Method and apparatus for resource allocation

Abstract

The embodiments of the present application relate to a method and apparatus for resource allocation. An exemplary method of the present application includes receiving at least one signaling from a first node indicating at least one of first spatial domain filter configuration information and first demodulation reference signal (DMRS) configuration information for a first link of a second node, and receiving or transmitting data of the second node, where the first link is the same as or different from the second link.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present application relate to wireless communication technologies, and in particular, to methods and apparatuses for resource allocation in a wireless access backhaul integrated transmission (IAB) network.

Background Art

[0002] In a wireless communication system of the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP (registered trademark)), the deployment of relay nodes (RNs) is encouraged. One of the purposes of deploying an RN is to improve the throughput of mobile devices (also known as user equipment (UE)) that are located within a coverage hole or far from the BS and have relatively low signal quality, and to extend the coverage area of the base station (BS, also referred to as eNB in a 4G network or gNB in a 5G network).

[0003] In a wireless communication system that utilizes an RN, a BS that can provide a connection to at least one RN is referred to as a donor BS (or donor node or donor). The RN is connected to the donor BS via a backhaul link. The RN may hop through one or more RNs before reaching the donor BS, or may be directly connected to the donor BS. For a new radio (NR) communication network, 3GPP has envisioned an IAB architecture to support multi-hop relaying, in which donor nodes with multi-connectivity are also supported by IAB nodes. That is, an IAB node has multiple valid routes to the donor BS via multiple parent IAB nodes (also referred to as "serving IAB nodes").

[0004] According to the IAB work item description (WID) of R17, spatial division multiplexing (SDM) is supported between the parent link and the child link of an IAB node. For example, resource allocations such as spatial region filter allocation and demodulation reference signal (DMRS) allocation in the parent link of an IAB node affect the resource allocation on the child link of the IAB node. The research issues under SDM in the IAB architecture should all be investigated and resolved.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Embodiments of the present application provide a method and an apparatus for resource allocation adaptable to at least scenarios under SDM in an IAB network.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] According to some embodiments of the present application, an exemplary method may include receiving, from a first node, at least one signaling indicating at least one of first spatial region filter configuration information and first DMRS configuration information regarding a first link of a second node; and receiving or transmitting data on a second link of the second node, where the first link is the same as or different from the second link.

[0007] According to some other embodiments of the present application, another exemplary method may include transmitting, from a first node, at least one signaling indicating at least one of first spatial region filter configuration information and first DMRS configuration information regarding a first link of a second node; and transmitting or receiving data on a second link of the second node, where the first link is the same as or different from the second link.

[0008] In some embodiments of the present application, at least one signaling is at least one of downlink control information (DCI) signaling common to a group or quasi-static signaling. The first DMRS configuration information includes at least one of a DMRS code division multiplexing (CDM) group, at least one DMRS port index, and a plurality of front-loaded DMRS symbols. According to some embodiments of the present application, the DMRS CDM group is associated with downlink DMRS or uplink DMRS. From the perspective of the second node, the first link or the second link can be, in some embodiments of the present application, a link between the first node and the second node, but the first link or the second link can be, in some other embodiments of the present application, a link between the second node and a third node different from the first node. However, from the perspective of the first node, the first link can be, in some embodiments of the present application, a link between the first node and the second node or a link between the second node and a third node different from the first node, and the second link can be, in some embodiments of the present application, a link between the first node and the second node, but the second link cannot be a link between the second node and a third node different from the first node.

[0009] In some embodiments of the present application, when the first link is different from the second link, the method includes at least one of determining, based on the first spatial region filter configuration information, second spatial region filter configuration information regarding the second link of the second node, and determining, based on the first DMRS configuration information, second DMRS configuration information regarding the second link.

[0010] In some embodiments of the present application, the first spatial region filter configuration information includes at least one of a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource index, a synchronization signal block (SSB) index, and a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource index. In some other embodiments of the present application, the first spatial region filter configuration information includes a subset of a first precoding matrix indicator (PMI) index including one or more PMI indices. According to some embodiments of the present application, the subset of the first PMI index is selected from a PMI set. The PMI set may be predefined or configured by radio resource control (RRC) signaling or a media access control (MAC) control element (CE).

[0011] In some embodiments of the present application, at least one of the first spatial region filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information is configured for each carrier component (CC) or for each bandwidth part (BWP).

[0012] In some embodiments of the present application, at least one of the first spatial region filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information relates to at least one time domain resource, and the time domain resource or the time domain granularity of the at least one time domain resource is predefined or configured by RRC signaling or a MAC CE. The unit of the time domain granularity or the unit of the time domain resource is an absolute value in some embodiments of the present application, but the unit of the time domain granularity or the unit of the time domain resource is a slot or a symbol related to a subcarrier spacing (SCS) in some other embodiments. The SCS is configured by RRC signaling or a MAC CE and is determined by the configuration of the bandwidth part (BWP) when at least one signaling is received.

[0013] Some embodiments of the present application also provide an apparatus, which includes at least one non - transitory computer - readable medium storing computer - executable instructions, at least one receiving circuit, at least one transmitting circuit, and at least one processor coupled to the at least one non - transitory computer - readable medium, the at least one receiving circuit, and the at least one transmitting circuit. The computer - executable instructions are programmed to implement any of the above - described methods using the at least one receiving circuit, the at least one transmitting circuit, and the at least one processor.

[0014] Embodiments of the present application provide technical solutions for resource allocation, particularly methods and apparatuses under SDM in an IAB architecture, and thus can promote and improve 5G NR implementation forms.

