Integrated access backhaul with adaptive phase change device

Abstract

Techniques and apparatuses are described for integrated access backhaul using adaptive phase change devices (APDs). In various aspects, a host base station determines (1505) to include an APD in a communication path for a wireless backhaul link with a node base station and assigns (1510) the APD access to the APD of the node base station. The host base station then communicates with the node base station using a surface of the APD and based on the assigned APD access by exchanging wireless signals with the host base station using the surface.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] The continuous development of wireless communication systems, such as fifth-generation (5G) and sixth-generation (6G) technologies, utilizes various techniques to increase data capacity compared to previous wireless networks. For example, 5G technology uses higher frequency ranges (such as bands above 6 GHz or terahertz bands) to transmit data. As another example, 5G technology supports multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) communication using multiple transmit and / or receive paths.

[0002] The higher frequency ranges of 5G systems provide bandwidth to support Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB) between 5G base stations. While these technologies increase data capacity, transmitting and recovering information using these higher frequency ranges also presents challenges. For example, higher frequency signals and MIMO transmissions are more susceptible to multipath fading and other types of path loss, which can lead to recovery errors at the receiver. To provide reliable and flexible IAB links using wireless communication, it is desirable to compensate for signal distortion to obtain the performance benefits (e.g., increased data capacity) offered by these methods. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This document describes the techniques and apparatus for integrated access backhaul utilizing an adaptive phase-change device (APD). In each aspect, the donor base station determines that the APD should be included in the communication path for the wireless backhaul link with the node base station and appropriates the APD to the node base station's APD. The donor base station then communicates with the node base station via the wireless backhaul link by exchanging radio signals using the surface of the APD and based on the appropriated APD access.

[0004] In each aspect, the node base station determines to establish a wireless backhaul link with the host base station. The node base station receives APD access dispatched to the APD from the host base station, wherein the dispatched APD access includes at least dispatched reflective access for using the surface of the APD. The node base station then communicates with the host base station by exchanging wireless signals with the host base station through the surface of the APD and based on the dispatched APD access.

[0005] In each aspect, the APD receives instructions on the node index from the base station via the APD control channel. The APD uses the node index to identify the surface configuration and then uses that surface configuration to modify the surface of the APD.

[0006] Details of one or more embodiments for integrated access backhaul utilizing APD are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the following description. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description, drawings, and claims. This summary is provided to introduce the subject matter further described in the specification and drawings. Therefore, this summary should not be construed as describing essential features, nor should it be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Attached Figure Description

[0007] The following figures illustrate details of one or more aspects of integrated access backhaul using an adaptive phase-change device (APD). The same reference numerals are used throughout the figures to refer to the same features and components:

[0008] Figure 1 The illustration shows an example operating environment in which various aspects of integrated access backhaul using APD can be implemented;

[0009] Figure 2 The diagram illustrates an example device that enables various aspects of integrated access backhaul using APD.

[0010] Figure 3 The illustration shows an example device diagram of an APD that can be used according to one or more aspects of integrated access backhaul utilizing an APD;

[0011] Figure 4 The illustration shows an example environment in which the host base station and at least the first node base station coordinate access to the APD according to various aspects of the integrated access backhaul utilizing the APD.

[0012] Figure 5 The illustration shows an example environment where the base station is configured with APD based on various aspects of integrated access backhaul utilizing APD;

[0013] Figure 6 The diagram illustrates an example transaction diagram between various network entities based on the aspects of integrated access backhaul utilizing APD.

[0014] Figure 7 from Figure 6 Continuing, an example transaction diagram of configuring the APD surface for a node base station based on various aspects of integrated access backhaul utilizing APD is illustrated.

[0015] Figure 8 from Figure 6 Continuing, an example transaction diagram is shown, illustrating how the host base station, representing the node base station, controls the APD surface according to various aspects of the integrated access backhaul utilizing the APD.

[0016] Figure 9 The diagram illustrates an example transaction diagram between various network entities based on the various aspects of integrated access backhaul utilizing APD.

[0017] Figure 10 from Figure 9 Continuing, an example transaction diagram is illustrated, showing how a node base station assigns APD access to the access link with the user equipment (UE) and controls the APD surface of the access link according to various aspects of the integrated access backhaul utilizing the APD.

[0018] Figure 11 from Figure 10 Continuing, an example transaction diagram is shown of the APD surface representing the node base station controlling the access link according to various aspects of the integrated access backhaul utilizing the APD.

[0019] Figure 12 The diagram illustrates an example transaction diagram between various network entities performing a beam scanning process based on various aspects of integrated access backhaul utilizing APD.

[0020] Figure 13 The diagram illustrates an example transaction between various network entities performing alternative or additional beam scanning processes based on various aspects of integrated access backhaul utilizing APD.

[0021] Figure 14 The diagram illustrates an example transaction diagram of how the first-node base station serves the second-node base station based on various aspects of the integrated access backhaul utilizing APD.

[0022] Figure 15 The illustration shows an example method for implementing various aspects of integrated access backhaul using APD;

[0023] Figure 16 The diagram illustrates example methods for implementing integrated access backhaul using APD; and

[0024] Figure 17 The illustration shows an example method for implementing various aspects of integrated access backhaul using APD. Detailed Implementation

[0025] Base stations communicate with each other to coordinate various types of wireless network services, such as dual connectivity, carrier aggregation, and cooperative multipoint (CoMP). Successful coordination of these services typically relies on low-latency and / or high-throughput backhaul communication between base stations (e.g., base station-to-base station communication, base station-to-core network communication). In some instances, base stations exchange backhaul communication via fiber optic cables. However, deploying fiber optic cables can be prohibitively expensive and sometimes inconvenient. To illustrate, consider portable base stations, which operators deploy in various locations to temporarily increase and / or enhance services provided by the wireless network, such as deploying them to an outdoor concert, then a running race, then an outdoor 3x3 basketball tournament, and so on. While portable base stations allow operators to adapt to temporary pressure on wireless networks caused by large numbers of people carrying mobile devices, connecting portable base stations to fixed base stations via fiber optic cables can be problematic.

[0026] Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB) uses a portion of the radio network spectrum (e.g., fifth-generation (5G) millimeter-wave (mmWave) spectrum) to provide wireless backhaul links between base stations. For example, a host base station in a radio network maintains a connection to the core network. The host base station assigns air interface resources of the radio network to the wireless backhaul link and communicates with node base stations via the wireless backhaul link to provide access to the core network for the node base stations. In other words, the host base station serves node base stations with core network access in a manner similar to serving UEs via an access link, such as by using assigned air interface resources and various logical channels of the radio network (e.g., Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH), Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH), Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDCCH)). In some aspects, node base stations may optionally maintain a separate link to the core network (e.g., without using the host base station) and communicate with the host base station via the IAB link to coordinate various services. Therefore, node base stations can access the core network via a backhaul link (and the host base station) or a separate link.

[0027] While higher frequencies offer higher data throughput for backhaul links, channel conditions can negatively impact signal quality. For example, millimeter-wave signals have high throughput at line-of-sight (LoS), but reflections create multipath and frequency-selective fading, which can increase recovery errors at the receiver. Changing environments can affect LoS conditions, such as new foliage growth, rainfall, and / or new building structures that obstruct the LoS path. Another example is the relocation of portable base stations to different locations, each with different obstacles.

[0028] Adaptive phase-change devices (APDs) include a repeatable smart surface (RIS) that, when correctly configured, modifies the propagating signal to correct or reduce errors introduced by the communication path(s), such as small-scale fading and fading MIMO channels. Typically, the RIS comprises configurable surface materials that determine how an incident signal impacting the surface is transformed. To illustrate, the configuration of the surface material can affect the phase, amplitude, and / or polarization of the transformed signal. Therefore, modifying the surface configuration of the RIS alters how the signal is transformed as it exits the RIS.

[0029] In all aspects of integrated access backhaul utilizing APDs, the host base station includes the APD in its communication path with the node base station and uses the APD's surface to maintain the wireless backhaul link with the node base station. For example, the host and node base stations can establish an initial direct connection using low-frequency communication (e.g., below 6 GHz) and then use low-frequency communication to configure a high-frequency (e.g., above 6 GHz) wireless backhaul link using the APD. As another example, the host and node base stations use the APD and location information to establish an initial high-frequency wireless backhaul link and then perform a beam scanning process to improve the high-frequency wireless backhaul link. Configuring the APD to maintain the (wireless) IAB link allows the host and node base stations to improve signal quality by routing wireless signals around obstacles to mitigate channel impairments. This contributes to improved data rates, spectral efficiency, data throughput, and the reliability of communications exchanged via IAB, which also improves the reliability of communications exchanged in a wireless network.

[0030] While the features and concepts of the systems and methods for integrated access backhaul utilizing APD described herein can be implemented in any number of different environments, systems, devices and / or various configurations, the various aspects of integrated access backhaul utilizing APD are described in the context of the following example devices, systems and configurations.

[0031] Example Environment

[0032] Figure 1The illustration depicts an example environment 100, which includes multiple user equipments 110 (UE 110), illustrated as UE 111, UE 112, and UE 113. Each UE is capable of communicating with base stations 120 (illustrated as base stations 121 and 122) via one or more wireless communication links 130 (wireless links 130), illustrated as wireless links 131, 132, 133, and 134. For illustration, UE 111 communicates with both base stations 121 and 122 simultaneously using wireless links 131 and 132, respectively. UE 112 communicates with base station 121 using wireless link 133, and UE 113 communicates with base station 122 using wireless link 134. For simplicity, UE 110 is implemented as a smartphone but can be implemented as any suitable computing or electronic device, such as a mobile communication device, modem, mobile phone, gaming device, navigation device, media device, laptop computer, desktop computer, tablet computer, smart home appliance, vehicular communication system, or Internet of Things (IoT) device (e.g., sensor, relay, or actuator). Base station 120 (e.g., Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network Node B, E-UTRAN Node B, Evolved Node B, eNodeB, eNB, Next Generation Node B, gNode B, gNB, ng-eNB, etc.) can be implemented in macro cells, micro cells, small cells, pico cells, distributed base station components, etc., or any combination thereof.

[0033] Radio links 131, 132, 133, and 134 include control plane information and / or user plane data, such as downlink user plane data and control plane information transmitted from base station 120 to UE 110, and uplink or both of other user plane data and control plane information transmitted from UE 110 to base station 120. Radio link 130 may include one or more radio links (e.g., radio links) or bearers implemented using any suitable communication protocol or standard or a combination of communication protocols or standards (such as 3GPP LTE, 5G NR, 6G, etc.). Multiple radio links 130 may be aggregated in carrier aggregation or multi-connectivity technologies to provide higher data rates for UE 110. Multiple radio links 130 from multiple base stations 120 may be configured for Coordinated Multipoint (CoMP) or dual-connectivity communication with UE 110.

[0034] Wireless link 130 includes wireless link 135 between base stations 121 and 122, wherein wireless link 135 corresponds to an IAB link between a host base station (e.g., base station 121) and a node base station (e.g., base station 122). In various aspects, wireless link 135 utilizes an intermediate device (e.g., adaptive phase-change device 180 (APD 180)) of wireless signals and rays 190 that reflect or convert omnidirectional wireless signals (illustrated as signal rays 191, 192, and 193). In environment 100, signal rays 191 and 192 correspond to wireless signal rays from the host base station to the node base station, but these rays can alternatively or additionally correspond to wireless signals from the node base station to the host base station. A first ray of wireless signal (e.g., signal ray 191) propagates towards the node base station in a line-of-sight (LoS) manner but is dynamically blocked and / or attenuated by obstacles 170 (illustrated as leaves). A second ray of wireless signal (e.g., signal ray 192) propagates towards the APD 180. Signal ray 192 strikes the surface of APD 180 and is converted into signal ray 193 propagating towards base station 122. In various aspects, signal ray 192 strikes the RIS surface of APD 180, which will reflect the signal ray (e.g., signal ray 193) and direct it towards base station 122. Although rays 190 are described as omnidirectional, they may form wide beams (as shown) or narrow beams (e.g., in a direction similar to ray 192).

[0035] In various aspects, wireless link 130 includes wireless link 136 and / or wireless link 137 between at least one of base station 120 and APD 180 to control the surface configuration of APD 180, wherein the surface configuration guides how the RIS changes the signal properties (e.g., direction, phase, amplitude, polarization) of the incident wireless signal. Base station 120 may also include a wired interface for transmitting control information to APD 180. For example, base station 121 uses wireless link 136 to transmit RIS surface configuration information to APD 180. For illustration, wireless link 136 may correspond to a control channel used by base station 121 to transmit APD control information to APD 180, such as transmitting large amounts of control data (e.g., codebooks) using an adaptive phase-change device slow control channel (APD-slow control channel), and / or rapidly transmitting time-sensitive control information (e.g., applying surface configuration at the start of the next time slot) using an adaptive phase-change device fast control channel (APD-fast control channel). For example, base station 122 uses radio link 137, which can include an APD-slow control channel and / or an APD-fast control channel, to transmit RIS surface configuration information to APD 180. In some aspects, radio links 136 and 137 correspond to APD control channels such as those shared between base stations 121 and 122 through allocated physical resources.

