UE, in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure.

FIG.19is a flowchart illustrating a method implemented in a communication system, in accordance with one embodiment. The communication system includes a host computer, a base station and a UE which may be those described with reference toFIGS.14and15. For simplicity of the present disclosure, only drawing references toFIG.19will be included in this section.

In step910(which may be optional), in accordance with the teachings of the embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the base station receives user data from the UE. In step920(which may be optional), the base station initiates transmission of the received user data to the host computer. In step930(which may be optional), the host computer receives the user data carried in the transmission initiated by the base station.

The term unit may have conventional meaning in the field of electronics, electrical devices and/or electronic devices and may include, for example, electrical and/or electronic circuitry, devices, modules, processors, memories, logic solid state and/or discrete devices, computer programs or instructions for carrying out respective tasks, procedures, computations, outputs, and/or displaying functions, and so on, as such as those that are described herein.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the systems and apparatuses disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The components of the systems and apparatuses may be integrated or separated. Moreover, the operations of the systems and apparatuses may be performed by more, fewer, or other components. Additionally, operations of the systems and apparatuses may be performed using any suitable logic comprising software, hardware, and/or other logic. As used in this document, “each” refers to each member of a set or each member of a subset of a set.

Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to the methods disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention. The methods may include more, fewer, or other steps. Additionally, steps may be performed in any suitable order.

The foregoing description sets forth numerous specific details. It is understood, however, that embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known circuits, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure the understanding of this description. Those of ordinary skill in the art, with the included descriptions, will be able to implement appropriate functionality without undue experimentation.

References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to implement such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments, whether or not explicitly described.

Example Embodiments

Example 1. A method performed by a wireless device, such as a mobile terminal of an IAB node, for wireless backhaul, the method comprising:receiving a no transmission indication from a network node, such as an IAB parent node;upon determining the no-transmission indication includes indicated direction in DL, the wireless device does not prepare its receiver to receive signals from the parent backhaul link even if it has been configured as DL or Flexible regarding the indicated time resources, and the wireless device prepares its transmitter to transmit signals on the parent backhaul link if it has been configured as UL or Flexible regarding the indicated time resources;upon determining the no-transmission indication includes indicated direction in UL, the wireless device does not prepare its transmitter to transmit on the parent backhaul link even if it has been configured as UL or Flexible regarding the indicated time resources, and the wireless device prepares its receiver to receive signals from the parent backhaul link if it has been configured as DL or Flexible regarding the indicated time resources; and upon determining the no-transmission indication includes indicated directions in DL and UL or no direction indication, the wireless device neither prepare its transmitter to transmit on the parent backhaul link nor prepare its receiver to receive from the parent backhaul link, even if it has been configured as DL, UL or Flexible regarding the indicated time resources.

Example 2. The method of any of the previous examples, further comprising:providing user data; andforwarding the user data to a host computer via the transmission to the base station.

Example 3. A method performed by a base station, such as an IAB node, for wireless backhaul, the method comprising:determining that a mobile terminal of the base station received a no transmission indication; andscheduling uplink and/or downlink transmissions based on the no transmission indication.

Example 4. The method of any of the previous examples, further comprising:obtaining user data; andforwarding the user data to a host computer or a wireless device.

Example 5. A wireless device, such as a mobile terminal of an IAB node, for wireless backhaul, the wireless device comprising:processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the examples 1 or 2; andpower supply circuitry configured to supply power to the wireless device.

Example 6. A base station, such as an IAB node, for wireless backhaul, the base station comprising:processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of examples 3 or 4;power supply circuitry configured to supply power to the wireless device.

Example 7. A user equipment (UE), such as a mobile terminal of an IAB node, for wireless backhaul, the UE comprising:an antenna configured to send and receive wireless signals;radio front-end circuitry connected to the antenna and to processing circuitry, and configured to condition signals communicated between the antenna and the processing circuitry;the processing circuitry being configured to perform any of the steps of any of the examples 1 or 2;an input interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to allow input of information into the UE to be processed by the processing circuitry;an output interface connected to the processing circuitry and configured to output information from the UE that has been processed by the processing circuitry; anda battery connected to the processing circuitry and configured to supply power to the UE.