[0015] To explain how the benefits and functions of the present application are obtained, the present application will be described with reference to specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings. These drawings only represent exemplary embodiments of the present application and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of the application.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016]

Figure 1A

Figure 1B

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The detailed description of the accompanying drawings is intended as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the present application and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present application can be implemented. It should be understood that the same or equivalent functions can be achieved by various embodiments intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the present application.

[0018] Next, reference will be made in detail to some embodiments of the present application, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. For ease of understanding, embodiments are provided under specific network architectures such as 3GPP 5G and 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) Release 8 and new service scenarios. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that as network architectures and new service scenarios evolve, the embodiments of the present application are also applicable to similar technical problems, and that although the terminology listed in the present application may change, this should not affect the principles of the present application.

[0019] FIG. 1A shows an exemplary IAB system 100 according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0020] Referring to FIG. 1A, the IAB system 100 may include an IAB donor node (e.g., donor node 110), several IAB nodes (e.g., IAB node 120A, IAB node 120B, IAB node 120C, and IAB node 120D), and several UEs (e.g., UE130A and UE130B). Although only one donor node is shown in FIG. 1A for simplicity, in some other embodiments of this application, it is contemplated that the IAB system 100 may include more donor nodes. Similarly, although only four IAB nodes are shown in FIG. 1A for simplicity, in some other embodiments of this application, the IAB system 100 may include more or fewer IAB nodes. Although only two UEs are shown in FIG. 1A for simplicity, in some other embodiments of this application, the IAB system 100 may include more or fewer UEs.

[0021] IAB node 120A is directly connected to donor node 110. IAB node 120D is directly connected to donor node 110. In this example, donor node 110 is the parent node of IAB node 120A and also the parent node of IAB node 120D. IAB nodes 120A and 120D are child nodes of donor node 110. Link 180A between donor node 110 and IAB node 120A is the parent link of IAB node 120A. Link 180C between donor node 110 and IAB node 120D is the parent link of IAB node 120D. According to some other embodiments of this application, IAB node 120A may be connected to a donor node other than donor node 110. According to some other embodiments of this application, IAB node 120D may be connected to a donor node other than donor node 110.

[0022] IAB node 120C can reach donor node 110 by hopping through IAB node 120D. IAB node 120D is the parent node of IAB node 120C, and IAB node 120C is the child node of IAB node 120D. The link 180D between IAB node 120D and IAB node 120C is the child link of IAB node 120D and also the parent link of IAB node 120C.

[0023] IAB node 120B can reach donor node 110 by hopping through IAB node 120C and IAB node 120D. IAB nodes 120C and 120D are the upstream nodes of IAB node 120B, and IAB node 120C is the parent node of IAB node 120B. In other words, IAB node 120B is the child node of IAB node 120C. IAB nodes 120B and 120C are the downstream nodes of IAB node 120D. The link 180E between IAB node 120C and IAB node 120B is the child link of IAB node 120C and also the parent link of IAB node 120B.

[0024] UE 130A is directly connected to IAB node 120A by link 180B, and UE 130B is directly connected to IAB node 120B by link 180F. In other words, UE 130A and UE 130B are served by IAB node 120A and IAB node 120B respectively. In some other embodiments of the present application, UE 130A and UE 130B may also be referred to as the child nodes of IAB node 120A and IAB node 120B respectively. Link 180B is the child link of IAB node 120A. Link 180F is the child link of IAB node 120B.

[0025] According to some other embodiments of the present application, each of IAB node 120A, IAB node 120B, IAB node 120C, and IAB node 120D may be directly connected to one or more UEs.

[0026] According to some other embodiments of the present application, each of the IAB nodes 120A, 120B, 120C, and 120D may be directly connected to one or more IAB nodes.

[0027] FIG. 1B shows an exemplary IAB system 100A according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 1B, the IAB system 100A may include an IAB donor 140, IAB nodes 150A, 150B, UEs 160A, 160B, 160C, and a Next Generation Core (NGC) 170.

[0029] Each of the IAB nodes 150A and 150B may include a Distributed Unit (DU) and a Mobile Terminal (MT). In the context of the present application, the MT is referred to as a function within an IAB node that terminates the radio interface layer of the backhaul Uu interface to an IAB donor or another IAB node. The IAB node may be connected to an upstream IAB node or a BS (e.g., an IAB donor) by the MT function. The IAB node may be connected to a UE or a downstream IAB node by the DU. The UE may also be referred to as an IAB MT.

[0030] The IAB node 150A may be connected to an upstream IAB node (e.g., the IAB node 150B) by the MT 152A. The IAB node 150A may be connected to the UE 160A by the DU 151A.

[0031] The IAB node 150B may be connected to an upstream IAB node or the IAB donor 140 by the MT 152B. The IAB node 150B may be connected to the UE 160B by the DU 151B. The IAB node 150B may be connected to a downstream IAB node (e.g., the IAB node 150A) by the DU 151B.

[0032] In some embodiments of the present application, the IAB nodes shown in FIG. 1B may include Layer 2 (L2) IAB nodes.

[0033] Returning to FIG. 1A, the IAB nodes (e.g., IAB node 120A, IAB node 120B, IAB node 120C, and IAB node 120D) may include L2 IAB nodes.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 1B, the BS (e.g., IAB donor 140) may include at least one DU for supporting the UEs and MTs of the downstream IAB nodes. The centralized unit (CU) 141 included in the IAB donor 140 controls the DUs of all the IAB nodes (e.g., IAB node 150A and IAB node 150B) and the DUs (e.g., DU 142) within the IAB donor 140. The DU and CU of the IAB donor may be co-located or may be arranged at different positions. The DU and CU of the IAB donor are connected via an F1 interface. In other words, the F1 interface provides a means for interconnecting the CU and DU of the IAB donor. The F1 application protocol (F1AP) supports the functions of the F1 interface by means of a specific F1AP signaling procedure.