[0036] In various implementations of integrated access backhaul using an APD, base station 120 (e.g., base station 121, base station 122) transmits indexes (e.g., node indexes, host indexes, codebook indexes) to APD 180, indicating the surface configuration to be applied to the RIS. In some aspects, base station 120 indicates the index assigned to a specific base station, such as a node index associated with node base station 122 or a host index associated with host base station 121. Alternatively or additionally, base station 120 transmits timing information indicating when to apply the surface configuration to the RIS, such as time slots, start times, durations, periodic timing information (e.g., periodically applying the surface configuration), and dynamic timing information (e.g., applying the surface configuration once). Base station 120 may transmit direction information with the surface configuration (e.g., host-to-node communication direction, node-to-host communication direction) such that APD 180 configures the RIS to reflect radio signals in the indicated direction (e.g., by determining or using mutual reflection angles). Base station 120 can also determine the surface configuration of APD 180 (multiple) based on signal quality measurement, link quality measurement, location information, historical data records, beam scanning process, etc.

[0037] Base stations 120 collectively form part of radio access network 140 (e.g., RAN, evolved universal terrestrial radio access network, E-UTRAN, 5G NR RAN, or NR RAN). Within RAN 140, base station 121 connects to core network 150 via interface 102, and base station 122 connects to core network 150 via IAB links (e.g., radio link 135) through base station 121. However, in an alternative implementation, base station 122 includes a direct connection to core network 150. Figure 1 The diagram shows optional interface 104. In various aspects, interface 102 and / or optional interface 104 include an NG2 interface for control plane signaling and an NG3 interface for user plane data communication when connected to a 5G core network, or an S1 interface for control plane signaling and user plane data communication when connected to an evolved packet core (EPC) network. Base stations 121 and 122 are capable of exchanging user plane data and / or control plane information via radio IAB link 135. UE 110 can connect to a public network (e.g., the Internet) via core network 150 and base station 120 to interact with remote services (not shown).

[0038] Example device

[0039] Figure 2 Example device diagram 200 illustrates UE 110 and base station 120. Typically, device diagram 200 describes network entities capable of implementing various aspects of integrated access backhaul utilizing APD. Figure 2 Examples of UE 110 and base station 120 are shown. For visual simplicity, UE 110 or base station 120 may include components from... Figure 2 Additional functions and interfaces omitted. UE 110 includes an antenna 202, a radio frequency front-end 204 (RF front-end 204), and one or more radio transceivers 206 (e.g., radio frequency transceivers), such as any combination of LTE transceivers, 5G NR transceivers, and / or 6G transceivers for communicating with base station 120 in RAN 140. The RF front-end 204 of UE 110 can couple or connect the radio transceivers 206 to the antenna 202 to facilitate various types of wireless communication.

[0040] The antenna 202 of UE 110 may include an array of multiple antennas configured in similar or different ways. The antenna 202 and RF front-end 204 can be tuned to and / or are tunable to one or more frequency bands defined by communication standards (e.g., 3GPP LTE, 5G NR) and implemented by (multiple) radio transceivers 206. Additionally, the antenna 202, RF front-end 204, and / or (multiple) radio transceivers 206 may be configured to support beam scanning for transmitting and receiving communications with base station 120. By way of example, and not limitation, the antenna 202 and RF front-end 204 can be implemented to operate in sub-gigahertz bands, sub-6GHz bands, and / or higher than 6GHz bands defined by 3GPP LTE and 5G NR communication standards (e.g., 57-64GHz, 28GHz, 38GHz, 71GHz, 81GHz, or 92GHz bands).

[0041] UE 110 also includes processor(s) 208 and computer-readable storage medium 210 (CRM 210). Processor 208 may be a single-core processor or a multi-core processor implemented with homogeneous or heterogeneous core architectures. The computer-readable storage medium described herein does not include propagation signals. CRM 210 may include any suitable memory or storage device that can be used to store device data 212 of UE 110, such as random access memory (RAM), static RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), read-only memory (ROM), or flash memory. Device data 212 includes any combination of user data, multimedia data, applications, and / or the operating system of UE 110. In various embodiments, device data 212 stores processor-executable instructions that can be executed by processor(s) 208 to implement user plane communications, control plane signaling, and user interaction with UE 110.

[0042] In various aspects, the CRM 210 of UE 110 includes a User Equipment Adaptive Phase Change Device Manager 214 (UE APD Manager 214), which manages APD usage in the access link with base station 120. Alternatively or additionally, UE APD Manager 214 may be implemented as hardware logic or circuitry, integrated or separate from other components of the underlying UE 110, either wholly or partially. In various aspects, UE APD Manager 214 receives APD access information for using the APD surface, such as reflected access information indicating time information about when the APD surface is used and / or configurable surface element information indicating the portion of the APD surface available for use by UE 110. UE APD Manager 214 guides UE 110 to transmit communications with base station 120 based on the APD access information.

[0043] Figure 2 The device diagram of base station 120 shown includes a single network node (e.g., gNode B). The functionality of base station 120 can be distributed across multiple network nodes or devices and can be distributed in any manner suitable for performing the functions described herein. Base station 120 includes an antenna 252, a radio frequency front-end 254 (RF front-end 254), and one or more radio transceivers 256 (e.g., radio frequency transceivers) (such as LTE transceivers, 5G NR transceivers, and / or 6G transceivers) for communicating with UE 110 and / or another base station communication station 120. The RF front-end 254 of base station 120 is capable of coupling or connecting the radio transceivers 256 to the antenna 252 to facilitate various types of wireless communication. The antenna 252 of base station 120 may include an array of multiple antennas configured in similar or different ways. The antenna 252 and RF front-end 254 can be tuned to and / or can be tuned to one or more frequency bands defined by communication standards (e.g., 3GPP LTE, 5G NR) and implemented by the radio transceivers 256. Additionally, antenna 252, RF front end 254, and / or wireless transceiver 256 can be configured to support beamforming, such as massive MIMO, for transmitting and receiving communications with UE 110 and / or another base station 120.

[0044] Base station 120 also includes processor(s) 258 and computer-readable storage medium 260 (CRM 260). Processor 258 may be a single-core or multi-core processor and is composed of various materials such as silicon, polysilicon, high-k dielectric, copper, etc. CRM 260 may include any suitable memory or storage device, such as RAM, SRAM, DRAM, NVRAM, ROM, or flash memory, that can be used to store device data 262 of base station 120. Device data 262 includes network scheduling data, radio resource management data, applications, and / or operating systems of base station 120, which can be executed by processor(s) 258 to enable communication with another base station 120 and / or UE 110. Device data 262 also includes codebook 264. Codebook 264 may include any suitable type of codebook or combination of codebooks, including a surface configuration codebook storing surface configuration information for the RIS used by the APD and a beam scanning codebook storing mode, sequence, or timing information for implementing multiple surface configurations that can be used to guide the APD to perform various reflection beamforming operations. In some respects, the surface configuration codebook and beam scanning codebook include phase vector information, angle information (e.g., calibrated to the corresponding phase vector), and / or beam configuration information.

[0045] In various aspects, the CRM 260 of base station 120 also includes a Base Station Adaptive Phase Change Device Manager 266 (BS APD Manager 266) for managing APD usage in IAB communication paths to another base station 120. Alternatively or additionally, the BSAPD Manager 266 may be implemented, in whole or in part, as hardware logic or circuitry integrated or separate from other components of base station 120. In various aspects, the BS APD Manager 266 identifies APDs within the transmission range that can be used in the IAB communication path. The BSAPD Manager 266 also instructs the surface configuration (e.g., RIS configuration), timing information, and / or direction information for the APDs. In some implementations, such as when base station 120 acts as a host base station, the BS APD Manager 266 dispatches APD access to node base stations, such as dispatching reflective access for surface use of the APDs and / or dispatching control access for direct communication with the APDs. In other implementations, such as when base station 120 acts as a node base station, BS APD manager 266 receives assigned APD access and allocates some of the assigned APD access for communicating with UE 110 via an access link and / or communicating with another node base station by using the surface of the APD to guide or redirect radio signals. BS APD manager 266 also coordinates beam scanning procedures performed using the APD and another base station 120.

[0046] CRM 260 also includes a base station manager 270 for managing various functions and communication interfaces of base station 120. Alternatively or additionally, base station manager 270 may be implemented as hardware logic or circuitry, integrated or separate from other components of base station 120, either wholly or partially. At least in some respects, base station manager 270 configures antenna 252, RF front end 254, and transceiver 256 for communicating with another base station via a wireless IAB link (e.g., wireless link 135) and / or with UE 110 and / or APD 180 (e.g., wireless link 136, wireless link 137) using access links (e.g., wireless links 131, 132, 133, 134). Base station 120 sometimes includes a core network interface (not shown), which base station manager 270 configures to exchange user plane data and control plane information with core network functions and / or entities.

[0047] Figure 3 The illustration shows an example device diagram 300 for the APD 180. Typically, device diagram 300 depicts an example entity that enables various aspects of integrated access backhaul utilizing the APD, but may include additional details for visual clarity. Figure 3 Additional functions and interfaces omitted. The APD 180 includes one or more antennas 302, a radio frequency front-end 304, and one or more radio transceivers 306 (e.g., radio frequency transceivers) for wireless communication with the base station 120 and / or the UE 110. The APD 180 may also include a position sensor, such as a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) module, which provides position information based on the position of the APD 180.

[0048] The APD 180's antenna(s) 302 may include an array of multiple antennas configured in similar or different ways. Furthermore, antennas 302, RF front-end 304, and transceivers(s) 306 may be configured to support beamforming for transmitting and receiving communications with base station 120 and / or UE 110. By way of example, and not limitation, antennas 302 and RF front-end 304 can be implemented for operation in sub-gigahertz, sub-6 GHz, and / or above 6 GHz frequency bands. Therefore, antennas 302, RF front-end 304, and transceivers(s) 306 provide the APD 180 with the ability to receive and / or transmit communications with base station 120 and / or UE 110, such as information transmitted using APD control channels (e.g., including APD-slow control channels and / or APD-fast control channels), as further described.

[0049] The APD 180 includes processor(s) 310 and computer-readable storage medium 312 (CRM 312). Processor 310 may be a single-core processor or a multi-core processor implemented with homogeneous or heterogeneous core architectures. The computer-readable storage medium described herein does not include propagation signals. CRM 312 may include any suitable memory or storage device, such as RAM, SRAM, DRAM, NVRAM, ROM, or flash memory, that can be used to store device data 314 of the APD 180. Device data 314 includes user data, multimedia data, applications, and / or operating systems of the APD 180, which may be executed by processor(s) 310 to enable dynamic configuration of the APD 180, as further described. Device data 314 also includes one or more codebooks 316 of any suitable type or combination, and location information 318 of the APD 180. Location information 318 may be obtained or configured, such as during installation using a position sensor 308, or programmed into the APD 180. Location information 318 indicates the location of APD 180 and may include location, geographic coordinates, orientation, altitude information, etc. Base station 120 and / or UE 110 can use location information 318 to calculate angle or distance information such as between base station 120 and APD 180 and / or between APD 180 and the interested UE 110, respectively, via BS APD manager 266 and / or UE APD manager 216. Codebook 316 may include a surface configuration codebook storing surface configuration information for the APD's RIS and a beam scan codebook storing patterns, sequences, or timing information (e.g., phase vectors and reflection identifiers) for implementing multiple surface configurations that can be used to guide the APD to perform various reflection beamforming operations. In some aspects, the surface configuration codebook and beam scan codebook include phase vector information, angle information (e.g., calibration to the corresponding phase vector), and / or beam configuration information.

[0050] In terms of utilizing the integrated access backhaul of the APD, the CRM 312 of the APD 180 includes an adaptive phase-change device manager 320 (APD manager 320). Alternatively or additionally, the APD manager 320 may be implemented as hardware logic or circuitry, integrated or separate from other components of the APD 180, either wholly or partially. Typically, the APD manager 320 manages the surface configuration of the APD 180, for example, by processing information exchanged with the base station via wireless link 136 and / or wireless link 137, and using that information to configure the reconfigurable smart surface 322 (RIS 322) of the APD 180.

[0051] For illustration, the APD manager 320 receives an indication of surface configuration via wireless links 136 and / or 137 (APD control channel), uses this indication to extract the surface configuration from codebook 316, and applies the surface configuration to the RIS 322. This includes receiving a node index associated with a specific node base station, a host index associated with a specific host base station, and / or a surface configuration index, all of which can be used to access entries in codebook 316, as further described. In some aspects, the APD manager 320 receives timing information with surface configuration communication, wherein the timing information indicates when to apply the surface configuration to the RIS 322 (e.g., duration, periodic timing information, dynamic timing information). Alternatively or additionally, the APD manager 320 receives direction information indicating the surface configuration to reflect signals from the RIS 322 based on direction information. For example, when the direction information indicates a host-to-node communication direction, the APD manager 320 selects a first surface configuration having a first reflection angle that reflects the wireless signal to the node base station. When the direction indicates the communication direction from the node to the host, the APD 320 selects a second surface configuration with a second reciprocal reflection angle that reflects the wireless signal toward the host base station.

[0052] APD manager 320 initiates the transmission of uplink messages to base station 120 via wireless links 136 and / or 137, such as acknowledgments / denials (ACK / NACK) for various APD configuration or management commands. In some aspects, APD manager 320 receives an indication of beam scanning mode (e.g., beam scanning mode index) via wireless links 136 and / or 137 and applies a sequence of various surface configurations to the RIS based on the beam scanning mode and / or according to the synchronization or mode timing indicated by or received with the indication.

