IAB Node Backhaul Failure Reporting via Alternative Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB) networks face challenges in efficiently recovering from backhaul link failures, leading to prolonged service interruptions due to the time-consuming process of identifying and attaching to alternate parent nodes, especially in millimeter-wave deployments where connectivity with the donor CU is lost or alternative parent nodes are unavailable.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mechanism where an affected IAB node sends a radio link failure indication to its child nodes, allowing them to pause or throttle data transmission and forward the report to the donor CU, which then determines the best alternate parent node for reconnection, thereby modifying the network topology to minimize service disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an affected IAB node waits for the donor CU to identify and attach to alternate parent nodes, then the network topology can be optimized for reliable connectivity, but the service interruption time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having child IAB nodes proactively detect backhaul link failures and forward failure indications to the donor CU before the affected node completes its attachment to alternate parent nodes. This premature notification enables the donor CU to initiate topology optimization and identify alternate paths in advance, reducing the overall service interruption time while ensuring reliable connectivity through optimized topology selection.
2Speed
If child IAB nodes continuously monitor backhaul link status, then failure detection speed improves, but the complexity of failure detection and reporting mechanisms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by establishing a systematic failure detection and reporting mechanism where child IAB nodes continuously monitor backhaul link status and provide feedback to the donor CU through standardized failure indication messages. This feedback loop enables rapid failure detection while managing complexity through structured reporting protocols that aggregate failure information hierarchically from child nodes to the donor CU.
3Measurement precision
If the donor CU waits for all failure reports before initiating topology optimization, then the optimization can be based on complete failure information, but the recovery process becomes slower
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the donor CU to initiate topology optimization procedures dynamically upon receiving failure reports, rather than waiting for complete failure information from all nodes. The system adapts the optimization process based on the availability and quality of failure reports, allowing premature initiation of recovery actions while continuously refining the optimization based on additional failure information that arrives from other child nodes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. According to one or more embodiments, a child IAB node is configured to communicate with a first parent IAB node and a descendant IAB node over a backhaul network. The child IAB node includes processing circuitry configured to: detect a backhaul link failure between the child IAB node and the first parent IAB node; in response to the detected backhaul link failure, cause transmission of a radio link failure indication to the descendant IAB node; receive signaling indicating for the child IAB node to connect to a second parent IAB node; and modify network topology at least in part by connecting to the second parent IAB node.