[0035] In some embodiments of the present application, the CU 141 of the IAB donor 140 is a logical node that hosts the radio resource control (RRC) layer, service data adaptation protocol (SDAP) layer, and packet data convergence protocol (PDCP) layer of the BS. The DU of the BS is a logical node that hosts the radio link control (RLC) layer, media access control (MAC) layer, and physical layer (PHY) of the BS. Supporting one cell is only one DU of the BS or one DU of the IAB node.

[0036] The SDM between the parent link and the child link of the IAB node, which will be supported by R17 of the IAB WID, mainly relates to: a) different spatial region filters / precoding matrix indicators (PMIs) between the parent link and the child link have different impacts on system performance. For example, the spatial region filter allocation on the parent link affects the spatial region filter allocation for the child link; b) separate DMRS ports are used for simultaneous transmission or reception between the parent link and the child link.

[0037] Regarding the spatial region filter allocation, from the perspective of the IAB MT, there are existing PDCCH spatial region filter indication mechanisms by MAC CE and PDSCH spatial region filter indication mechanisms by DCI. However, whether there is PDCCH transmission is detected by blind decoding at the IAB MT, and the PDSCH spatial region information is shown completely dynamically. Therefore, it is difficult for the IAB node to determine and allocate the child link spatial region filter while coping with dynamic indication and blind decoding.

[0038] On the other hand, in R15 and R16 of NR, regarding DMRS allocation, the DMRS CDM group and multiple front-loaded DMRS symbols (also referred to as "the maximum length of DMRS symbols") are configured dynamically. This means that the IAB node cannot perform dynamic scheduling on the child link and has to wait for the configuration information of its parent link.

[0039] From the above, the resource allocation mechanism including spatial region filter allocation and DMRS allocation in the IAB network should be redesigned to support the SDM between the parent link and the child link of the IAB node. Throughout this specification, the term "spatial region filter" can be expressed as, for example, "beam", "spatial region information", "spatial related information", or "transmission configuration indication (TCI) state". For example, the spatial region filter or beam can be a reference signal (RS) resource in some scenarios.

[0040] Figure 2 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method for resource allocation according to some embodiments of the present application. The method shown can be implemented in an IAB MT, such as the MT of IAB node 120C or UE 130A. In some other embodiments of the present application, the method shown can be implemented in an IAB DU, such as IAB node 120C. Those skilled in the art can understand that this method can be implemented by other devices with similar functions.

[0041] As shown in Figure 2, in step 201, at least one signaling indicating at least one of the first spatial region filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information regarding the first link of the second node from the first node is received by, for example, the second node. In some embodiments of the present application, the first node may configure the first spatial region filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information regarding the first link of the second node. The first node may be the parent node (or the DU of the parent node) of the second node (or the MT of the second node). The first link of the second node may be the link between the first node and the second node, or may also be the link between a third node different from the first node and the second node. In some embodiments of the present application, the third node (or the MT of the third node) may be the child node (or the MT of the child node) of the second node. For example, as shown in Figure 1B, the first node may be IAB node 140 (or DU 142 of IAB node 140), the second node may be IAB node 150B (or MT 152B of IAB node 150B), and the third node may be IAB node 150A (or MT 152A of IAB node 150A).

[0042] Specifically, in the IAB network, resource allocation in at least one of the parent link and the child link of an IAB node can be indicated from the parent IAB node of the IAB node, thereby enabling efficient SDM between the parent link and the child link of the IAB node. For example, the parent node of the IAB node may configure spatial region filter configuration information and DMRS configuration information regarding the parent link of the IAB node. In this case, the parent node may send resource allocation information regarding the parent link, including the spatial region filter configuration information and the DMRS configuration information regarding the parent link, to the MT of the IAB node. In some other embodiments of the present application, the parent node of the IAB node may configure spatial region filter configuration information and DMRS configuration information regarding the child link of the IAB node. In this case, the parent node may send resource allocation information regarding the child link, including the spatial region filter configuration information and the DMRS configuration information regarding the child link, to the DU of the IAB node. In some still other embodiments of the present application, the parent node may configure spatial region filter configuration information and DMRS configuration information regarding both the parent link and the child link and send them to the MT and the DU of the IAB node, respectively.

[0043] In some embodiments of the present application, at least one signaling is at least one of DCI common to a group or quasi-static signaling. The quasi-static signaling may be RRC signaling, MAC CE, or other quasi-static signaling. For example, at least one signaling may be DCI common to a group for indicating first spatial region filter configuration information regarding a group of UEs. In another example, at least one signaling may be at least one RRC signaling, MAC CE, or other quasi-static signaling regarding a specific UE. When there are multiple signalings, the type of each signaling may be the same or different. For example, both RRC signaling and MAC CE may be used to indicate first spatial region filter configuration information and first DMRS configuration information. By means of signaling common to a group, such as DCI common to a group, or quasi-static signaling, such as RRC signaling and MAC CE for example, the IAB node can perform dynamic scheduling without waiting for the configuration information of its parent link at all times.

[0044] According to some embodiments of the present application, the first spatial region filter configuration information may indicate at least one spatial region filter that may be a beam or a beam set including at least one beam, or an RS index or an RS index set. For example, the first spatial region filter configuration information may include at least one of a CSI-RS resource index, an SSB index, and an SRS resource index. Regarding the at least one spatial region filter indicated, the mapping between the index regarding the first link and the spatial region filter (or RS index or RS set index) may be configured by at least one of RRC signaling and MAC CE such that the bits regarding the spatial filter indication can be fixed.