[0053] The RIS 322 of the APD 180 includes one or more configurable surface elements 324, such as configurable electromagnetic elements, configurable resonator elements, or configurable reflective array antenna elements. Typically, the configurable surface elements 324 can be selectively or programmably configured to control how the RIS 322 reflects (e.g., directivity) and / or converts the incident waveform. By way of example, and not limitation, the configurable electromagnetic elements include electronically connected scattering particles (e.g., via PIN diodes). Implementations such as using electronic connections to align the scattering particles based on reflection principles to control the directionality, phase, amplitude, and / or polarization of the converted waveform (from the incident waveform). The RIS 322 can include multiple arrays of configurable surface elements 324, wherein the array can include any number of elements of any size.

[0054] In some respects, the position and / or orientation of the APD 180 are configurable, and the APD 180 includes a motor controller 326 that communicates with one or more motors 328 operatively coupled to the physical chassis of the APD 180. Based on commands and control information received from base station 120, the motor controller 326 is capable of sending commands to the motors 328 to alter one or more kinematic behaviors of the motors 328, which may include any suitable type of stepper motor or servo motor. For example, the motor controller 326 may issue commands or control signals specifying the axis rotation of a stepper motor in degrees, the axis rotation rate of a stepper motor in revolutions per minute (RPM), the linear motion of a linear motor in millimeters (mm), or the linear velocity of a linear motor in meters per second (m / s). One or more motors 328 may be linked to a mechanism that mechanically positions the physical chassis or platform supporting the APD 180 (e.g., avionics of a UAV, a drive for a linear orbit system, a gimbal within a base station, a linear bearing within a base station). The physical location, orientation, or direction of the APD 180 (and / or the platform supporting the APD 180) can be changed by commands and signals generated and sent to the motors 328 via the motor controller 326. In response to receiving a location configuration from the base station, the APD manager 320 transmits a movement command to the motor controller 326 based on the location configuration, for example, via a software interface and / or a hardware address. Regarding integrated access backhaul utilizing the APD, the base station 120 may reposition or redirect one or more APDs 180 to improve or enable radio signal reflections to be directed to the UE 110.

[0055] Typically, the APD 180 can include multiple motors, each corresponding to a different direction of rotation or linear movement. Examples of motors 328 that can be used to control the orientation and position of the APD include linear servo motors, which may be part of: (i) a rail system mounting the APD, (ii) motors controlling the orientation and pitch, yaw, and roll of the drone carrying the APD, (iii) radial servo or stepper motors that rotate the axis if the APD is in a fixed position or on a gimbal, etc. For clarity, the motor controller 326 and motors 328 are illustrated as part of the APD 180, but in alternative or additional embodiments, the APD 180 communicates with the motor controller and / or motors external to the APD. For illustration, the APD manager 320 transmits position configuration to the motor controller, which mechanically positions the platform or chassis supporting the APD 180. In various aspects, the APD manager 320 uses a local wireless link (such as Bluetooth). TMThe position configuration is transmitted to the motor controller via a network (e.g., Zigbee, IEEE 802.15.4, or hardwired link). The motor controller then uses one or more motors to adjust the platform according to the position configuration. This platform can correspond to or be attached to any suitable mechanism that supports rotation and / or linear adjustment, such as a drone, a track propulsion system, a hydraulic lifting system, etc.

[0056] like Figure 3 As shown, the position of the APD 180 can be defined relative to a three-dimensional coordinate system, in which the X-axis 330, Y-axis 332, and Z-axis 334 define spatial regions and provide a frame for indicating positional configuration through rotation and / or linear adjustment. While these axes are typically labeled as X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, other frames can also be used to indicate positional configuration. For illustration, aerodynamic frames refer to axes as vertical (yaw), lateral (pitch), and longitudinal (roll) axes, while other motion frames refer to axes as vertical, sagittal, and forward axes. For example, position 336 typically points to the center position of the APD 180 corresponding to the baseline position (e.g., position (0,0,0) using XYZ coordinates).

[0057] In various aspects, the APD manager 320 transmits rotational adjustments (e.g., rotational adjustment 338) about the X-axis 330 to the motor controller 326, wherein the rotational adjustment includes the direction of rotation (e.g., clockwise or counterclockwise), the amount of rotation (e.g., degrees), and / or the speed of rotation. Alternatively or additionally, the APD manager 320 transmits linear adjustments 340 along the X-axis, wherein the linear adjustment includes any combination of the direction, speed, and / or distance of adjustment. Sometimes, the APD manager 320 also conveys adjustments about other axes, such as any combination of rotational adjustments 342 about the Y-axis 332, linear adjustments 344 along the Y-axis 332, rotational adjustments 346 about the Z-axis 334, and / or linear adjustments 348 along the Z-axis 334. Thus, the positional configuration can include combinations of rotational and / or linear adjustments in all three spatial degrees of freedom. This allows the APD manager 320 to transmit physical adjustments to the APD 180. Alternatively or additionally, the APD manager transmits RIS surface configurations, as further described.

[0058] Utilizing APD's integrated access backhaul

[0059] Base stations communicate with each other to coordinate various types of wireless network services, such as dual connectivity, carrier aggregation, and cooperative multipoint (CoMP). Successful coordination of these services typically relies on low-latency and / or high-throughput backhaul communication between base stations (e.g., communication routed to the core network). In integrated access backhaul utilizing APDs, the host base station allocates air interface resources of the wireless network spectrum (e.g., 5G millimeter-wave spectrum) to provide wireless backhaul links between base stations. The host and node base stations then communicate with each other using the air interface resources associated with the wireless network and various channels (e.g., PUCCH, PDCCH, PUSCH, PDSCH). While higher frequencies provide higher data throughput for IAB links, channel conditions can negatively impact these technologies. To compensate for poor channel conditions, the wireless network includes APDs in the communication path between the host and node base stations. For example, the host and node base stations use APD surfaces to exchange radio signals for the IAB link. APDs allow the wireless network to improve signal quality by routing radio signals around obstacles. This helps improve the data rate, spectral efficiency, data throughput, and reliability of communications exchanged via IABs.

[0060] Figure 4 The illustration shows an example environment 400 that implements various aspects of integrated access backhaul using APD. Environment 400 includes... Figure 1 The host base station 402 (also labeled "host"), the node base station 404 (also labeled "node 1"), and the APD 180. In all respects, the host base station 402 and the node base station 404 represent Figure 1 An example of base station 120. Host base station 402 and node base station communicate with each other using wireless link 406 as a high-frequency band IAB link. For example, host base station 402 transmits (and / or receives) wireless signals to node base station 404 as part of the IAB link. In some aspects, host base station 402 and node base station 404 alternatively or additionally use low-frequency band wireless link 440 to communicate with each other. For illustration, host base station 402 and node base station 404 communicate via low-frequency band wireless link 440 to establish a high-frequency band IAB link (e.g., wireless link 406) using the surface of APD 180, as referenced. Figure 6 and 9 Further description.

[0061] In environment 400, host base station 402 communicates with node base station 404 via high-frequency band wireless link 406 by transmitting wireless signal 490 to node base station 404. In environment 400, ray 490 is described as an omnidirectional wireless signal, but ray 490 can form a wide beam (as shown) or a narrow beam (e.g., in a direction similar to ray 492). Wireless signal 490 includes a first signal ray 491 propagating toward node base station 404 in a LoS manner, a second signal ray 492 propagating toward APD 180, and a third signal ray 493 propagating toward an obstacle 408 (illustrated as a leaf) that blocks the signal ray 493 from reaching node base station 404. When host base station 402 transmits ray 490 to node base station 404, node base station 404 is also able to communicate with host base station 402 (via wireless link 406) by transmitting wireless signals to host base station and / or APD 180 in a manner reversible to rays 494 and 492, which are further described. In various aspects, host base station 402 and / or node base station 404 transmit wireless signals to APD 180 in a high-frequency band at or above 6 GHz, such that signal rays 491, 492, and / or 493 can be blocked by obstacles (e.g., a temporary Loss of Spec (LoS) obstacle for signal ray 491, not shown). The individual signal rays 491, 492, and 493 of wireless signal 490 can be transmitted simultaneously or at different times. Alternatively or additionally, host base station 402 and node base station 404 communicate with each other using low-frequency communication (e.g., below 6 GHz, sub-6 GHz), such as by using a low-frequency wireless link 440, which is less susceptible to signal degradation due to obstacles compared to high-frequency communication.

[0062] In various implementations, APD 180 (or other APD) participates in the radio link 406 (e.g., an IAB link) between the host base station and node base station 404 by using a RIS (Radio Reflector) that converts (e.g., reflects) waveforms, determined and / or indicated by the host base station and / or node base station. For illustration, signal ray 492 strikes part or all of the surface of APD 180, which appears to have a repeatable smart surface 410 (RIS 410), and is converted into signal ray 494, which is directed to node base station 404. As part of receiving radio signals 490, node base station 404 may receive signal rays 491 and 494 (but not the blocked signal ray 493).

[0063] In one implementation, the host base station 402 and / or the node base station 404 are configured with a RIS 410 to control how signal ray 492 is reflected from the APD 180 and converted into signal ray 494 directed towards the node base station. Alternatively or additionally, the RIS 410 converts the incident signal ray from the node base station on a path that is opposite to the path of the signal ray 492, which is reflected from the APD 180 and travels along a path opposite to that of the signal ray 492 to reach the host base station.

[0064] In some aspects, to configure RIS 410, the host base station and / or node base station selects a surface configuration from a codebook and / or LUT based on signal quality measurements, link quality measurements, measurement reports, estimated node base station location information, beam scanning procedures, and / or other values. For example, assume that the host base station 402 is camped at a fixed location, and the node base station 404 corresponds to a portable base station. The host base station 402 determines the estimated location of the node base station 404, for example, by analyzing link quality measurements of low-frequency or high-frequency band communications and / or receiving location information (e.g., GNSS information, Global Positioning System (GPS) information) from the node base station 404. The host base station 402 can use the estimated location to select a surface configuration from the surface configuration codebook and / or LUT. For example, the host base station 402 accesses historical data records that map locations to surface configurations using the estimated locations of the node base stations and selects a surface configuration with an acceptable performance level (indicated by the historical data records) (e.g., signal conversion to reach the estimated location of the (portable) node base station 404).

[0065] Host base station 402 and / or node base station 404 analyze signal and / or link quality measurements, for example, to identify channel impairments, such as those caused by obstacles (e.g., leaves, buildings). By way of example, and not limitation, various signal and / or link quality measurements that do not meet acceptable performance levels can indicate channel impairments, such as Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), power information, Interference Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SINR) information, Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) information, Channel State Information (CSI), Doppler feedback, Block Error Rate (BLER), Quality of Service (QoS), Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ) information (e.g., First Transmission Error Rate, Second Transmission Error Rate, Maximum Repeat), Uplink SINR, Timing Measurement, Error Measurement, etc. In response to identifying channel impairment(s), host base station 402 and / or node base station 404 initiate a beam scanning process using an APD, such as... Figure 12 and 13 As described in [the document], to determine the new surface configuration.

[0066] In each aspect, the host base station 402 associates specific entries in the surface configuration codebook with specific node base stations (e.g., portable node base station 404) and transmits the node index to the APD 180, as referenced. Figure 5 As described. The host base station may alternatively or additionally transmit timing information with a node index to indicate when surface configuration is applied. In some aspects, the host base station may optionally transmit direction information (e.g., host-to-node direction, node-to-host direction) along with the node index, indicating which direction the incident signal ray is reflected. For illustration, it is assumed that the host base station 402 controls the surface configuration of the APD 180 for both host-to-node communication and node-to-host communication, as described in the reference. Figure 8 , 11 As described in section 14. The host base station 402 can transmit direction information with a node index, such that the APD 180 (via the APD manager 320) selects a first surface configuration with a first reflection angle reflecting radio signals toward the node base station 404 when indicating host-to-node direction information, and also selects a second surface configuration with a second reciprocal reflection angle reflecting radio signals toward the host base station 402 when indicating node-to-host direction information. Similarly, the node base station 404 can indicate to the APD the host index, timing information, and / or direction information associated with the host base station 402. The APD 180 configures the RIS 410 such that it uses any combination of the node index (or host index), timing information, and / or direction information to access entries in a lookup table (LUT) and / or a surface configuration codebook storing the surface configuration, as further described.

[0067] In each respect, the wireless network associates each node index with a corresponding node base station, enabling devices (e.g., APDs, host base stations, node base stations) to use the node index to access the corresponding entry in the surface configuration codebook and / or LUT, and obtain the corresponding surface configuration associated with the corresponding node base station. The corresponding surface configuration, when applied to the RIS410, configures the APD's surface to direct wireless signals to or from the corresponding node base station. Alternatively or additionally, the wireless network associates each host index with a corresponding host base station.

[0068] For illustration, assume that the host base station 402 and the node base station 404 each camp at a fixed location during operation. Because the base station locations are fixed, radio signals propagating from the host base station to the node base station (or vice versa) repeatedly travel along the same path. Therefore, the wireless network (e.g., via the host base station, via the core network) assigns a corresponding node index to the node base station 404 and stores the corresponding surface configuration at the node index entry, which configures the RIS 410 to direct or redirect radio signals from the host base station to the node base station 404 in a LoS manner. To configure the RIS 410 for host-to-node communication, the host base station 402 may transmit the node index and / or direction information to the APD 180. The APD 180 then selects a surface configuration (using at least the node index) that configures the RIS 410 to convert signal ray 492 into signal ray 494 upon impact with the surface of the APD 180 (or vice versa when the host base station instructs the node to move in the host direction) by modifying one or more desired phase characteristics, one or more amplitude characteristics, polarization characteristics, etc. In various aspects, node base station 404 can also transmit node index, host index, direction information, etc., to APD 180 to configure the surface for node-to-host communication. For illustration, node base station can asynchronously transmit communication to host base station 402, for example, via sounding reference signal (SRS), and configure the surface of APD 180 for node-to-host communication, as further described.

