IAB Beam Reporting for Simultaneous MT and DU Reception
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Solution Overview
Problem
In NR/5G networks, integrated access and backhaul (IAB) nodes face challenges with simultaneous reception due to frequency overlap between mobile termination (MT) and distributed unit (DU) receptions, leading to unsuccessful packet transmission in intra-frequency dual connectivity scenarios, particularly in unpaired spectrum.
Innovation Solution
Enhanced beam reporting mechanisms that provide accurate feedback on beam pairs receivable simultaneously at IAB nodes, allowing networks to select optimal beams for transmission and scheduling, thereby enabling simultaneous MT-Rx/DU-Rx operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If IAB nodes operate in intra-frequency dual connectivity with unpaired spectrum, then network capacity and resource utilization are improved, but reception failures occur due to frequency overlap between MT and DU receptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the frequency resources by introducing separate indication fields for MT reception resources and DU reception resources. This allows the network to independently configure and manage frequency resources for mobile termination and distributed unit operations, preventing overlap and interference while maintaining high network capacity utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary configuration of frequency resources through RRC signaling before actual data transmission. The network pre-allocates and indicates specific frequency resources for MT and DU receptions, ensuring that frequency overlap is avoided from the outset rather than handling conflicts during transmission.
2Reliability
If beam reporting mechanisms are enhanced to provide accurate feedback on simultaneous beam pairs, then simultaneous MT-Rx/DU-Rx operations are enabled, but signaling overhead and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends existing beam reporting mechanisms to serve dual purposes: traditional beam quality reporting and simultaneous reception capability indication. By making the reporting mechanism multi-functional, the system enables simultaneous MT-Rx/DU-Rx operations without requiring entirely new signaling protocols, thus managing complexity while enhancing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary indication mechanism that bridges the gap between beam measurement capabilities and resource configuration. The beam reporting acts as an intermediary that conveys simultaneous reception capabilities to the network, which then uses this information to make informed resource allocation decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an example aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method comprising performing with a first node beam measurement for downlink beams received with the first node from at least one second node, scheduling with the first node at least one third node for uplink transmission to the first node, determining with the first node one or more of the downlink beams that can be received simultaneously with a beam of the at least one third node based at least partially on the scheduling of the at least one third node and the performing of the beam measurement, and transmitting with the first node results of the performed beam measurement wherein the results comprise an indication of the one or more determined downlink beams that can be received simultaneously with the beam of the at least one third node.