[0045] Figure 3 shows an exemplary mapping (or RS index or RS index set) between an index and a spatial region filter according to some embodiments of the present application. Specifically, in Figure 3, index#0 is associated with non-zero power (NZP) CSI-RS#2, index#1 is associated with NZP CSI-RS#1 and NZP CSI-RS#3, index#2 is mapped to NZP CSI-RS#5, NZP CSI-RS#6, and NZP CSI-RS#7, and index#3 is mapped to SSB#8.

[0046] According to some other embodiments of the present application, the first spatial region filter configuration information includes a subset of a first PMI index including one or more PMI indexes. The subset of the first PMI index is selected from a PMI set (also referred to as a codebook), and the PMI set may be predefined or configured by RRC signaling or MAC CE. Similarly, the mapping between the index and the PMI may be such that index#0 may be mapped to PMI#1, index#1 may be mapped to PMI#5, PMI#7, and PMI#8, and so on.

[0047] Regarding the first DMRS configuration information, it may include a DMRS CDM group, at least one DMRS port index, and at least one of a plurality of front-loaded DMRS symbols. For example, in some embodiments of the present application, the first DMRS configuration information may include a DMRS CDM group and a plurality of front-loaded DMRS symbols.

[0048] According to some embodiments of the present application, the DMRS CDM group is associated with the downlink DMRS or the uplink DMRS. There are at most two DMRS CDM groups for DMRS configuration type 1 and at most three DMRS CDM groups for DMRS configuration type 2. The DMRS CDM group may contain four resource elements in the time domain and the frequency domain, and for the four resource elements, a frequency domain orthogonal cover code (FD-OCC) and a time domain orthogonal cover code (TD-OCC) are adopted. For example, for the parent link of the IAB node, CDM group#0 may be indicated from the parent node of the IAB node to the IAB node. In some other embodiments of the present application, CDM group#0 and CDM group#1 may be indicated to be used for the parent link. The IAB node can allocate a DMRS CDM group for its child link by avoiding the DMRS ports associated with the DMRS CDM group of the parent link using the DMRS CDM group indication for the parent link. On the other hand, the IAB node can avoid using the resource elements associated with the DMRS ports of the parent link for data transmission and reception in the child link. For example, for the child link of the IAB node, CDM group#1 may be indicated from the parent node of the IAB node to the IAB node. In some other embodiments of the present application, CDM group#1 and CDM group#2 may be indicated to be used for the child link. The IAB node can accordingly allocate a DMRS CDM group for its child link using the DMRS CDM group indication for the child link.

[0049] In legacy 3GPP releases, the number of front-loaded DMRS symbols is indicated by two steps: a step that configures the maximum number of front-loaded DMRS symbols by RRC signaling, and a step that indicates the actual number of front-loaded DMRS symbols by DCI. The maximum number of front-loaded DMRS symbols can be 1 or 2. When the maximum number of front-loaded DMRS symbols is "1", it means that there is at most one front-loaded symbol that can be used for DMRS. Therefore, there is only one front-loaded symbol that can be further indicated by the dynamic DCI for DMRS. When the maximum number of front-loaded DMRS symbols is "2", it means that there are at most two front-loaded symbols that can be used for DMRS. Thus, one or two front-loaded symbols can be configured by the dynamic DCI for DMRS.

[0050] According to some embodiments of the present application, in an IAB network, the parent node of an IAB node may indicate to the IAB node the number of front-loaded DMRS symbols for the parent link or both the parent link and the child link by means of quasi-static signaling or DCI common to the group. The indicated number of front-loaded DMRS symbols will be used for both the parent link scheduled by the parent node and the child link scheduled by the IAB node. The indicated number of front-loaded DMRS symbols is the actual number used for the transmission and / or reception of DMRS. Alternatively, the parent node of the IAB node may also indicate the number of front-loaded DMRS symbols for the child link by means of quasi-static signaling or DCI common to the group.

[0051] Alternatively, in an IAB network, the parent node of an IAB node may indicate at least one DMRS port index for a parent link by means of quasi-static signaling or DCI common to a group. The indicated DMRS port index is to be used for both parent links scheduled by the parent node. Alternatively, the parent node of an IAB node may indicate at least one DMRS port index for a child link by means of quasi-static signaling or DCI common to a group, and accordingly, the IAB node may perform scheduling on the child link.

[0052] In some embodiments of the present application, at least one of the first spatial region filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information is configured per CC or per BWP. That is, in the frequency domain, each CC or BWP will have individual first spatial region filter configuration information and / or first DMRS configuration information.

[0053] In the time domain, for resource allocation, there are two options: one is that at least one of the received first spatial region filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information is valid until updated by newly received relevant configuration information; the other is that at least one of the received first spatial region filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information is valid for at least one time domain resource. The time domain granularity of the time domain resource or at least one time domain resource may be predefined or configured by RRC signaling or MAC CE. In some embodiments of the present application, the unit of the time domain granularity or the unit of the time domain resource may be an absolute time value of a unit such as "ms", or "s" or "μs". In some other embodiments of the present application, the unit of the time domain granularity or the unit of the time domain resource may be a slot or symbol related to the SCS. The SCS may be configured by RRC signaling or MAC CE and is determined by the BWP configuration when at least one signaling for indicating resource allocation is received.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary resource allocation using various time domain granularities based on the mapping (or RS index or RS index set) between the index shown in FIG. 3 and the spatial region filter according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0055] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, there are two BWPs, namely, BWP#0 and BWP#1. BWP#0 further includes BWP#0 before BWP reconfiguration using 30 KHz SCS and BWP#0 before BWP reconfiguration using 15 KHz SCS. BWP#1 further includes BWP#1 before BWP reconfiguration using 15 KHz SCS and BWP#1 before BWP reconfiguration using 15 KHz SCS. The DCI common to the group is first received at t0, and then the DCI common to the new group is received at t2. At t1, BWP reconfiguration using 15 KHz SCS for BWP#0 and BWP reconfiguration using 15 KHz SCS for BWP#1 are each received.