[0069] In various implementations, the host base station 402 and / or the node base station 404 communicate via, for example, Figure 1 The wireless link 136 transmits surface configuration information to the APD 180. In some respects, the host base station represents, for example, a reference... Figure 8 The node base station described herein configures the APD surface of APD 180. Host base station 402, for example, dispatches APD access to node base station 404 and determines when node base station 404 uses APD 180. Because host base station 402 determines when node base station 404 uses APD 180, host base station 402 can configure the APD surface on behalf of node base station 404 and based on the dispatched APD access.

[0070] In various aspects, the wireless link 136 operates as an Adaptive Phase Change Device Slow Control Channel (APD-Slow Control Channel), wherein the host base station 402 and / or the node base station 404 transmit messages indicating surface configuration to the APD 180, similar to Layer 2 or Layer 3 control messages that transmit information using Information Elements (IEs). Alternatively or additionally, the wireless link 136 includes an Adaptive Phase Change Device Fast Control Channel (APD-Fast Control Channel), wherein the host base station 402 and / or the node base station 404 use signaling, sometimes on a time-slot-by-time basis, to indicate control information for rapid surface configuration changes (e.g., surface configurations applied on a time-slot-by-time basis).

[0071] In some respects, node base station 404 uses APD 180 to serve UE 412, where UE 412 represents Figure 1 The first instance of UE110. For example, suppose the host base station 402 assigns the allocation of APD access to the node base station 404, as referenced. Figure 6 As described. Node base station 404 sometimes determines to communicate with host base station 402 via radio link 406 using the first part of the allocated APD access, and to maintain the access link with UE 412 using the second part of the allocated APD access, as referenced. Figure 9-11 Described. For illustration, node base station 404 uses communication path 414 to transmit (and / or receive) radio signals associated with the access link to compensate for obstacles 416 obstructing LoS transmission between node base station 404 and UE 412. The radio signals along communication path 414 strike the surface of APD 180 and are redirected to the intended receiver (e.g., node base station 404 or UE 412). As further described, this can occur simultaneously with the dispatched APD access and communication via radio link 406 (e.g., IAB link), enabling node base station 404 to gain access to the core network via host base station 402 to serve UE 412.

[0072] Alternatively or additionally, node base station 404 uses APD 180 to serve second node base station 418 (also labeled "Node 2"), where second node base station 418 represents... Figure 1 An example of base station 120. For example, see reference. Figure 14As described, node base station 404 uses a portion of the allocated APD access (received from host base station 402) to establish and maintain a second (wireless) IAB link with second node base station 418, such as in a manner similar to the access link with UE 412. Node base station 404 establishes and maintains the second IAB link by transmitting (and receiving) wireless signals through communication path 420 to compensate for obstacles 422 obstructing LoS transmission between first node base station 404 and second node base station 418. Based on the allocated APD access, node base station 404 is also able to communicate with host base station 402 using APD 180 to gain access to the core network and serve the second node base station. Second node base station 418 can use the second IAB link with node base station 404 to indirectly access the core network (e.g., via host base station 402 and node base station 404) and serve UE 424, UE 424 representing... Figure 1 This is a second instance of UE 110. Therefore, node base station 404 can utilize APD 180 to maintain multiple wireless communication links, such as any combination of a first IAB link with the host base station, one or more access links with the UE, and / or a second IAB link with the second node base station.

[0073] In some respects, the host base station uses APD 180 to serve UE 426, which indicates Figure 1 A third example of the general UE 110. For example, suppose host base station 402 assigns a first allocation of APD access to node base station 404 and a second allocation of APD access to itself, which is host base station 402. In a manner similar to node base station 404, host base station 402 sometimes uses a portion of its allocated APD access to maintain the access link to UE 426 by transmitting (and / or receiving) radio signals along communication path 428 to compensate for obstructions 430 blocking LoS transmission between host base station 402 and UE 426. This can occur simultaneously with communication based on assigned APD access via radio link 406 (e.g., an IAB link), as further described.

[0074] Figure 5 The illustration shows an example 500 of a surface configured with an APD 180 according to one or more aspects of integrated access backhaul utilizing an APD. Example 500 includes an instance of a base station 120 and an APD 180, which can be used with reference to... Figure 1-4 The implementation described is similar. The RIS implemented by APD 180 includes an array of "N" configurable surface elements, such as configurable surface element 502, configurable surface element 504, configurable surface element 506, etc., where "N" represents the number of configurable surface elements of the RIS.

[0075] In this implementation, base station 120 manages the configuration of the RIS of APD 180 using surface configuration codebook 508, which can be pre-configured and / or known by both base station 120 and APD 180. In some cases, base station 120 uses radio links 136 and / or 137, such as via the APD slow control channel, to transmit surface configuration codebook 508 and / or beam scan codebook using one or more messages. In various aspects, base station 120 uses the APD slow control channel to transmit large amounts of data, data without low latency requirements, and / or data without timing requirements. Sometimes, base station 120 transmits multiple surface configuration codebooks to APD 180, such as phase vector codebooks, beam scan codebooks, etc. In response, APD 180 stores surface configuration codebook(s) 508 and / or other codebooks in a CRM, where CRM refers to codebook 316 in CRM 312, as referenced. Figure 3 As described. Alternatively or additionally, the APD 180 obtains surface configurations and other codebooks through manufacturing (e.g., programming), calibration, or installation processes, which store the surface configuration codebook 508 and other codebooks in the APD 180's CRM 312 during assembly, installation, calibration, verification, or by operator manual addition or updating of codebook(s).

[0076] Surface configuration codebook 508 includes configuration information specifying surface configurations for some or all of the configurable surface elements (e.g., element 324) of the RIS forming APD 180. For example, each index of the codebook corresponds to a phase vector having configuration information for each configurable surface element of APD 180. For example, index 0 maps phase configuration 0 to configurable surface element 502, phase configuration 1 to configurable surface element 504, phase configuration 2 to configurable surface element 506, and so on. Similarly, index 1 maps phase configuration 3 to configurable surface element 502, phase configuration 4 to configurable surface element 504, phase configuration 5 to configurable surface element 506, and so on. Surface configuration codebook 508 can include any number of phase vectors specifying configurations for any number of configurable surface elements, such that a first phase vector corresponds to a first surface configuration of APD 180 (by the configuration of each configurable surface element in the RIS), a second phase vector corresponds to a second surface configuration of APD 180, and so on. Alternatively or additionally, codebook 508 can specify the phase vector of a subset of configurable surface elements. In various aspects, one or more surface configurations or phase vectors can be mapped or calibrated to specific angular information of incident and / or reflected wireless signals (e.g., reference signals), signal rays, beamforming transmissions, etc., of base station 120.

[0077] Although Figure 5The surface configuration codebook 508 includes phase vector information, and alternative or supplementary codebooks store beam configuration information, such as a first surface configuration specifying a first beam with a first (propagation) direction, a second surface configuration specifying a second beam with a second direction, etc. Therefore, in various embodiments, the surface configuration codebook 508 corresponds to a beam codebook, which enables the APD 180 to perform beamforming of the incident wireless signal. Similarly, to configure the surface of the APD 180, the base station 120 determines the desired beam configuration for the converted signal and identifies entries in the beam codebook corresponding to the desired beam configuration. In some aspects, the beam scan codebook indicates the pattern of surface configuration and / or beam configuration, such as the surface configuration and / or beam configuration indicated by the surface configuration codebook 508 and the beam configuration specified by the beam codebook. For illustration, the beam scan codebook indicates the order of surface configurations and optionally, APD reflection identifiers to cycle through, for beam scanning in the horizontal or vertical direction. Alternatively or additionally, the beam scan codebook indicates the duration for which each surface configuration is applied, effectively orienting the reflected beam in a specific direction to achieve that duration.

[0078] Surface configuration information stored in the codebook can correspond to a complete configuration specifying a precise or absolute configuration (e.g., configured with that value) or an incremental configuration specifying a relative configuration (e.g., modifying the current state by that value). In one or more embodiments, phase configuration information specifies the directional increment and / or angular adjustment between the incident signal and the converted signal. For example, phase configuration 0 can specify an angular adjustment configuration for element 502, such that the configurable surface element 502 reflects the incident waveform with a relative angular or directional offset of "phase configuration 0". Figure 5 As shown, base station 120 and / or UE 110 transmit an indication specifying a surface configuration to APD 180. In this example, the indication specifies an index 510 (index 510) that maps to the corresponding surface configuration of APD 180. In some aspects, index 510 represents a node index, host index, beam scan index, or surface configuration index, each of which can be mapped to an entry in the surface configuration codebook. In response to receiving the indication, APD manager 320 retrieves the surface configuration from surface configuration codebook 508 using the index and applies the surface configuration to the RIS. For example, APD manager 320 configures each configurable surface element (or each configurable surface element of a subset of configurable surface elements) as specified by the corresponding entry in surface configuration codebook 508.

[0079] In various implementations, base station 120 transmits timing information (not shown) to APD 180, which may be included in the surface configuration or beam scan index. For example, base station 120 may sometimes use radio links 136 or 137 to indicate to APD 180 the start time of the applied indicated surface configuration or beam scan mode. This can include indications of static timing information (e.g., periodic) and / or dynamic timing information (e.g., one-time use). In various aspects, base station 120 transmits stop times indicating when to remove and / or change the surface configuration or beam scan mode. When changing the surface configuration, APD 180 can control the direction of APD 180 reflecting radio signals by APD manager 320 applying a default surface configuration, returning to a previous surface configuration (e.g., a surface configuration used before the indicated surface configuration), and / or applying a new surface configuration. To maintain synchronized timing, APD 180 can receive and / or process base station synchronization signals.

[0080] By specifying timing information, base station 120 can use time partitioning to allocate access to APD 180. Alternatively or additionally, base station 120 can use configurable surface element partitioning to allocate access to APD 180. For example, the host base station and node base stations share access to APD 180, as referenced... Figure 6-8 As described. For example, see reference... Figure 9-11 As described, the node base station shares access to APD 180 to communicate with the host base station via an IAB link and with the UE via an access link. Alternatively or additionally, the node base station shares access to APD 180 to communicate with a second node base station (and serve the second node base station) via a second IAB link, as referenced. Figure 14 As described. Sometimes, base station 120 updates one or more entries in the surface configuration codebook, as referenced. Figure 12 and 13 As described.

[0081] Utilizing APD's integrated access backhaul signaling and control transactions

[0082] Figure 6 , 7 Figures 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 illustrate example signaling and control transaction diagrams based on one or more aspects of integrated access backhaul utilizing APD. In each aspect, the operation of signaling and control transactions can be performed by any combination of devices using references. Figure 1-5Performed in any of the aspects described herein, the device includes a host base station (e.g., host base station 121, host base station 402), a first node base station (e.g., node base station 122, node base station 404), an APD (e.g., APD 180), a UE (e.g., UE 110, UE 412, UE 424, UE 426) and / or a second node base station (e.g., node base station 418).

[0083] Depend on Figure 6 The signaling and control transactions in Figure 600 illustrate a first example of signaling and control transactions for integrated access backhaul utilizing APD, wherein Figure 600 results in (a) as Figure 7 The additional signaling and control transactions illustrated, or (b) as shown Figure 8 The diagram illustrates additional signaling and control transactions. Figure 600 includes signaling and control transactions between node base station 404, APD 180, host base station 402, and UE 110. Figure 6-8 An example implementation is illustrated, in which the host base station and the node base station communicate via an IAB link (e.g., radio link 406) using the surface of the APD. In some aspects, the node base station uses the IAB link with the host base station to serve UE 110, instead of using the APD in the communication path to the UE (e.g., communication path 414).

[0084] As shown in the figure, at 605, node base station 404 and host base station 402 establish a wireless connection with each other. For illustration, node base station 404 and host base station 402 initially establish a wireless connection using low-frequency band communication (e.g., low-frequency band wireless link 440). For example, node base station 404 may identify poor quality of high-frequency band communication (e.g., millimeter wave) with host base station 402 (and / or host base station 402 may identify poor quality of high-frequency band communication) by analyzing signal or link quality measurements associated with the high-frequency band communication and determining whether the measurements are below an acceptable performance threshold. Alternatively or additionally, node base station 404 fails to receive a response from host base station 402 when transmitting high-frequency band IAB communication (or vice versa). In response to identifying poor high-frequency band communication quality and / or failing to receive a response, node base station 404 and / or host base station 402 determine to establish a low-frequency band wireless connection with another base station (e.g., low-frequency band wireless link 440).

[0085] In some aspects, node base station 404 indicates its location information to host base station 402 using a low-frequency band connection (e.g., low-frequency band radio link 440) by transmitting GNSS and / or GPS location information to the host base station. When establishing the low-frequency band radio connection, node base station 404 and host base station 402 bypass the APD surface, provided that neither base station actively configures the APD surface or transmits signals to the APD surface with the intention of reflecting and / or redirecting radio signals as further described.