Example 8. A communication system including a host computer comprising:processing circuitry configured to provide user data; anda communication interface configured to forward the user data to a cellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE),wherein the cellular network comprises a base station having a radio interface and processing circuitry, the base station's processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the examples 3 or 4.

Example 9. The communication system of the previous example further including the base station.

Example 10. The communication system of the previous 2 examples, further including the UE, wherein the UE is configured to communicate with the base station.

Example 11. The communication system of the previous 3 examples, wherein:the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; andthe UE comprises processing circuitry configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

Example 12. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:at the host computer, providing user data; andat the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the UE via a cellular network comprising the base station, wherein the base station performs any of the steps of any of the examples 3 or 4.

Example 13. The method of the previous example, further comprising, at the base station, transmitting the user data.

Example 14. The method of the previous 2 examples, wherein the user data is provided at the host computer by executing a host application, the method further comprising, at the UE, executing a client application associated with the host application.

Example 15. A user equipment (UE) configured to communicate with a base station, the UE comprising a radio interface and processing circuitry configured to performs any of the previous 3 examples.

Example 16. A communication system including a host computer comprising:processing circuitry configured to provide user data; anda communication interface configured to forward user data to a cellular network for transmission to a user equipment (UE),wherein the UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the UE's components configured to perform any of the steps of any of the examples 1 or 2.

Example 17. The communication system of the previous example, wherein the cellular network further includes a base station configured to communicate with the UE.

Example 18. The communication system of the previous 2 examples, wherein:the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing the user data; andthe UE's processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application.

Example 19. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:at the host computer, providing user data; andat the host computer, initiating a transmission carrying the user data to the UE via a cellular network comprising the base station, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the examples 1 or 2.

Example 20. The method of the previous example, further comprising at the UE, receiving the user data from the base station.

Example 21. A communication system including a host computer comprising:communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station,wherein the UE comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the UE's processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the examples 1 or 2.

Example 22. The communication system of the previous example, further including the UE.

Example 23. The communication system of the previous 2 examples, further including the base station, wherein the base station comprises a radio interface configured to communicate with the UE and a communication interface configured to forward to the host computer the user data carried by a transmission from the UE to the base station.

Example 24. The communication system of the previous 3 examples, wherein:the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application; andthe UE's processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data.

Example 25. The communication system of the previous 4 examples, wherein:the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application, thereby providing request data; andthe UE's processing circuitry is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data in response to the request data.

Example 26. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:at the host computer, receiving user data transmitted to the base station from the UE, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the examples 1 or 2

Example 27. The method of the previous example, further comprising, at the UE, providing the user data to the base station.

Example 28. The method of the previous 2 examples, further comprising:at the UE, executing a client application, thereby providing the user data to be transmitted; andat the host computer, executing a host application associated with the client application.

Example 29. The method of the previous 3 examples, further comprising:at the UE, executing a client application; andat the UE, receiving input data to the client application, the input data being provided at the host computer by executing a host application associated with the client application,wherein the user data to be transmitted is provided by the client application in response to the input data.

Example 30. A communication system including a host computer comprising a communication interface configured to receive user data originating from a transmission from a user equipment (UE) to a base station, wherein the base station comprises a radio interface and processing circuitry, the base station's processing circuitry configured to perform any of the steps of any of the examples 3 or 4.

Example 31. The communication system of the previous example further including the base station.

Example 32. The communication system of the previous 2 examples, further including the UE, wherein the UE is configured to communicate with the base station.

Example 33. The communication system of the previous 3 examples, wherein:the processing circuitry of the host computer is configured to execute a host application;the UE is configured to execute a client application associated with the host application, thereby providing the user data to be received by the host computer.

Example 34. A method implemented in a communication system including a host computer, a base station and a user equipment (UE), the method comprising:at the host computer, receiving, from the base station, user data originating from a transmission which the base station has received from the UE, wherein the UE performs any of the steps of any of the examples 1 or 2.

Example 35. The method of the previous example, further comprising at the base station, receiving the user data from the UE.

Example 36. The method of the previous 2 examples, further comprising at the base station, initiating a transmission of the received user data to the host computer.

Although this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments, alterations and permutations of the embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of the embodiments does not constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of this disclosure, as defined by the claims below.