[0056] According to some embodiments of the present application, the unit of time domain granularity or time domain resources is an absolute time value such as "s", "ms", "μs", etc. For example, it is assumed that first, the time domain granularity can be configured to 1 ms, and the number of time domain resources of BWP#0 can be configured to 6 ms. Then, considering the DCI reception common to the group at t0 for BWP#0, the time domain granularity between t0 and t2 is 1 ms, and the number of indexes for indicating the spatial domain filter configuration information or DMRS configuration information is 6 (6 ms / 1 ms = 6). Considering the DCI reception common to the group at t2, for BWP#0, the time domain granularity after t2 is 1 ms, and the number of indexes for indicating the spatial domain filter configuration information or DMRS configuration information is 6 (6 ms / 1 ms = 6). In another example, for BWP#0, the time domain granularity between t0 and t2 is still 1 ms, but the number of time domain resources is 8 ms instead of 6 ms. Therefore, it is assumed that the number of indexes for indicating the spatial domain filter configuration information or DMRS configuration information is 8 (8 ms / 1 ms = 8). Since 8 is more than the number of time domain resources between the DCI common to the group at t0 and the DCI common to the group at t2, there are some overlapping time domain resources indicated by both the DCI common to the group at t0 and the DCI common to the group at t2, such as the first 2 ms after t2. Therefore, it is assumed that the spatial domain filter configuration information or DMRS configuration information indicated by both the DCI common to the group at t0 and the DCI common to the group at t2 is the same for the overlapping time domain resources. Similarly, for BWP#1, in one example, the time domain granularity is also configured to 1 ms, and the number of time domain resources is configured to 6 ms. Therefore, the time domain granularity between t0 and t2 is 1 ms, and the number of indexes for indicating the spatial domain filter configuration information or DMRS configuration information of the DCI common to the group at t2 is 6 (6 ms / 1 ms = 6). The time domain granularity after t2 is also 1 ms, and the number of indexes for indicating the spatial domain filter configuration information or DMRS configuration information of the DCI common to the group at t2 is 6 (6 ms / 1 ms = 6).

[0057] According to some embodiments of the present application, the unit of time domain granularity or time domain resources is a slot or a symbol. In one example, the SCS for determining the time domain granularity may be constituted by at least one of RRC signaling and MAC CE, or may be pre-defined to 15KHz, and the number of slots may be configured to 1. For example, it is assumed that the number of time domain resources of BWP#0 is configured to 6 ms. Therefore, considering the common DCI reception of the group at t0 for BWP#0, the time domain granularity between t0 and t2 is 1 ms (based on the 15KHz SCS, 1 slot is 1 ms), and the number of indexes for indicating the spatial domain filter configuration information or DMRS configuration information is 6 (6 ms / 1 ms = 6). Considering the common DCI reception of the group at t2, the time domain granularity of BWP#0 after t2 is also 1 ms, and the number of indexes for indicating the spatial domain filter configuration information or DMRS configuration information is 6 (6 ms / 1 ms = 6). In another example, it is assumed that the number of time domain resources is 8 ms, and the time domain granularity between t0 and t2 is still 1 ms. Therefore, the number of indexes for indicating the spatial domain filter configuration information or DMRS configuration information is 8 (8 ms / 1 ms = 8). Since 8 is more than the number of time domain resources between the common DCI of the group at t0 and t2, there are some overlapping time domain resources indicated by both the common DCI of the group at t0 and the common DCI of the group at t2, such as the first 2 ms after t2. The spatial domain filter configuration information and DMRS configuration information indicated by both the common DCI of the group at t0 and the common DCI of the group at t2 are assumed to be the same as the overlapping time domain resources. Similarly, for BWP#1, the number of time domain resources is initially configured to 6 ms.Next, the time domain granularity between t0 and t2 is 1 ms, and the number of indexes for indicating the spatial domain filter configuration information or DMRS configuration information of the DCI common to the group at t1 is 6 (6 ms / 1 ms = 6). The time domain granularity after t2 is also 1 ms, and the number of indexes for indicating the spatial domain filter configuration information or DMRS configuration information of the DCI common to the group at t2 is 6 (6 ms / 1 ms = 6).