[0086] At 610, node base station 404 may optionally request a high-frequency band IAB link from host base station 402, such as an IAB link implemented using millimeter-wave resources of RAT (e.g., 5G). For example, node base station 404 transmits a request to host base station 402 after establishing a low-frequency band connection at 605. Similar to that described at 605, node base station 404 bypasses the APD when transmitting the request (e.g., does not actively configure the APD surface, does not intentionally reflect signals from the APD surface). In some aspects, node base station 404 indicates a request to include the APD in the communication path between the host base station and the node base station, such as implicitly requesting the APD by forwarding signals or link quality measurements associated with high-frequency band communication, or explicitly requesting it using Boolean values, field values, or enumeration types. However, in alternative or additional aspects, host base station 402 determines to establish a high-frequency band IAB link without receiving a request from node base station 404. In each aspect, host base station 402 analyzes signal or link quality measurements, either received from node base stations via low-frequency band connections or generated by the host base station from high-frequency band communications, and determines that the measurements indicate channel impairment. In response to identifying channel impairment, host base station 402 determines that an APD is included in the high-frequency band communication path with node base station 404.

[0087] At 615, host base station 402 selects an APD for establishing and / or maintaining a (high-frequency band, radio) IAB link (e.g., radio link 406) with node base station 404. To select an APD, host base station 402 may identify one or more APDs within its operating range, such as by monitoring APD broadcast signals and / or messages transmitted from (multiple) APDs announcing their presence to the host base station. Alternatively or additionally, host base station 402 may access APD records indicating APDs within the cell service area or query a server storing information about APDs within the cell service area. Host base station 402 uses location information received from node base station 404 via low-frequency band communication (or obtained using a beam scanning process) and identifies APDs within the operating range of both host base station 402 and node base station 404. In some aspects, host base station 402 analyzes the APD capabilities of each candidate APD (e.g., the number of configurable surface elements, the configuration bit resolution of the configurable surface elements, the supported surface configuration codebook, and the APD surface sharing capability) and selects an APD 180 based on these capabilities. For example, the host base station selects an APD that supports surface sharing. Alternatively, the host base station can select an APD from the candidate APDs that includes the largest number of configurable surface elements, has the largest configurable surface area, or has the most suitable surface angle capability for reaching the node base station.

[0088] Alternatively or additionally, the host base station 402 performs a beam scanning process to identify the wireless high-frequency band communication path of the node base station, such as with... Figure 12 The beam scanning process is similar to that described at 1225 of 13, and / or uses low-frequency band communication to transmit / receive feedback (e.g., measurement reports). For example, suppose node base station 404 receives input identifying the locations of APD 180 and host base station 402, such as by the network operator manually configuring the portable node base station and inputting APD location information and / or host base station location information. In various aspects, node base station 404 transmits messages to host base station 402, such as by transmitting messages using low-frequency band communication (e.g., low-frequency band radio link 440) and / or by directing transmissions toward the surface of APD 180 based on the APD location information. This message may or may not include the location information of node base station 404. In response to receiving this message, host base station 402 performs a beam scanning process to identify the surface configuration of the APD that improves communication with node base station 404, such as by using the beam scanning process to identify the angle of incidence and angle of reflection of the high-frequency band radio signal that results in better signal quality at the receiving device.

[0089] At 620, host base station 402 dispatches and assigns APD access to node base station 404. For illustration, host base station 402 uses time division to dispatch reflected access to APD 180 and assigns a first duration to node base station 404 and / or assigns a second duration to itself as host base station 402. This can include statically assigning durations (e.g., periodically based) or dynamically assigning durations (e.g., one-time use). Based on time-division access, node base station 404 agrees to use (and / or configure) the surface of APD 180 during the first duration and not use (and / or not configure) the surface of APD 180 during the second duration. The time divisions determined by the host base station need not be equal and can depend on various factors, such as the number of node base stations served by the host base station (directly or indirectly), the number of UEs served by the node base station (directly or indirectly), etc.

[0090] Alternatively or additionally, host base station 402 may assign reflective access to APD 180 by partitioning a subset of configurable surface elements that form a RIS. For example, refer to Figure 5 Base station 120 assigns configurable surface element 502 to node base station 404 and configurable surface element 506 to host base station 402. This can include any type of configurable surface element partitioning, such as horizontal partitioning grouping elements in the same horizontal row, vertical partitioning grouping elements in the same vertical column, quadrant partitioning, etc. Configurable surface element partitioning does not have to be equal and may depend on various factors, such as the number of node base stations served (directly or indirectly) by the host base station, the number of UEs served (directly or indirectly) by the node base stations, etc.

[0091] As part of the APD access assignment to APD 180, host base station 402 sometimes assigns control access to the APD. For example, when APD 180 supports only a single physical APD control channel instead of multiple physical APDs, host base station 402, for instance, allocates physical resources for the APD control channel (e.g., Figure 1(Wireless link 136). However, a single physical APD control channel can support direct reception of APD control messages from different devices (e.g., host base station, node base station). For example, host base station 402 assigns a first resource block of the APD control channel to node base station 404 and assigns a second resource block of the APD control channel to host base station 402. Alternatively or additionally, host base station 402 assigns a first control channel element (CCE) (e.g., resource element (RE), resource element group (REG)) to host base station 402 and assigns a second CCE to node base station 404. As another example, host base station 402 assigns a first timeslot of a shared APD control channel to host base station and assigns a second timeslot of the APD control channel to node base station 404. When sharing an APD control channel, the base station can include a device identifier in the APD control message. Alternatively, host base station 402 assigns a specific APD control channel (among multiple APD control channels) to node base station 404. However, other forms of partitioning can also be used, such as coding scheme partitioning, which assigns one of several coding schemes (e.g., orthogonal codes used to encode communications on the APD control channel); and / or frequency partitioning, which assigns different frequency (sub)bands of the APD control channel to different entities.

[0092] At 625, the host base station 402 indicates the assigned APD access to the node base station 404. This can include any combination of the indicated reflection access and / or control access as determined at 620.

[0093] Figure 600 illustrates a host base station using low-frequency communication (e.g., low-frequency radio link 440) that bypasses the APD to indicate assigned APD access, as further described. However, in an alternative implementation, the host base station can utilize the APD to indicate assigned APD access to the node base station 404, for example, by configuring the surface of the APD for host-to-node communication, as in Figure 7 As described in 725, and transmits wireless signals to the surface of APD 180, as in Figure 7 As described in 730.

[0094] Typically, transactions 605, 610, 615, 620, and 625 correspond to subgraph 630 in which host base station 402 and node base station 404 establish assigned APD access. Subgraph 630 may include alternative or additional transactions not shown for visual simplicity.

[0095] At this point, Figure 600 can proceed to at least two alternative paths: option "A" (in...) Figure 7 (as described in the text) or option "B" (in the text) Figure 8 (As described in the text). Figure 7A signaling and control transaction diagram 700 is depicted, in which the node base station directly transmits the surface configuration to the APD via the APD control channel. Figure 8 Signaling and control transaction diagram 800 is depicted, in which the host base station represents the surface of the node base station configuring APD.

[0096] Figure 7 Continuing to option "A", where, at 705, node base station 404 optionally establishes a wireless connection with UE 110. For example, as referenced... Figure 1 As described, node base station 404 transmits (and / or receives) radio signals to the UE in a manner such as: typically transmitting / receiving millimeter waves in LoS mode with UE 110 and not including APD180 in the communication path (e.g., Figure 1 The wireless link 134). In other words, the node base station 404 and UE 110 exchange wireless signals without using the APD surface (e.g., high-frequency band communication bypassing the APD, low-frequency band communication). In alternative implementations, such as reference Figure 9-11 Those described, node base station 404 in the communication path with UE 110 (e.g., Figure 4 The communication path 414 includes APD 180. In some respects, the node base station 404 and UE 110 establish a radio connection by executing various procedures, such as establishing a radio link through the Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection establishment procedure.

[0097] At 710, UE 110 may optionally transmit first access link communications, such as control plane information and / or user plane data, to node base station 404. For illustration, assume UE 110 transmits a registration request to node base station 404. In response to receiving the registration request, node base station 404 initiates communication with the core network via host base station 402 using the IAB link and APD 180. However, in an alternative implementation, node base station 404 determines to communicate with host base station 402 without being triggered by a request from UE 110. For example, node base station 404 detects poor signal quality and / or channel impairment in the IAB link and determines to indicate the poor signal quality and / or channel impairment to host base station 402.

[0098] In 715, node base station 404 configures the surface of APD 180 for node-to-host communication, which can sometimes be optional, such as when node base station 404 indicates periodic timing information and / or when node base station configures a subset of the configurable surface elements allocated to node base station 404 without time constraints (e.g., node base station has continuous access). Node base station 404 uses, for example, the control channel assigned to the APD (and... Figure 6The node base station 404 (625) controls access to transmit surface configuration to the APD 180. In various aspects, the node base station 404 transmits an identifier host index of the host base station 402 for the desired APD configuration, or the node base station 404 transmits a node index and direction information for the desired APD configuration, as further described. The node base station 404 may indicate timing information, such as duration and periodicity timing information, such that the APD 180 repeatedly and periodically applies the surface configuration to the RIS corresponding to the index without further guidance. Therefore, the node base station 404 may indicate the periodicity timing information to the APD 180 once and avoid configuring the APD's surface until a triggering event occurs (e.g., identifying channel impairment, location change) during subsequent node-to-host communication. Alternatively or additionally, the node base station 404 may configure a subset of the configurable surface elements allocated to the node base station 404 once and avoid reconfiguring the APD surface until a triggering event occurs. Sometimes, in a manner similar to indicating the host or node index, the node base station 404 analyzes information received from the host base station 402 (e.g., in...) Figure 6 The 625) wireless signal signal and / or link quality measurement, the selection of surface configuration from the surface configuration codebook, and the indication of the surface configuration index to the APD 180.

[0099] At 720, node base station 404 uses the IAB link and transmits first IAB link communication to host base station 402 by transmitting radio signals (e.g., millimeter waves) toward the surface of APD 180, as further described. For illustration, node base station 404 transmits control plane information to host base station 402 associated with the IAB link, transmits control plane information associated with the access link to the UE, and / or transmits user plane data associated with the access link to the UE. For example, node base station 404 transmits radio signals toward the surface of APD 180 based on assigned reflective access (e.g., time-division reflective access, configurable surface element division). In some aspects, the first IAB link communication corresponds to a request from UE 110, while in other aspects, node base station 404 may transmit communications unrelated to the UE's access link communication, such as sounding reference signals (SRS) and / or control plane information associated with the IAB link, as further described.

[0100] In 725, host base station 402 configures the surface of APD 180 for host-to-node communication, which can sometimes be optional, such as when host base station 402 indicates periodic timing information. Similar to node base station 404, the host base station can use dispatch control access to the APD control channel to transmit the surface configuration to APD 180, such as by transmitting any combination of node index, direction information, and / or timing information. Alternatively or additionally, host base station 402 analyzes signal and / or link quality measurements about the radio signals received from node base station 404, selects a surface configuration from the surface configuration codebook, and indicates the surface configuration index to APD 180. In each respect, host base station 402 instructs periodic timing information guiding APD 180 to repeatedly and periodically apply the corresponding surface configuration to RIS without other guidance. Therefore, the host base station can instruct periodic timing information with surface configuration once and avoid configuring the surface of the APD when transmitting subsequent host-to-node communication. Alternatively or additionally, host base station 402 indicates the surface configuration to APD 180 before each host-to-node transmission.

[0101] At 730, host base station 402 uses an IAB link and transmits second IAB link communication to the node base station by transmitting radio signals (e.g., millimeter waves) toward the surface of APD 180. For example, host base station 402 transmits radio signals toward the surface of APD 180 based on allocated reflective access (e.g., time-division reflective access, configurable surface element division) allocated to host base station 402. In some aspects, the second IAB link communication corresponds to a request from UE 110, causing host base station 402 to access the core network service node base station 404. Alternatively or additionally, the communication transmitted by host base station 402 is independent of the access link communication with the UE. Therefore, at 740, the node base station may optionally transmit second access link communication to UE 110.

[0102] Typically, transactions 715, 720, 725, and 730 correspond to sub-figure 735, where the host base station serves the node base station, and the node base station controls the surface configuration of the APD. Sub-figure 730 can include alternative or additional transactions not shown for visual simplicity. Furthermore, although the transactions in sub-figure 735 illustrate a response by host base station 402 to a first IAB link communication initiated by node base station 404, in other respects, host base station 402 initiates IAB link communication (e.g., without receiving the first IAB link communication from node base station 404). For illustration, host base station 402 may initiate the transmission of control plane information associated with an IAB link (e.g., radio link 406) to node base station 404.

[0103] Figure 8Diagram 800 depicts the signaling and control transactions of the APD surface configured on the host base station representing the node base station. Return to... Figure 6 The completion of Figure 600 allows the figure to continue alternatively to... Figure 8 Option "B" is described in section 705. At 705, node base station 404 and UE 110 may optionally establish a wireless connection, and at 710, the UE may optionally transmit first access link communication to the node base station.

[0104] In step 805, host base station 402 configures the surface of APD 180 for node-to-host communication. This can sometimes be optional, such as when host base station 402 indicates periodic timing information and / or when the host base station configures a subset of the configurable surface elements assigned to node base station 404 without time-divided APD access. Because host base station 402 determines when node base station 404 uses APD 180, host base station 402 can synchronize and / or configure the APD surface based on the assigned APD access to the node base station. When host base station 402 configures the APD surface, the host base station can indicate periodic timing information with surface configuration once and avoid configuring the surface of the APD for subsequent host-to-node communication until a triggering event occurs (e.g., identification of channel impairment, change in location). As another example, host base station 402 can configure a subset of the configurable surface elements assigned to node base station 404 once (without time limitation) and avoid reconfiguring the surface until a triggering event occurs. Alternatively or additionally, host base station 402 indicates the surface configuration before each planned node base station transmission. The host base station 402 can indicate the node index and / or orientation to configure the surface of the APD 180.

