IAB Node Discovery via Pre-configured Reference Signals
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G NR base station deployment methods face challenges in flexible and robust wireless communication due to limitations in Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) link discovery and synchronization, particularly in multi-hop connections, leading to inefficiencies in access link and backhaul link configuration and interference issues.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an electronic device with processing circuitry that transmits and receives configuration information for reference signals, such as Synchronization Signal Blocks (SSBs) and Channel State Information Reference Signals (CSI-RSs), to facilitate efficient discovery and synchronization of IAB nodes, including hop count acquisition and synchronization time adjustments based on signal offsets, ensuring orthogonal time resources and directional beam configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If periodic discovery is implemented for IAB nodes to detect surrounding candidate nodes, then the robustness of backhaul connections is improved, but the access latency and time overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring reference signal resources and discovery parameters before the actual discovery process. IAB nodes are pre-assigned specific time-frequency resources for transmitting and receiving discovery signals, allowing them to quickly detect candidate nodes without extensive periodic scanning, thus reducing access latency while maintaining connection robustness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by enabling IAB nodes to perform directed discovery in specific spatial directions using beamforming techniques. Instead of omnidirectional periodic discovery, nodes transmit and receive reference signals in targeted directions, reducing the time required to detect candidate nodes in specific areas while maintaining reliable connection establishment
2Productivity
If multiple IAB nodes transmit discovery signals simultaneously, then the discovery efficiency is improved, but signal interference between nodes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the discovery signal transmission into distinct time-frequency segments for different IAB nodes. Each node is assigned specific orthogonal resources (different time slots, frequency subcarriers, or spatial beams), allowing simultaneous transmission without interference. This enables multiple nodes to perform discovery in parallel, improving efficiency while eliminating harmful interference through resource orthogonality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses reference signals as intermediaries that carry discovery information in a structured manner. These standardized reference signals include synchronization signals and channel state information signals that facilitate reliable detection while their orthogonal designs prevent interference between simultaneous transmissions from different nodes, acting as mediators that enable efficient multi-node discovery
3Loss of information
If hop count information is acquired from donor node for relay nodes, then the network topology management is improved, but the synchronization accuracy degrades in multi-hop connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-synchronizing IAB nodes to the donor node's timing before multi-hop connections are established. Donor nodes transmit synchronization signals that relay nodes acquire and use as a common time reference, ensuring that even nodes multiple hops away maintain accurate synchronization. This preliminary synchronization prevents timing drift that would otherwise degrade precision in multi-hop topologies
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where IAB nodes continuously monitor and report timing offset information to their parent nodes and ultimately to the donor node. This feedback loop allows the network to detect and correct synchronization drift in multi-hop connections, maintaining measurement precision despite the complexity of the topology. The donor node can adjust synchronization parameters based on accumulated feedback from the relay chain
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an electronic apparatus, a wireless communication method and a computer-readable medium. The electronic apparatus for wireless communication according to one embodiment comprises a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to perform control to send or receive configuration information. The configuration information is related to configuration of a reference signal used in a discovery process of an integrated access backhaul (IAB) link node.