[0058] While the SCS is implicitly determined by the relevant BWP, when the time domain granularity or the unit of time domain resources is a slot or a symbol and a DCI common to a group is received, the SCS is determined by the SCS of the corresponding BWP. RRC signaling between receptions of DCI common to two groups in the time domain can result in BWP reconfiguration. However, the SCS for determining the time domain granularity does not change, and thus the number of bits for indicating the spatial domain filter can remain the same. Therefore, for BWP#0 at time t0, (since BWP#0 is configured using SCS = 30KHz at t0) the reference SCS is 30KHz and the time domain granularity is configured as 1 slot (for 30KHz SCS, 1 slot = 0.5ms, e.g., G1 in Figure 4). For BWP#1 at time t0, the reference SCS is 15KHz and the time domain granularity is configured as 1 slot (for 15KHz SCS, 1 slot = 1ms, e.g., G2 in Figure 4). For BWP#0 at time t1, the SCS of BWP#0 is changed to 30KHz by BWP reconfiguration, but since there is no new DCI reception common to the group, the time domain granularity remains the same (e.g., 0.5ms). For BWP#1 at time t1, even with BWP reconfiguration, the SCS remains the same 15KHz, and the time domain granularity is determined by the SCS using DCI reception common to the group at t0, and thus the time domain granularity remains 1ms (for 15KHz, 1 slot = 1ms). For BWP#0 at time t2, a new DCI common to the group is received and the SCS of BWP#0 is 15KHz as it was previously changed by BWP reconfiguration. The time domain granularity is 1ms if it continues to be 1 slot, e.g., corresponding to G3. For BWP#1 at t2, a new DCI common to the group is received and the SCS of BWP#1 is 15KHz. The time domain granularity is 1ms if it continues to be 1 slot, e.g., corresponding to G3.If the number of time-domain resources is 6 ms, for BWP #0, the number of indexes indicating the spatial region filter configuration information (or spatial region filter, or resource) or DMRS configuration information in the DCI common to the group received at t0 is 6 (6 = 6 ms / 1 slot = 6 ms / 0.5 ms for 30 KHz SCS), and for BWP #0, the number of indexes indicating the spatial region filter configuration information or DMRS configuration information in the DCI common to the group received at t1 is 6 (for 15 KHz SCS, 6 = 6 ms / 1 slot = 6 ms / 1 ms). If the number of time-domain resources is 6 ms, for BWP #1, the number of indexes indicating the spatial region filter configuration information or DMRS configuration information in the DCI common to the group received at t0 is 6 (for 15 KHz SCS, 6 = 6 ms / 1 slot = 6 ms / 1 ms), and for BWP #1, the number of indexes indicating the spatial region filter configuration information or DMRS configuration information in the DCI common to the group received at t1 is 6 (for 15 KHz SCS, 6 = 6 ms / 1 slot = 6 ms / 1 ms).

[0059] Returning to FIG. 2, in step 203, data on the second link of the second node is received or transmitted, for example, at the second node. The first link is the same as or different from the second link, that is, the second link can be a link between the first node and the second node, or a link between the second node and a third node different from the first node. When the first link is different from the second link, the method may further include at least one of a step of determining second spatial region filter configuration information regarding the second link of the second node based on the first spatial region filter configuration information, and a step of determining second DMRS configuration information regarding the second link based on the first DMRS configuration information. The second node can transmit or receive data on the link between the first node and the second node based on the first spatial region filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information. The second node can transmit or receive data on the link between the second node and the third node based on the second spatial region filter configuration information and the second DMRS configuration information.

[0060] For example, when the first link is different from the second link, the second node may configure second spatial region filter configuration information and second DMRS configuration information for the second link based on the first spatial region filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information for the first link. For example, the second spatial region filter may be configured such that signals can be transmitted or received simultaneously at the parent link and the child link of the second node. Alternatively, the second spatial region filter may be configured as the first spatial region filter. Regarding the DMRS configuration, the number of front-loaded symbols for the second link may be configured to be the same as that of the first link. Regarding the DMRS configuration, in the situation of DMRS configuration#1 in TS 38.211, if CDM group#0 is indicated for the first link, CDM#1 may be indicated for the second link. Regarding the DMRS configuration, in the situation of DMRS configuration#2 in TS 38.211, if CDM group#0 and CDM group#1 are indicated for the first link, DMRS CDM#2 may be used for the second link.

[0061] In the IAB network, the parent node of an IAB node may configure the configuration information of the parent link, that is, the first spatial region filter configuration information and DMRS configuration information regarding the parent link of the IAB node. The IAB node may configure the second spatial region filter configuration information and the second DMRS configuration information regarding the child link of the IAB node. In some other embodiments of the present application, the parent node of the IAB node may configure the configuration information of the child link, that is, the first spatial region filter configuration information and DMRS configuration information regarding the child link of the IAB node. The IAB node may determine the second spatial region filter configuration information and the second DMRS configuration information regarding the child link of the IAB node based on the received configuration information regarding the child link. Alternatively, the IAB node may also determine the second spatial region filter configuration information and the second DMRS configuration information regarding the parent link of the IAB node based on the received configuration information regarding the child link. The IAB node can transmit or receive data on the parent link based on the spatial region filter configuration information and DMRS configuration information regarding the parent link. The IAB node can transmit or receive data on the child link based on the spatial region filter configuration information and DMRS configuration information regarding the child link.

[0062] Embodiments of the present application also show procedures related to resource allocation on the first node side, such as an IAB node or the parent node (or the DU of the parent node) of the same type. For example, FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an exemplary method for resource allocation according to some other embodiments of the present application. Considering the agreement between the first node side and the second node side, an exemplary procedure on the first node side is briefly shown.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 5, in step 501, at least one signaling indicating at least one of the first spatial region filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information regarding the first link of the second node from the first node is transmitted to, for example, the second node. In some embodiments of the present application, the first node may configure the first spatial region filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information regarding the first link of the second node. The first node may be the parent node (or the DU of the parent node) of the second node (or the MT of the second node). The first link of the second node is a link between the first node and the second node, or a link between the second node and the third node (or the MT of the third node). The third node may be a child node of the second node. In some embodiments of the present application, the first node may also configure the second spatial region filter configuration information and the second DMRS configuration information regarding the link between the second node and the third node.

[0064] In some embodiments of the present application, the at least one signaling is at least one DCI common to a group, at least one RRC signaling, at least one MAC CE, at least one quasi-static signaling, or a combination of two or more of these signalings. For example, the at least one signaling may be a DCI common to a group for indicating the first spatial region filter configuration information regarding a group of UEs. In another example, the at least one signaling may be at least one RRC signaling, MAC CE, or quasi-static signaling regarding a specific UE.