[0105] Therefore, at 720, node base station 404 transmits first IAB link communication to host base station 402 using an IAB link (e.g., radio link 406), wherein the node base station transmits IAB link communication based on assigned reflection access (e.g., time division, configurable surface element division). For example, node base station 404 directs transmission toward a subset of configurable surface elements and / or transmits during a first duration allocated to the node base station. By allowing the host base station to configure the APD surface, node base station 404 is able to communicate with host base station 402 using the surface of APD 180 without directly communicating with APD 180 to control surface configuration. This, in turn, provides the host base station with more control over APD configuration.

[0106] At 725, host base station 402 configures the surface of APD 180 for host-to-node communication, which, as further described, can be optional (e.g., when the host base station previously indicated periodic timing information or as part of the configured APD surface). At 730, host base station 402 uses the IAB link and the surface of the APD to transmit second IAB link communication to node base station 404. In some aspects, the second IAB link communication corresponds to the first access link communication associated with UE 110. Alternatively, the second IAB link communication is unrelated to the access link communication with the UE, such as sounding reference signals (SRS) and / or control plane information associated with the IAB link. Therefore, at 740, node base station may optionally transmit the second access link communication to UE 110.

[0107] Typically, transactions 805, 720, 725, and 730 correspond to sub-figure 810, where the host base station serves the node base station and the host base station controls the surface configuration of the APD. Sub-figure 810 can include alternative or additional transactions not illustrated for visual simplicity. Similar to what is described with reference to sub-figure 735, host base station 402 can alternatively initiate IAB link communication with node base station 404, such as by transmitting control plane information associated with the IAB link to node base station 404.

[0108] Figure 9 Figure 900 illustrates a second example of signaling and control transactions for integrated access backhaul utilizing APD, wherein Figure 900 results in (c) additional signaling and control transactions, such as... Figure 10 As illustrated, or (d) additional signaling and control transactions, such as Figure 11 As illustrated in Figure 900, signaling and control transactions between node base station 404, APD 180, host base station 402, and UE 110 are included. Figure 9 and 11 An example implementation is illustrated, in which a node base station communicates with a host base station via an IAB link (e.g., radio link 406) using an APD 180, and with a UE via an access link (e.g., using communication path 414).

[0109] In 630, the host base station 402 and the node base station 404 use reference Figure 6Similar signaling and control transactions are described to establish assigned APD access. For example, a node base station and a host base station establish a low-frequency band connection, the node base station requests a high-frequency band IAB link, and the host base station determines to use APD 180 in the communication path associated with the IAB link (e.g., radio link 406). The host base station assigns APD access to APD 180 and indicates the assigned APD access to the node base station. This can include the host base station indicating the assigned APD access to a node base station using either a low-frequency band connection or a high-frequency band connection, and the surface of APD 180, as further described.

[0110] At 705, node base station 404 and UE 110 establish a wireless connection with each other, as referenced. Figure 7 As described. For illustration, node base station 404 transmits radio signals to (and / or receives radio signals from) UE 110 by typically transmitting / receiving millimeter waves in a LoS manner and without excluding APD 180 in the communication path. Alternatively or additionally, node base station 404 and UE 110 exchange low-frequency band communications.

[0111] As part of establishing a wireless connection, and / or in response to establishing a wireless connection, node base station 404 receives signal and / or link quality measurements at 905. In some aspects, UE 110 transmits a measurement report to the node base station, wherein UE 110 generates the measurement report based on downlink transmissions or reference signals from node base station 404. Alternatively or additionally, node base station 404 generates signal and / or link quality measurements based on uplink transmissions or probe reference signals from UE 110.

[0112] At 910, node base station 404 determines to use APD 180 to establish and / or maintain an access link to UE 110. For illustration, node base station 404 analyzes the measurements received at 905 and determines that the measurements indicate channel impairment, as further described. However, the node base station may determine to use APD 180 based on other factors, such as the absence of a response from UE 110 (not shown) when using high-frequency band communication.

[0113] At 915, node base station 404 will allocate a portion of the APD access received at 630 to the access link with UE 110. For example, the node base station determines to use the first portion of the reflected access received at 630 (and assigned to node base station 404 by host base station 402) for communication with the access link of UE 110 (using communication path 414), and to use the second portion of the reflected access received at 630 for IAB communication with host base station 402 (using radio link 406).

[0114] At this point, Figure 900 can proceed to at least two alternative paths: option "C" (in...) Figure 10 (as described in the text) or option "D" (in the text) Figure 11 (As described in the text). Figure 10 Signaling and control transaction diagram 1000 is depicted, in which the node base station uses the APD surface for access link and IAB link communication, wherein the node base station directly transmits the surface configuration to the APD through the APD control channel. Figure 11 Signaling and control transaction diagram 1100 is depicted, in which the node base station uses the APD surface for access link and IAB link communication, and the host base station configures the APD surface on behalf of the node base station.

[0115] Figure 10 Continuing to option "C", where, in 1005, the node base station configures the APD surface for access link communication (e.g., using communication path 414). For example, node base station 404 uses reference... Figure 4 and 5 The described signal and / or link quality measurements are used to analyze the surface configuration codebook or LUT and select the surface configuration for access link communication from the surface configuration codebook. Alternatively or additionally, the node base station 404 selects the surface configuration, such as by querying the core network or access history using the estimated location of the UE 110, as further described. For example, the UE indicates the estimated location to the node base station (not shown), and / or the node base station 404 uses signal and / or link quality measurements (e.g., power level, departure or arrival angle, and / or timing information for uplink or downlink communication with the UE 110 (e.g., observed arrival time)) to generate the estimated location. In various aspects, the node base station 404 uses the assigned control access (e.g., APD control channel) allocated to the node base station 404 to indicate the surface configuration index to the APD 180. Additionally, the node base station may optionally indicate timing information (e.g., periodic timing information, dynamic timing information, duration) to the APD 180.

[0116] At 1010, node base station 404 indicates access link APD access allocation to UE 110. In other words, node base station 404 indicates the access link APD access allocation determined by node base station at 915. For illustration, node base station indicates timing information and guides UE 110 to use the surface of APD based on the timing information. For example, node base station 404 may optionally indicate a subset of configurable surface elements to UE 110 and guide UE 110 to transmit towards the subset of configurable surface elements. In some aspects, as illustrated in FIG1000, node base station 404 indicates access link APD allocation to UE 110 using high-frequency band radio signals transmitted toward the surface of APD 180 and / or by using low-frequency band communication (e.g., low-frequency band communication established at 705).

[0117] In 1015, similar to in Figure 7 In the manner described in section 710, UE 110 uses the surface of the APD (e.g., by transmitting a radio signal to the surface of APD 180) to transmit first access link communication (e.g., control plane information associated with the access link, user plane data associated with the access link) to node base station 404. For illustration, UE 110 transmits registration requests, uplink user data, non-access stratum (NAS) authentication messages, etc. In various aspects, the UE transmits the first access link communication based on the access link APD access allocation indicated at 1010, such as by transmitting to a subset of configurable surface elements and / or based on timing information. In response to receiving communication from UE 110, node base station 404 determines to communicate with host base station 402 using the IAB link and APD.

[0118] In 735, the host base station, such as by using reference... Figure 7 The described signaling and control transactions use an APD to serve the node base station. This can include node base station 404 (optionally) using the surface of the control access configuration APD 180 assigned to APD 180 for node-to-host communication. For example, host base station 402 and node base station 404 use a reference Figure 4 The wireless link 406 communication is described and illustrated.

[0119] At 1020, the node base station may optionally configure the APD surface for access link communication. For illustration, assume that at 1005, node base station 404 does not indicate periodic timing information to APD 180. Because node base station 404 does not configure APD 180 to periodically apply access link surface configuration, node base station 404 at 1020 may (re)configure the APD surface for access link communication in a manner similar to that described in 1005 and / or referenced... Figure 5 The described method transmits the index of entries mapped to the surface configuration codebook. Alternatively, it is assumed that the 1005 node base station indicates periodic timing information to the APD 180. In this scenario, the APD 180 periodically configures the surface for access link communication, and the node base station does not need to reconfigure the surface at 1020.

[0120] At 1025, similar to in Figure 7 In the manner described in section 740, node base station 404 transmits second access link communication to UE 110, wherein the node base station uses the surface of APD 180. For illustration, node base station 404 uses... Figure 4The communication path 414 transmits second access link communication. In other words, the node base station 404 transmits a response by transmitting a wireless signal to the APD surface and accessing the APD via the access link.

[0121] Figure 11 Continuing to option "D", the host base station configures the APD surface for access link communication between the node base station and the UE. In 805, the host base station can optionally configure the APD surface for node-to-host communication, as shown in reference [reference missing]. Figure 8 As described.

[0122] At 1105, the node base station indicates the access link APD configuration information to the host base station. For illustration, and similar to... Figure 10 As described in 1005, node base station 404 determines a portion of the surface configuration for access link communication and / or the APD access for access link communication. Therefore, the node base station transmits APD configuration information (e.g., surface configuration, portion of the APD access for access link communication) by using the surface of the APD and the IAB link, as further described.

[0123] At 1110, the host base station 402 guides the APD to configure its surface using access link configuration information. For illustration, the host base station 402 transmits entries mapped to the surface configuration codebook and / or indices indicating timing information. In some respects, the access link surface configuration corresponds to a subset of configurable surface elements.

[0124] At 1010, the node base station indicates the access link APD access allocation to the UE 110. At 1015, the UE 110 transmits the first access link communication (e.g., control plane information associated with the access link, user plane data associated with the access link) to the node base station 404.

[0125] In 810, the host base station 402 serving node base station, as referenced... Figure 8 As described. Here, host base station 402 (optionally) configures the surface of APD 180 on behalf of node base station 404 as needed.

[0126] At 1115, host base station 402 may optionally configure the APD surface for access link communication between node base station 404 and UE 110, such as when host base station 402 does not indicate periodic timing information to the APD. At 1025, based on access link APD access, node base station 404 uses the surface of the APD to transmit second access link communication to UE 110, as referenced. Figure 10 As described.

[0127] Figure 12Figure 1200 illustrates a third example of signaling and control transactions for integrated access backhaul utilizing APD. In each aspect, the host base station determines an update to the surface configuration, which is configured on the APD surface used in the IAB communication path, as further described. The signaling and control transactions illustrated in Figure 1200 are capable of communicating with reference to... Figure 1-11 Any of the described features may be used in combination.

[0128] In 630, the host base station 402 and the node base station 404 use reference Figure 6 Similar signaling and control transactions are described to establish assigned APD access. For example, a node base station and a host base station establish a low-frequency band control signaling connection, the node base station requests a high-frequency band IAB link, and the host base station determines to use APD 180 in the communication path associated with the IAB link (e.g., radio link 406). The host base station assigns APD access to APD 180 and indicates the assigned APD access to the node base station. This can include the host base station indicating the assigned APD access to a node base station using either a low-frequency band connection or a high-frequency band connection and the surface of APD 180, as further described.

[0129] At a later point in time, at 1205, node base station 404 may optionally detect channel impairments in the IAB link. For example, node base station 404 may analyze transmissions received from host base station 402 via the IAB by generating information about the signal and / or link quality of the transmissions and determining that the measurements are below (or tend to be below) a threshold (e.g., as shown in the image). Figure 7 (The received transmissions described in 730). In response to the detection of channel impairment, node base station 404 indicates the channel impairment to host base station 402 by transmitting a radio signal to the surface of APD 180 and based on the assigned access determined in 630. When node base station 404 does not detect channel impairment, node base station 404 does not transmit an indication in 1210, thereby making signaling / control transaction processing 1210 optional.

[0130] At 1215, host base station 402 detects channel impairment. In some aspects, the host base station detects channel impairment by receiving an indication transmitted at 1210 from the node base station. Alternatively or additionally, the host base station analyzes the transmissions received from node base station 404 via IAB in a manner such as (e.g., as in...) Figure 7 (720 describes the received transmission): Generate signal and / or link quality measurements about the transmission and determine that the measurements are below (or tend to be below) a threshold.

[0131] At 1220, based on the detection of channel impairment, host base station 402 initiates a beam scanning process by guiding node base station 404 and APD 180 to perform a beam scanning process. This can include host base station 402 initiating a full beam scanning process associated with all surface configurations in a scanned surface configuration set (e.g., a surface configuration set covering the entire range of predetermined reflection angles), or initiating a partial beam scanning process covering a subset of the surface configurations in that surface configuration set. For illustration, host base station 402 can initiate a full beam scanning process, where APD 180 applies the entire sequence of surface configurations corresponding to a wide beam scanning mode. The wide beam scanning mode configuration RIS reflects the incident beam, such that the reflected beam extensively spans or scans a spatial region (e.g., approximately 150 degrees to 30 degrees over the duration of the beam scanning process, approximately 10 o'clock to 3 o'clock on a clock face). In other words, the entire sequence of surface configurations corresponds to a set of phase vectors in the surface configuration codebook, where each phase vector corresponds to a corresponding reflection angle. For example, host base station 402 can initiate a partial beam scanning process, wherein APD 180 applies a subset of surface configurations from the entire sequence, such that the (generated) partial beam scanning mode configuration RIS scans the reflected beams in a smaller spatial region (e.g., approximately 90 degrees to 60 degrees, approximately 12 o'clock to 1 o'clock on a clock face).

