IAB Node Routing via Path Identifier
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of wireless backhaul in 5G NR systems faces challenges with radio link failures and congestion due to independent address assignment in each IAB network, leading to routing issues and increased processing complexity at IAB nodes.
Innovation Solution
A method for processing data packets in an IAB network that determines whether the routing path includes nodes from a different IAB network, using the path identifier to route packets through alternate paths, thereby avoiding duplicate address issues and reducing processing complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple backhaul paths are set up between IAB-donor and access IAB-node to cope with radio link failures, then network reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple intermediate IAB nodes and routing decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing decision process into two independent parts: destination address identification (handled by existing IAB nodes) and path identifier-based routing (handled by boundary IAB nodes). This segmentation allows boundary nodes to simply forward packets based on path identifiers without complex routing decisions, reducing their processing complexity while maintaining multi-path routing capabilities for reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces path identifiers as an intermediary mechanism between the destination address and the actual routing decision. Boundary IAB nodes use these path identifiers as mediators to determine whether to forward packets within the same IAB network or to a different IAB network, simplifying their routing function while enabling complex multi-network paths.
2Ease of manufacture
If independent address assignment is used in each IAB network, then ease of network deployment is improved, but routing issues occur due to duplicate addresses across networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the addressing function into two independent parts: destination address (assigned independently by each IAB network for ease of deployment) and path identifier (used to distinguish between different networks). This allows each network to use independent address assignment while avoiding routing conflicts through the path identifier.
Solution Approach 2:
The path identifier acts as an intermediary that resolves the conflict between independent address assignment and routing reliability. Boundary IAB nodes use path identifiers as mediators to determine packet forwarding decisions, allowing duplicate addresses to coexist across different IAB networks without causing routing errors.
3Measurement precision
If boundary IAB nodes process both destination address and path identifier, then routing accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing processing at boundary IAB nodes into a simple path identifier-based decision process. Instead of processing both destination address and path identifier, boundary nodes only examine the path identifier to determine forwarding decisions, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining routing accuracy through the path identifier field.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for processing data packets at an integrated access and backhaul, IAB, node of an IAB network comprising a plurality of IAB nodes is disclosed. The method comprises receiving a data packet including a destination address of a destination IAB node for the data packet and a path identifier identifying a routing path for the data packet to the destination IAB node; determining, based on the received data packet, whether the routing path of the received data packet includes at least one IAB node of a different IAB network; in response to determining that the routing path of the received data packet includes at least one IAB node of a different IAB network, using the path identifier of the received data packet to determine whether there is a next IAB node in the routing path for routing the data packet. When a next IAB node is determined, the data packet is routed to the next IAB node.