[0065] According to some embodiments of the present application, the first spatial region filter configuration information may indicate at least one spatial region filter that can be a beam or a beam set or an RS index or an RS index set. For example, the first spatial region filter configuration information may include at least one of a CSI-RS resource index, an SSB index, and an SRS resource index. Regarding the indicated spatial region filter, the mapping between the index related to the first link and the spatial region filter may be configured by at least one of RRC signaling and MAC CE so that the bits related to the indication of the spatial region filter set can be fixed.

[0066] According to some other embodiments of the present application, the first spatial region filter configuration information includes a subset of a first PMI index including one or more PMI indexes. The subset of the first PMI index can be selected from a pre-defined PMI set (also referred to as a codebook) or can be configured by RRC signaling or MAC CE.

[0067] Regarding the first DMRS configuration information, it may include at least one of a DMRS CDM group, at least one DMRS port index, and a plurality of front-loaded DMRS symbols. The DMRS CDM group may be associated with downlink DMRS or uplink DMRS. There are two DMRS CDM groups for DMRS configuration type 1 and three DMRS CDM groups for DMRS configuration type 2. The DMRS CDM group may contain four resource elements in the time domain and the frequency domain, and FD-OCC and TD-OCC are adopted for the four resource elements.

[0068] Regarding the number of front-loaded DMRS symbols, it can be 1 or 2. In the IAB network, the parent node of the IAB node can indicate to the IAB node the number of front-loaded DMRS symbols for the parent link or both the parent link and the child link by means of semi-static signaling or DCI common to the group. The indicated number of front-loaded DMRS symbols will be used for both the parent link scheduled by the parent node and the child link scheduled by the IAB node. The indicated number of front-loaded DMRS symbols is the actual number used for DMRS transmission and / or reception. Alternatively, the parent node of the IAB node can also indicate the number of front-loaded DMRS symbols for the child link by means of semi-static signaling or DCI common to the group.

[0069] In the frequency domain, at least one of the first spatial domain filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information is configured per CC or per BWP. In the time domain, for resource allocation, there are two options: at least one of the received first spatial domain filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information is valid until updated by newly received relevant configuration information, and at least one of the received first spatial domain filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information is valid for at least one time domain resource. The time domain granularity of the time domain resource or at least one time domain resource may be predefined or configured by RRC signaling or MAC CE. The unit of the time domain granularity or the unit of the time domain resource is, in some embodiments of the present application, an absolute time value of a unit such as "ms", or "s" or "μs", but the unit of the time domain granularity or the unit of the time domain resource is, in some other embodiments, a slot or symbol related to the SCS. The SCS may be configured by RRC signaling or MAC CE and is determined by the BWP configuration when the signaling is received.

[0070] In step 503, data on the second link of the second node is transmitted or received, for example, at the first node, and the first link is the same as or different from the second link.

[0071] In an IAB network, the first node is the parent node (or the DU of the parent node) of the IAB node (i.e., the second node), and the second link is the link between the first node and the second node. When the parent node configures the resources of the child link of the IAB node, the first link is different from the second link between the first node and the second node and is the link between the first node and the third node. For example, the third node is the child node of the second node. The first node may determine the second spatial region filter configuration information regarding the second link, i.e., the parent link of the second node, based on the first spatial region filter configuration information, and may also determine the second DMRS configuration information regarding the second link based on the first DMRS configuration information. When the first link is the same as the second link, the second node may determine at least one of the spatial region filter configuration information and the DMRS configuration information regarding the child node of the second node, i.e., may determine the child link of the second node based on at least one of the first spatial region filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information.

[0072] The first node can transmit and receive data in the link between the first node and the second node based on the second spatial region filter configuration information and the second DMRS configuration information. Determining the second spatial region filter configuration information regarding the second link of the second node based on the first spatial region filter configuration information in the first node is only for indicating that the determination of the first and second spatial region filter configuration information is related, and it should not be regarded as a determination sequence, which should be well-known to those skilled in the art. The same applies to determining the second DMRS configuration information regarding the second link based on the first DMRS configuration information in the first node. The first node can configure resource allocation information regarding both the first link and the second link of the second node, but what is shown to the second node is only the configuration information regarding the first link or the second link. On the other hand, as described above, the second spatial region filter configuration information and the second DMRS configuration information can be configured in the same or similar manner as the first spatial region filter configuration information, so it will not be repeated.

[0073] In addition, the embodiments of the present application also propose an apparatus for resource allocation. For example, FIG. 6 shows a block diagram of an apparatus 600 for resource allocation according to some embodiments of the present application.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 6, the apparatus 600 may include at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium 601, at least one receiving circuit 602, at least one transmitting circuit 604, and at least one processor 606 coupled to the non-transitory computer-readable medium 601, the receiving circuit 602, and the transmitting circuit 604. The apparatus 600 may be, for example, an IAB node apparatus (such as the MT of the IAB node) configured to execute the method shown in FIG. 2, or may be the parent node of the IAB node (such as the DU of the parent node) or the like configured to execute the method shown in FIG. 5.

[0075] In this figure, elements such as at least one processor 606, a transmission circuit 604, and a reception circuit 602 are described in the singular, but a plurality is also contemplated if no explicit limitation to the singular is indicated. In some embodiments of the present application, the reception circuit 602 and the transmission circuit 604 may be combined into a single device such as a transceiver. In certain embodiments of the present application, the device 600 may further include an input device, a storage device, and / or other components.

[0076] For example, in some embodiments of the present application, the non-transitory computer-readable medium 601 may store computer-executable instructions for causing a processor to implement the methods described above with respect to the IAB node. For example, the processor 606 interacts with the reception circuit 602 and the transmission circuit 604 to execute the steps regarding the second node represented in FIG. 2 by executing the computer-executable instructions.