[0132] In various aspects, the host base station 402 selects the beam scanning mode based on the location information associated with the node base station 404. For example, suppose the host base station 402 does not have the location information of the node base station 404. In this case, the host base station 402 can select a full-beam scanning mode to increase the probability of locating the node base station 404. As another example, suppose the host base station 402 has an estimated location of the node base station 404. Using this estimated location, the host base station 402 can select a partial-beam scanning mode centered on the estimated location to quickly select the surface configuration by performing a shorter beam scanning mode with fewer surface configurations in the sequence.

[0133] For illustration, assume that APD 180 stores a phase scan and / or beam scan codebook indicating the order in which surface configurations are cyclically passed through the APD (e.g., a first phase vector applied in the sequence during a first duration, a second phase vector applied in the sequence during a second duration, etc.). After synchronizing node base station 404 and APD 180 to perform a beam scan process, at 1225, host base station 402 transmits multiple high-frequency band radio signals, such as beamforming signals (e.g., reference signals), to the APD surface. The APD configures the APD surface based on the order (and / or duration) of the surface configurations. At 1230, node base station 404 generates a measurement report based on the different surface configurations applied at the APD surface. For example, the node base station generates signal quality measurements, such as generating a first signal quality measurement based on transmissions received during a first duration when APD 180 applies a first surface configuration to the APD surface, generating a second signal quality measurement based on transmissions received during a second duration when APD 180 applies a second surface configuration to the APD surface, etc. Alternatively or additionally, as part of the beam scanning process and as referenced Figure 13 The node base station 404 transmits SRS to the surface of the APD 180.

[0134] In 715, node base station 404 may optionally be configured with an APD surface for node-to-host communication, as shown in reference. Figure 7 As described. For example, node base station 404 indicates the host index or node index to APD 180, and optionally indicates direction information. Alternatively, host base station 402 may optionally configure the APD surface ( Figure 12 (not shown in the image), as in Figure 8 As described in 805. In 1235, the node base station, such as by transmitting a measurement report on the IAB link and using the surface of the APD, will transmit the measurement report generated in 1230 to the host base station.

[0135] Typically, transactions 1225, 1230, 715, and 1235 correspond to sub-figure 1240, where the host base station 402, APD 180, and node base station 404 use the APD and the transmission from the host base station to the node base station to perform the beam scanning process. Sub-figure 1240 may include elements not shown in the original figure for visual simplicity. Figure 12 The diagram illustrates alternative or additional transactions. For example, sub-diagram 1240 can alternatively or additionally include, as referenced... Figure 13 The described transaction, in which the host base station receives transmissions from the node base station.

[0136] At 1245, host base station 402 determines the updated surface configuration for APD 180, which is configured for APD surfaces used for IAB link communication (e.g., node-to-host transmission, host-to-node transmission). For example, the host base station analyzes the measurement reports received at 1235 and identifies the surface configuration update by selecting a surface configuration with acceptable measurement reports. To illustrate, the host base station analyzes the measurement reports to identify the surface configuration with the best measurement report relative to other surface configurations (e.g., the surface configuration with the highest signal quality measurement) (among multiple surface configurations applied by the APD during the beam scanning process).

[0137] At 1250, host base station 402 instructs APD to update the surface configuration codebook and / or LUT using the updated surface configuration determined at 1245. For example, host base station 402 transmits (e.g., using radio link 136) the updated surface configuration (determined by the host base station at 1245) to APD 180 by indicating a pattern index pointing to the surface configuration applied in the sequence corresponding to the updated surface configuration (all or part). Alternatively or additionally, host base station 402 transmits node index values ​​to APD 180. Host base station 402 implicitly or explicitly instructs APD 180 to use the node index to locate an entry in the surface configuration codebook and update that entry using the updated surface configuration (indicated by the pattern index). In response to receiving the instruction, APD 180 updates the entries in the surface configuration codebook and / or LUT at 1255.

[0138] Figure 13 The diagram illustrates signaling and control transaction diagram 1300, which includes various aspects that can be used to implement integrated access backhaul utilizing APD. Figure 12 The sub-figure 1240 includes alternative or additional signaling and control services. Therefore, the sub-figure 1240 illustrated in FIG1300 includes alternative or additional services that can be combined with or replace the signaling and control services of the sub-figure 1240 illustrated in FIG1200.

[0139] Figure 1300 begins at 1305, where node base station 404 optionally initiates a beam scanning process. For example, suppose Figure 1300 is in... Figure 12 1220 ( Figure 13(Not shown in the figure) Afterwards, at 1220, the host base station 402 may initiate a first beam scanning process (e.g., Figure 1200) corresponding to the host base station 402 transmitting a signal to the APD 180, and guide the node base station 404 to initiate a second beam scanning process in which the node base station 404 transmits a signal to the APD 180. Therefore, in a manner similar to that described at 1220, the node base station 404 may optionally initiate a beam scanning process at 1305, such as a full beam scanning process and / or a partial beam scanning process, as further described. Alternatively or additionally, at 1220, the host base station 402 synchronizes the node base station 404 and the APD 180 to perform the beam scanning process described in Figure 1300.

[0140] At 1310, node base station 404 transmits multiple radio signals (e.g., beamforming radio reference signals) to the APD surface. The APD configures the APD surface based on the order (and / or duration) of the surface configuration, and at 1315, host base station 402 generates a measurement report using the transmissions received at the host base station and based on the different surface configurations applied to the APD surface. For example, the host base station generates signal quality measurements, such as generating a first signal quality measurement based on transmissions received over a first duration when APD 180 applies a first surface configuration to the APD surface, generating a second signal quality measurement based on transmissions received over a second duration when APD 180 applies a second surface configuration to the APD surface, and so on.

[0141] Figure 14 Figure 1400 illustrates a fourth example of signaling and control transactions for integrated access backhaul utilizing an APD. Figure 1400 includes signaling and control transactions between a first node base station 404, an APD 180, a host base station 402, and a second node base station 418. In each aspect, the first node base station 404 uses a first IAB link with the host base station (e.g., ...). Figure 4 Wireless link 406) to serve the use of a second IAB link (e.g., using Figure 4 The second node base station 418 of the communication path 420. The signaling and control transactions illustrated in Figure 1400 can communicate with the reference. Figure 1-13 Any combination of the described features may be used.

[0142] In 630, the host base station 402 and the first node base station 404 use reference Figure 6Similar signaling and control transactions are described to establish assigned APD access. For example, a first node base station and a host base station establish a low-frequency band connection. The first node base station (optionally) requests a high-frequency band IAB link, and the host base station determines to use APD 180 in the communication path associated with the IAB link. The host base station assigns APD access to APD 180 and indicates the assigned APD access to the node base station. This can include the host base station using a low-frequency band connection or a high-frequency band connection and the surface of APD 180 indicating the assigned APD access to the node base station, as further described.

[0143] At 1405, the second node base station 418 establishes a low-frequency band connection with the first node base station 404. For illustration, the second node base station 418 (or the first node base station 404) may identify poor quality of high-frequency band communication (e.g., millimeter wave) with the first node base station (or the second node base station 418) by analyzing signal or link quality measurements associated with the high-frequency band communication and determining that these measurements have fallen below an acceptable performance threshold. For example, the second node base station 418 may fail to receive a response from the first node base station 404 after making a high-frequency communication transmission request (or vice versa). In response to identifying poor quality of high-frequency band communication (or failure to receive a response), the second node base station 242 and the first node base station 404 establish a low-frequency band wireless connection to the first node base station 404. In some aspects, the second node base station 418 may indicate its location information to the first node base station 404 using the low-frequency band connection (not shown), for example, by transmitting GNSS and / or GPS location information. When establishing a wireless low-frequency band connection, the first node base station 404 and the second node base station 418 bypass the surface of the APD, provided that the base station does not actively configure the surface of the APD or transmit signals toward the surface of the APD with the intention of reflecting and / or redirecting wireless signals, as further described.

[0144] At 1410, the second node base station 418 may optionally request a high-frequency band IAB link with the first node base station 404. For example, the second node base station 418 may use a low-frequency band connection established at 1405 and bypass the APD to achieve a similar effect to... Figure 6 The method described in section 610 sends a request to the first node base station 404. Alternatively, the first node base station 404 determines to establish a high-frequency band IAB with the second node base station 418 and does not receive the request.

[0145] At 1415, the first node base station will allocate a portion of the APD access received at 630 (and dispatched by the host base station 402 to the first node base station 404) to the second IAB link with the second node base station 418. For example, the first node base station 404 determines that a first portion of the reflected access received at 630 will be used for IAB communication with the host base station 402 (using the first IAB link), and a second portion of the reflected access will be used for IAB communication with the second node base station 418 (using the second IAB link). Sometimes, the first node base station 404 may use a similar method as referenced. Figure 9-11 The described method assigns the third part of the reflection access to the UE ( Figure 14 Access link communication (not shown in the diagram).

[0146] At 1420, the first node base station 404 and / or the host base station 402 configure the APD surface of the APD 180 for communication associated with the second IAB link. In some aspects, the first node base station 404, for example, uses a configuration similar to that in... Figure 7 715 and Figure 10 The method described in 1005 directly configures the APD surface. In other aspects, the host base station 402, for example, is similar to... Figure 11 The manner described in 1105 and 1110 represents the configuration of the APD surface of the first node base station.

[0147] At 1425, the first node base station 404 instructs the second node base station 418 to access the second backhaul link APD. For example, similar to... Figure 10 In the manner described in 1010, the first node base station 404 indicates a subset of configurable surface elements and / or timing information to the second node base station 418. In some aspects, as illustrated in FIG1400, the node base station 404 indicates a second backhaul link APD access allocation to the second node base station 418 by transmitting a radio signal to the surface of the APD 180.

[0148] At 1430, using a second IAB link (e.g., using communication path 420), the second node base station 418 transmits first and second IAB link communications (e.g., control plane information, user plane data) to the first node base station 404. Sometimes, the second node base station transmits the first and second IAB link communications based on the access link with a UE (e.g., UE 424) served by the second node base station (not shown), while at other times, the second node base station 418 does not transmit the first and second IAB link communications based on the access link communications with the UE.

[0149] Host base station 402 uses a method similar to that in Figure 7 735 or Figure 8The signaling and control transactions described in 810 are used to serve the first node base station 404. Therefore, the host base station 402 can (optionally) control the surface configuration of the APD 180 or (optionally) control the surface configuration of the APD 180 through the first node base station 404.

[0150] In 1435, the first node base station 404 and / or the host base station 402 may optionally use a method similar to that in Figure 10 1020 or Figure 11 The signaling and control transactions described in 1115 are used to configure the surface of the APD for second backhaul link communication. In 1440, as further described, the first node base station 404 uses the second IAB link and the surface of the APD 180 to transmit second IAB link communication to the second node base station 418.

[0151] Example method of integrated access backhaul using APD

[0152] refer to Figure 15 , 16 Examples 1500, 1600, and 1700 are described in accordance with one or more aspects of integrated backhaul access using APD. Figure 15 The illustration depicts an example method 1500 for using an APD to perform various aspects of integrated backhaul access, such as a host base station dispatching access to the APD for use in an IAB link with a node base station. In some implementations, the operation of method 1500 is performed by the host base station 402, as shown in the reference. Figure 1-14 Any of the descriptions.

[0153] At 1505, the host base station determines that an APD for the wireless backhaul link should be included in the communication path with the node base station. For example, host base station 402 determines that APD 180 should be included in the communication path with node base station 404, such as... Figure 6 As stated in section 615.

[0154] At 1510, the host base station assigns APD access to the node base station, for example, APD access assigned for communication via a wireless backhaul link using an APD. For example, host base station 402 assigns reflection access and / or control access to node base station 404, such as... Figure 6 As stated in 620.

[0155] In 1515, the host base station communicates with the node base station on the wireless backhaul link by using the surface of the APD and based on the assigned APD access, for example by using surface-switched wireless signals. For example, host base station 402 communicates with node base station 404, as in Figure 7 , 10 And 14 of 735 as described and / or as in Figure 8 , 11 As described in 14 of 810.

[0156] Figure 16 An example method 1600 is illustrated for using an APD to perform various aspects of integrated backhaul access, such as a node base station receiving dispatched access to the APD for use in an IAB link with a host base station. In some implementations, the operation of method 1600 is performed by node base station 404, as shown in the reference. Figure 1-15 Any of the descriptions.

[0157] At 1605, the node base station determines to establish a wireless backhaul link with the host base station. For illustration, node base station 404 determines to establish a wireless backhaul link with host base station 402, as shown in... Figure 6 As described in 605 and / or 610.

[0158] At 1610, the node base station receives APD access assigned to the APD from the host base station, the assigned APD access including at least reflected access assigned to the APD surface. For illustration, node base station 404 receives reflected access and / or control access assigned to APD 180 from host base station 402, as in... Figure 6 As described in 625.

[0159] In 1615, the node base station uses the surface of the APD and accesses the network based on the assigned APD, such as exchanging wireless signals with the host base station through the surface and communicating with the host base station via a wireless backhaul link. For illustration, node base station 404 communicates with host base station 402, as in... Figure 7 , 10 And 14 of 735 as described and / or as in Figure 8 , 11 Or as described in 14 of 810.

[0160] Figure 17 An example method 1700 is illustrated for performing various aspects of integrated backhaul access using an APD (such as an APD that configures a surface using node index information). In some implementations, the operation of method 1700 is performed by an APD 180, as shown in the reference... Figure 1-16 Any of the descriptions.

[0161] At 1705, the APD receives the node index indication from the base station via the APD control channel. For illustration, the APD 180 receives the node index from either the host base station 402 or the node base station 404, as shown in... Figure 7 , 10 and 14 of 735 and / or Figure 8 , 11 As described in 14 of 810.

