IAB Node Notification Signal Relaying via Segmented Resources

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, particularly in integrated access and backhaul (IAB) networks, face challenges in achieving low latency due to the half duplex constraint, which leads to high latency for communication, especially in scenarios requiring ultra-reliable low latency communications (URLLC) and handling failures in backhaul links.

Innovation Solution

The method involves configuring specific receive (RX) and transmit (TX) resources for nodes in the IAB network to allow for low latency relaying of notification signals, where RX and TX resources are reserved within a time period, and nodes refrain from other transmissions or receptions, enabling dynamic reconfiguration and reducing latency by aligning resource containers across nodes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If nodes in IAB network follow half duplex constraint with shared resources, then resource utilization is improved, but latency increases due to inability to transmit and receive simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the time period into distinct RX and TX resource portions, allowing nodes to dedicate specific time slots to receiving notification signals and others to transmitting them. This segmentation resolves the half-duplex constraint by creating structured opportunities for both operations without requiring simultaneous transmission and reception, thereby maintaining resource utilization while reducing latency through predictable resource allocation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by configuring nodes with advance knowledge of RX and TX resource allocations before the actual notification signal transmission occurs. Nodes refr机 from other transmissions or receptions in advance of the notification signal exchange, ensuring resources are ready and available, which reduces latency while maintaining efficient resource utilization through pre-planned resource containers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If nodes refrain from other transmissions or receptions during notification signal resources, then notification signal reliability is improved, but overall network productivity decreases due to resource idle time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification signal reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork productivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action by establishing regular intervals for notification signal transmission and reception within the IAB network. Nodes periodically refrain from other transmissions or receptions at configured intervals to ensure reliable notification signal exchange, while maintaining network productivity through structured resource containers that organize these periodic actions efficiently and minimize overall idle time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Device complexity

If resource containers are aligned across multiple nodes, then coordination overhead is reduced, but flexibility in resource allocation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoordination overheadVSAvoidresource allocation flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by enabling resource containers to be configured with flexible parameters that can be adjusted based on network conditions and requirements. While resource containers are aligned across nodes to reduce coordination overhead, the configuration allows dynamic adaptation of time periods, RX/TX resource portions, and node-specific allocations, maintaining resource allocation flexibility through configurable parameters that can respond to changing network demands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3963996B1Low latency relaying of a notification signal in an integrated access and backhaul network
Publication Date: 2024.06.05 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP3963996B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3963996B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3963996B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various aspects of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication. In some aspects, a node in a multi-hop network may receive a configuration for a notification signal, wherein the configuration indicates a receive (RX) resource to be used by the node to monitor for the notification signal and a transmit (TX) resource to be used by the node to transmit the notification signal, wherein the RX resource and the TX resource are included in a time period that also includes one or more other RX resources and one or more other TX resources to be used by one or more other nodes in the multi-hop network for the notification signal. The node in a multi-hop network may refrain from transmitting or receiving in any resources within the time period except for the RX resource and the TX resource. Numerous other aspects are provided.