IAB Node Configuration Switching for Cross-Donor Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of wireless access and backhaul links in integrated access and backhaul (IAB) nodes leads to challenges in managing cross-donor base station handovers due to potential resource conflicts and link interruptions, necessitating a method to ensure seamless communication during handover processes.
Innovation Solution
The IAB node receives configuration information from target donor base stations based on specific conditions, allowing the distributed unit (DU) to use new configuration information only when the mobile terminal (MT) meets certain criteria, thereby avoiding resource conflicts and ensuring smooth handover without communication exceptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the IAB node integrates wireless access and backhaul links sharing air interface resources, then network capacity and coverage are improved, but resource conflicts occur between DU transmission and MT reception during handover
Solution Approach 1:
The source donor base station pre-configures multiple target donor base station configuration information sets to the IAB node before handover occurs. This includes pre-configuring DU configuration information for multiple potential target donors, so that when handover is triggered, the IAB node can immediately switch without waiting for new configuration, thereby avoiding resource conflicts and communication exceptions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic selection of DU configuration information based on handover conditions. The IAB node dynamically switches between different target donor base station configuration sets depending on which handover scenario actually occurs (first target donor vs. second target donor), optimizing resource allocation and avoiding conflicts between DU transmission and MT reception
2Speed
If the DU uses new configuration information from target donor base station, then handover speed is improved, but resource conflicts occur between DU sending SSB and MT sending SSB
Solution Approach 1:
The source donor base station provides multiple pre-configured target donor base station configuration information sets including DU configuration information before handover. This preliminary configuration allows the IAB node to immediately apply the appropriate configuration when handover is triggered, achieving fast handover without generating resource conflicts between DU and MT SSB transmissions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the pre-configured DU configuration information as an intermediary solution. Instead of the DU immediately using new configuration from the target donor base station (which causes resource conflicts), the system uses pre-prepared configuration sets that are specifically designed to avoid such conflicts while still enabling fast handover
3Reliability
If cross-donor base station handover is performed, then link communication reliability is improved, but handover delays occur due to configuration switching
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple target donor base station configuration information sets are pre-configured in the IAB node before handover occurs. When handover is triggered, the IAB node can immediately switch to the appropriate pre-configured set without waiting for new configuration from the target donor, thereby achieving reliable cross-donor handover without time loss
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of target donor base station configuration information sets in advance. Instead of obtaining configuration information from the target donor base station in real-time during handover (which causes delays), the system uses pre-copied configuration sets that are already stored in the IAB node, eliminating configuration acquisition delay while ensuring handover reliability
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method and a communication apparatus are disclosed. The communication method includes: An integrated access and backhaul (IAB) node receives first configuration information from a source donor base station, where the first configuration information includes N pieces of configuration information of a mobile terminal (MT) and N pieces of configuration information of a distributed unit (DU) that are configured by N target donor base stations for the IAB node; and the DU of the IAB node uses one piece of configuration information in the N pieces of configuration information of the DU when the MT of the IAB node satisfies a specific condition, where N is greater than or equal to 1, the MT is configured to communicate with a parent node of the IAB node, the source donor base station, or the target donor base station, and the DU is configured to communicate with a child node of the IAB node or a terminal.