[0162] In the 1710, the APD uses node indexes to identify surface configurations. For example, the APD 180 identifies surface configurations, as referenced... Figure 7 , Figure 10 and Figure 14 In 735, reference Figure 8 , Figure 11 and Figure 14 As described in 810, and / or as referenced Figure 4 and Figure 5 As described.

[0163] In 1715, the APD uses surface configuration to modify the APD's surface. For example, the APD 180 modifies the APD's surface, as shown in the reference. Figure 7 , 10 And 14 in 735, reference Figure 8 , 11 And 14 as described in 810, and / or as referenced Figure 4 and 5 As described.

[0164] The order of the method blocks described in methods 1500, 1600, and 1700 is not intended to be construed as limiting, and any number of the described method blocks can be skipped or combined in any order to implement the method or alternative methods. Generally, any components, modules, methods, and operations described herein can be implemented using software, firmware, hardware (e.g., fixed logic circuitry), manual processing, or any combination thereof. Some operations of the example methods can be described in the general context of executable instructions stored on computer-readable storage memory local and / or remote on a computer processing system, and implementations can include software applications, programs, functions, etc. Alternatively or additionally, any functionality described herein can be performed at least in part by one or more hardware logic components, such as, but not limited to, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), application-specific standard products (ASSPs), system-on-a-chip (SoCs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), etc.

[0165] The following text describes some examples:

[0166] Example 1: A method performed by a first base station for communicating with a node base station via a wireless backhaul link, the method comprising:

[0167] It was determined that the communication path of the wireless backhaul link includes an adaptive phase-change device (APD).

[0168] The APD access is assigned to the node base station for communication via wireless backhaul link using the APD; and

[0169] The surface uses an APD and communicates with the node base station via a wireless backhaul link based on the dispatched APD access.

[0170] Example 2: According to the method described in Example 1, the assignment of APD access to the node base station further includes at least one of the following:

[0171] The reflection access is assigned to the node base station; or

[0172] Control access is assigned to the node base station.

[0173] Example 3: According to the method described in Example 2, the assignment of APD access to the node base station further includes:

[0174] The physical resources of the APD control channel are allocated to the node base station.

[0175] Example 4: According to the method described in Example 3, the allocation of physical resources further includes:

[0176] Allocate physical resources using at least one of the following:

[0177] Frequency allocation;

[0178] Time division; or

[0179] Encoding scheme division.

[0180] Example 5: The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 4, wherein assigning APD access to the node base station includes:

[0181] Use at least one of the following to assign reflective access to the node base station:

[0182] APD surface access time division; or

[0183] Configurable surface element partitioning for APD surface access.

[0184] Example 6: The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 5, further comprising assigning APD access to the node base station, includes:

[0185] Indicate the node index from the codebook associated with the node base station to the APD.

[0186] Example 7: The method described in Example 6 further includes:

[0187] Instruct the APD to do at least one of the following:

[0188] Time information; or

[0189] Directional information.

[0190] Example 8: The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 7, wherein assigning APD access to the node base station includes:

[0191] The surface of the APD is determined based on the node base station;

[0192] The second surface configuration of the APD surface is determined based on the node base station; and

[0193] The APD is guided to use the second surface configuration to update the surface of the APD.

[0194] Example 9: The method described in Example 8 further includes:

[0195] The APD is guided to update the lookup table or surface configuration codebook at least using the second surface configuration.

[0196] Example 10: According to the method described in Example 9, the process of guiding the APD to update the lookup table further includes:

[0197] The APD is guided to use the second surface configuration to update the entry in the lookup table or surface configuration codebook associated with the node base station.

[0198] Example 11: The method according to any one of Examples 8 to 10, wherein determining the surface that changes the APD further includes:

[0199] Identify channel impairments in the communication path of the wireless backhaul link; and

[0200] Determining to modify surface configurations based on identifying channel impairments.

[0201] Example 12: According to the method described in Example 11, identifying channel impairments further includes:

[0202] Generate a first signal or link quality measurement based on the received node-to-host wireless transmission; and

[0203] Determine that the first signal or link quality measurement is below a first threshold.

[0204] Example 13: The method according to Example 11 or Example 12, wherein identifying channel impairment further includes:

[0205] Receive second signal or link quality measurements from the node base station based on host-to-node wireless transmission; and

[0206] Determine that the second signal or link quality measurement is below the second threshold.

[0207] Example 14: The method according to any one of Examples 8 to 13, wherein determining the second surface configuration of the surface of the APD further includes:

[0208] The beam scanning process is performed using APDs and node base stations; and

[0209] The second surface configuration is selected using the beam scanning process.

[0210] Example 15: According to the method described in Example 14, the beam scanning process further includes:

[0211] Perform a full-beam scan procedure; or

[0212] Perform a partial beam scanning process.

[0213] Example 16: The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 15, wherein assigning APD access to the node base station further includes:

[0214] Guide the APD to configure its surface for host-to-node wireless communication; or

[0215] Guide the APD to configure its surface for node-to-host wireless communication.

[0216] Example 17: The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 16, wherein assigning APD access to the node base station further includes:

[0217] The first part of the APD access is allocated to the first base station as the dispatched APD access; and

[0218] The second part of the APD access is allocated to the node base station as the dispatched APD access.

[0219] Example 18: The method described in Example 17 further includes...

[0220] Allocate a portion of the assigned APD access to access link communication; and

[0221] The first part of the APD-based access involves communicating with the User Equipment (UE) via surface-switched access link wireless communication using the APD.

[0222] Example 19: The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 18, wherein the first base station is a host base station.

[0223] Example 20: The method according to any one of Examples 1 to 18, wherein the node base station is a second node base station and the first base station is a first node base station.

[0224] Example 21: A method performed by a node base station for communicating with a host base station via a wireless backhaul link, the method comprising:

[0225] Establish a wireless backhaul link with the host base station;

[0226] The system receives APD access dispatched to the APD from the host base station, wherein the dispatched APD access includes at least reflection access dispatched to the APD via surface assignment; and

[0227] The surface uses an APD and accesses via dispatched APDs to communicate with the host base station via wireless backhaul.

[0228] Example 22: According to the method described in Example 21, receiving the dispatched APD access further includes:

[0229] Receive control access for APD assignment.

[0230] Example 23: According to the method described in Example 22, the control access for receiving the dispatch further includes:

[0231] Physical resources allocated by the APD control channel.

[0232] Example 24: According to the method described in Example 23, the APD access for receiving the assignment of the APD control channel further includes:

[0233] Receive physical resources for APD control channels that have been allocated using at least one of the following:

[0234] Frequency allocation;

[0235] Time division; or

[0236] Encoding scheme division.

[0237] Example 25: The method according to any one of Examples 22 to 24 further includes:

[0238] Use the dispatched control access to indicate the surface configuration to the APD.

[0239] Example 26: The method according to Example 25, wherein indicative surface configuration further includes:

[0240] Indicate the node index associated with the host base station to the APD.

[0241] Example 27: The method described in Example 26 further includes:

[0242] Indicate timing information to the APD, which specifies when to configure the APD's surface using surface configuration based on node-to-host wireless communication.

[0243] Example 28: The method according to any one of Examples 21 to 27, wherein the dispatched reflective access includes at least one of the following:

[0244] Time-division reflection access; or

[0245] Configurable surface element partitioning for reflective access.

[0246] Example 29: The method according to any one of Examples 21 to 28 further includes:

[0247] Distribute a portion of the assigned APD access to access link communication; and

[0248] The surface using APDs communicates with the user equipment (UE) via APD-based access.

[0249] Example 30: The method described in Example 29 further includes:

[0250] Determine the access link surface configuration for APD; and

[0251] The APD is guided to use the access link surface configuration to configure the APD's surface.

[0252] Example 31: According to the method of Example 30, the process of guiding the APD to configure the surface of the APD using the access link surface configuration further includes:

[0253] The control access dispatched to the APD transmits the access link surface configuration to the APD.

[0254] Example 32: The method according to any one of Examples 21 to 31 further includes:

[0255] The APD access based on the assignment provides a second backhaul link to the second node base station.

[0256] Example 33: The method described in Example 32 further includes:

[0257] The surface using the APD exchanges wireless signals associated with the second backhaul link with the second node base station.

[0258] Example 34: A method for configuring the surface of an adaptive phase-change device (APD), performed by the APD, the method comprising:

[0259] Receive node index indication from the base station via the APD control channel;

[0260] Use node indexes to identify surface configurations; and

[0261] Use surface configuration to modify the surface of the APD.

[0262] Example 35: The method according to Example 34 further includes receiving time information from a base station specifying when to configure the surface of the APD, and wherein modifying the surface of the APD includes modifying the surface of the APD based on the time information.

[0263] Example 36: The method according to Example 34 or Example 35 further includes:

[0264] Receive directional information about the reflection direction of the surface of a specified APD from the base station, and wherein,

[0265] Identification surface configurations include:

[0266] The surface configuration is identified based on this directional information.

[0267] Example 37: The method according to any one of Examples 34 to 36 further includes:

[0268] Receive the second surface configuration from the base station;

[0269] Receive instructions from the base station to update the lookup table;

[0270] Use the node index to locate entries in the lookup table; and

[0271] The lookup table is updated by replacing the entries in the lookup table with the second surface configuration.

[0272] Example 38: A host base station, comprising:

[0273] Processor; and

[0274] A computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, in response to execution by a processor, are used to instruct a host base station to perform the method according to any one of Examples 1 to 20.

[0275] Example 39: A node base station, comprising:

[0276] Processor; and

[0277] A computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, in response to execution by a processor, are used to instruct a node base station to perform the method according to any one of Examples 21 to 33.

[0278] Example 40: An adaptive phase-changing device (APD) comprising:

[0279] Reconfigurable Smart Surface (RIS);

[0280] At least one wireless transceiver;

[0281] Processor; and

[0282] A computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, in response to execution by a processor, are used to instruct the APD to perform the method described in any of Examples 34 to 37.

[0283] Example 41: A computer-readable storage medium including instructions that, in response to execution by a processor, direct the processor to perform the method according to any one of Examples 1 to 37.

[0284] Although aspects of integrated backhaul access using APD have been described in feature- and / or method-specific language, the subject matter of the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or methods described. Rather, specific features and methods are disclosed as exemplary implementations of integrated backhaul access using APD, and other equivalent features and methods are intended to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the appended claims include a list of features that can be selected “in any combination thereof,” including any number and any combination of the listed features. Furthermore, various different aspects are described, and it should be understood that each described aspect can be implemented independently or in combination with one or more other described aspects.

Claims

1. A method performed by a first base station for communicating with a node base station via a wireless backhaul link, the method comprising: It is determined that the communication path of the wireless backhaul link includes an adaptive phase-change device (APD). The APD is assigned to the node base station for communication via the wireless backhaul link using the surface of the APD, the assignment including: indicating a node index from a codebook associated with the node base station to the APD; as well as Using the surface of the APD and based on the assigned APD reflection access, the node base station communicates via the wireless backhaul link.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The assignment also includes: The APD control access is assigned to the node base station.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The assignment also includes: The physical resources of the APD control channel are allocated to the node base station.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein, The physical resources allocated also include: The physical resources are allocated using at least one of the following: Frequency allocation; Time division; and Encoding scheme division.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The assignment includes: The reflection access is assigned to the node base station using at least one of the following: Time division of APD surface access; and Configurable surface element partitioning for APD surface access.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein, The assignment includes: The surface of the APD is determined based on the node base station; The second surface configuration of the surface of the APD is determined based on the node base station; Guide the APD to update the surface of the APD using the second surface configuration; and The APD is guided to update the lookup table or surface configuration codebook at least using the second surface configuration.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein, Determining to change the surface of the APD further includes: Identify channel impairments in the communication path of the wireless backhaul link; and The surface configuration is modified based on the identification of the channel impairments.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein, Determining the second surface configuration further includes: The beam scanning process is performed using the APD and the node base station; and The second surface configuration is selected using the beam scanning process.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The assignment includes: The first portion of the APD reflection access is allocated to the first base station as a dispatched APD reflection access; and The second part of the APD reflection access is allocated to the node base station as a dispatched APD reflection access.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: A portion of the assigned APD reflection access is allocated to access link communication; as well as Based on the first part of the APD reflective access, communication with the user equipment (UE) is achieved by using the surface-switched access link wireless communication of the APD.

11. A method performed by a node base station for communicating with a host base station via a wireless backhaul link, the method comprising: Establish a wireless backhaul link with the host base station; Receive APD reflection access from the host base station for the surface of the adaptive phase change device (APD); as well as Using the surface of the APD and based on the dispatched APD reflection access, it communicates with the host base station via the wireless backhaul.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The receiving also includes: Receive control access assigned to the APD.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein, The receiving also includes: Receive physical resources for APD control channels that have been allocated using at least one of the following: Frequency allocation; Time division; and Encoding scheme division.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising: The dispatched control access is used to configure the APD indication surface; as well as The APD is instructed with time information that specifies when the surface of the APD is configured using the surface configuration based on node-to-host wireless communication.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein, The assigned APD reflection access includes at least one of the following: Time-division reflection access; and Configurable surface element partitioning for reflective access.

16. The method according to any one of claims 11 to 15, further comprising: The dispatch-based APD reflection access provides a second backhaul link to the second node base station.

17. A base station, comprising: processor; as well as A computer-readable storage medium includes instructions that are responsive to execution by the processor for directing the base station to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 16.

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