IAB Node Access in NR Non-Standalone Cells
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current solutions for enabling Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB) nodes to operate in Non-Standalone (NSA) NR cells face challenges, particularly in supporting standalone NR operations without impacting LTE base stations and EPC networks, as EN-DC requires complex CN solutions and NAS protocols, and EN-DC on the backhaul link is costly and impractical.
Innovation Solution
Allowing IAB nodes to operate in NSA NR cells by barring standalone UEs from accessing these cells, enabling relay nodes to perform standalone operations, thus avoiding the need for EN-DC on the backhaul link and minimizing impacts on LTE base stations and EPC networks, using system information blocks to indicate access permissions for IAB nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If IAB nodes are allowed to operate in NSA NR cells using EN-DC, then access capability is improved, but device complexity and network cost increase due to requiring complex CN solutions and NAS protocols
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the IAB node access functionality from the EN-DC framework and creates a standalone access mechanism. By defining a new access mode where IAB nodes can directly access NSA NR cells without requiring EN-DC configuration, the complex CN solutions and NAS protocols are eliminated while maintaining access capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring IAB nodes to access NSA NR cells through the traditional EN-DC path (which requires LTE eNB as anchor), the patent inverts the approach by allowing direct NR cell access. This reversal of the access path eliminates the dependency on LTE infrastructure and simplifies the network architecture.
2Reliability
If EN-DC is deployed on the backhaul link to support IAB nodes, then reliability is improved, but loss of energy and deployment cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a cost-effective approach by allowing IAB nodes to use standalone NR operations for backhaul links instead of expensive EN-DC deployment. This enables operators to deploy IAB nodes without investing in dual-connectivity infrastructure, significantly reducing deployment costs while maintaining adequate backhaul reliability through NR standalone capabilities.
3Ease of operation
If NSA NR cells are configured to accept all UEs, then ease of operation is improved, but harmful factors increase due to unauthorized standalone UE access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating access permissions for different node types within the same NSA NR cell. Through the cellAccessRelatedInfoList parameter, the network can grant standalone access rights specifically to IAB nodes while maintaining traditional EN-DC requirements for regular UEs. This localized access control policy enables selective permission granting without affecting overall cell operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for enabling operations for a relay node comprises receiving, at a first network node, a system information block including a first indication and a second indication, wherein the first indication indicates that a first cell is a non-standalone cell and is barred for standalone user equipments (UEs), and the second indication indicates that the first network node is able to access the first cell. The method further comprises identifying, at the first network node, whether the first network node is able to access the first cell based on the second indication in the system information block. The method may improve a performance in the network by enabling a relay node to operate in a non-standalone cell, such that both access and backhaul in E-UTRAN New Radio Dual Connectivity (EN-DC) are supported.