IAB Network Path Control via Dynamic Slice Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) technology, existing solutions fail to ensure that communication paths can dynamically adapt to changing communication status, leading to unsatisfied slice requirements due to insufficient capacity or deterioration of communication links between IAB nodes and donors.
Innovation Solution
A control apparatus that obtains dynamic information about connectable IAB nodes and selects appropriate communication paths based on slice type requirements, using BAP control messages and RRC signals to manage and switch paths, ensuring that the communication path supports the requested slice type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If path switching is performed based only on slice type requirements, then slice type support is improved, but communication status adaptation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic path selection by continuously monitoring communication status parameters (signal quality, load, hop count) and adapting the communication path in real-time. The control apparatus dynamically adjusts path selection based on current network conditions rather than using static slice-type-based selection, resolving the contradiction between slice support and communication status adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control apparatus receives feedback information from IAB nodes about communication status including signal quality measurements, processing load metrics, and hop count data. This feedback mechanism enables the system to continuously monitor and adapt paths based on actual communication conditions, ensuring both slice requirements and communication status are satisfied.
2Reliability
If network topology is updated to improve connectivity, then connection reliability is improved, but hop count increases causing slice requirement violations
Solution Approach 1:
The control apparatus changes the selection parameters for path determination by considering multiple factors simultaneously: signal quality thresholds, processing load limits, and hop count constraints. By adjusting these parameters dynamically based on slice requirements and network conditions, the system finds optimal paths that balance connection reliability with acceptable hop count, preventing slice requirement violations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If IAB node processing capacity is increased to support more slices, then slice support capability is improved, but processing load on individual nodes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into multiple IAB nodes with distributed path selection capabilities. Instead of concentrating all processing load on single high-capacity nodes, the system distributes processing across multiple nodes, each handling specific slices and local path selection. This segmentation reduces individual node processing loads while maintaining overall slice support capability through coordinated multi-node operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A control apparatus of an IAB (Integrated Access and Backhaul) network performs: obtaining a plurality of types of dynamic information indicating a communication status of at least one IAB node for relaying connection between an IAB donor and a predetermined IAB node in the IAB network, the at least one IAB node being connectable to the predetermined IAB node; selecting at least one type of the dynamic information, out of the plurality of types of the obtained dynamic information, based on a slice type to be supported by the predetermined IAB node; and controlling a communication path between the predetermined IAB node and the IAB donor in accordance with the selected at least one type of the dynamic information.