[0077] In some embodiments of the present application, the non-transitory computer-readable medium 601 may store computer-executable instructions for causing a processor to implement the methods described above with respect to the parent node. For example, the processor 606 interacts with the reception circuit 602 and the transmission circuit 604 to execute the steps regarding the first node represented in FIG. 5 by executing the computer-executable instructions.

[0078] The method according to an embodiment of the present application can also be implemented on a programmed processor. However, the controller, flowchart, and module can be implemented in a general-purpose or dedicated computer, a programmed microprocessor or microcontroller and peripheral integrated circuit elements, an electronic circuit or logic circuit of hardware such as an integrated circuit, an individual element circuit, a programmable logic device, or the like. Generally, any device that exists in a finite state machine capable of implementing the flowchart shown in the figure can be used to implement the processor function of the present application. For example, an embodiment of the present application provides a device including a processor and a storage device. The computer programmable instructions and the processor for implementing the method stored in the storage device are configured to execute the computer programmable instructions to implement the method. The method may be the method described above or other methods according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0079] Alternative embodiments include those in which the method according to an embodiment of the present application is preferably implemented on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer programmable instructions. The instructions are preferably executed by computer-executable components integrated into a network security system. The instructions can be stored in any suitable computer-readable medium, such as RAM, ROM, flash memory, EEPROM, an optical storage device (CD or DVD), a hard disk, a floppy drive, or any suitable device. The computer-executable components are preferably a processor, but alternatively or in addition, the instructions may be executed by any suitable dedicated hardware device. For example, an embodiment of the present application provides a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer programmable instructions. The computer programmable instructions are configured to implement the method described above or other methods according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0080] Although the present application has been described using specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many alternative, modified, and variant forms are possible. For example, various components of these embodiments can be exchanged, added, or replaced in other embodiments. Also, not all elements of each figure are necessary for the operation of the disclosed embodiments. For example, those skilled in the art of the disclosed embodiments could make and use the teachings of the present application simply by utilizing the elements of the independent claims. Accordingly, the embodiments of the present application described herein are intended to be illustrative rather than limiting. Various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present application.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0081] 100 Wireless Access Backhaul Integrated Transmission (IAB) System 100A Wireless Access Backhaul Integrated Transmission (IAB) System 110 Donor Node 120A Wireless Access Backhaul Integrated Transmission (IAB) Node 120B Wireless Access Backhaul Integrated Transmission (IAB) Node 120C Wireless Access Backhaul Integrated Transmission (IAB) Node 120D Wireless Access Backhaul Integrated Transmission (IAB) Node 130A User Equipment (UE) 130B User Equipment (UE) 140 Wireless Access Backhaul Integrated Transmission (IAB) Donor 141 Centralized Unit (CU) 142 Distributed Unit (DU) 150A Wireless Access Backhaul Integrated Transmission (IAB) Node 150B Wireless Access Backhaul Integrated Transmission (IAB) Node 151A Distributed Unit (DU) 151B Distributed Unit (DU) 152A Mobile Terminal (MT) 152B Mobile Terminal (MT) 160A User Equipment (UE) 160B User Equipment (UE) 160C User Equipment (UE) 170 Next Generation Core (NGC) 180A Link 180B Link 180C Link 180D Link 180E Link 180F Link 600 Device 601 Non - Transitory Computer - Readable Medium 602 Receiver Circuit 604 Transmitter Circuit 606 Processor G1 Slot G2 Slot G3 Slot

Claims

1. Receiving at least one signaling indicating at least one of first spatial region filter configuration information and first demodulation reference signal (DMRS) configuration information for a first link of a second node from a first node; Receiving or transmitting data on a second link of the second node, wherein the first link is the same as or different from the second link; wherein the first spatial region filter configuration information relates to at least one time domain resource, and a time domain granularity of the at least one time domain resource is configured by radio resource control (RRC) signaling Method.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one signaling is at least one of downlink control information (DCI) signaling common to a group or quasi-static signaling.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first DMRS configuration information includes at least one of a DMRS code division multiplexing (CDM) group, at least one DMRS port index, and a plurality of front-loaded DMRS symbols.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first link or the second link is a link between the first node and the second node.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first link or the second link is a link between the second node and a third node different from the first node.

6. The first link is different from the second link, Determining second spatial region filter configuration information for the second link of the second node based on the first spatial region filter configuration information; Determining second DMRS configuration information for the second link based on the first DMRS configuration information The method according to claim 1, including at least one of.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first spatial region filter configuration information includes at least one of a channel state information reference signal (CSI-RS) resource index, a synchronization signal block (SSB) index, and a sounding reference signal (SRS) resource index.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first spatial region filter configuration information includes a subset of a first PMI index including one or more precoding matrix indicator (PMI) indexes.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the subset of the first PMI index is selected from a pre-defined PMI set or is configured by radio resource control (RRC) signaling or a control element (CE) of media access control (MAC).

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first spatial region filter configuration information and the first DMRS configuration information is configured for each carrier component (CC) or for each bandwidth part (BWP).

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first DMRS configuration information relates to at least one time domain resource, and the time domain granularity of the at least one time domain resource is pre-defined or is configured by radio resource control (RRC) signaling or a control element (CE) of media access control (MAC).

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the unit of the time domain granularity or the unit of the at least one time domain resource is an absolute value.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the unit of the time domain granularity or the unit of the at least one time domain resource is a slot or a symbol related to a subcarrier spacing (SCS).

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the SCS is configured by radio resource control (RRC) signaling or a control element (CE) of media access control (MAC).

15. At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions; At least one receiver; At least one transmitter; At least one processor coupled to the at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium, the at least one receiver, and the at least one transmitter; An apparatus comprising: The computer-executable instructions are programmed to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14 using the at least one receiver, the at least one transmitter, and the at least one processor. Apparatus.

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