IAB RLC Packet Delay Budget Scheduling for Time-Sensitive Traffic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless communication systems, particularly in integrated access and backhaul (IAB) networks, face challenges in accurately determining packet delay budgets (PDB) for radio link control (RLC) channels and efficiently reporting stack processing times, which affect scheduling and latency in time-sensitive communications.

Innovation Solution

Implement methods for determining and enhancing packet delay budgets across full or partial protocol stacks in IAB networks, and enabling IAB nodes to report their stack processing times to parent nodes, facilitating improved scheduling and latency management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If PDB determination is performed across full protocol stack in IAB networks, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovePDB determination accuracyVSAvoidprotocol stack processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the PDB determination process by introducing separate fields for full-stack PDB and partial-stack PDB in the QoS parameters. This allows the system to measure and report different delay budget components separately, improving measurement precision while managing complexity through structured data organization rather than complex processing logic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If IAB nodes report stack processing time capabilities, then information completeness is improved, but signaling overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestack processing time informationVSAvoidsignaling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the stack processing time capability reporting with existing QoS parameter signaling structures. By integrating new information elements into already-established signaling messages, the system achieves complete information exchange without creating separate signaling procedures, thus reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining information completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If scheduling is performed based on one-hop RLC channel PDB, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescheduling efficiencyVSAvoidRLC channel PDB accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary PDB determination at the QoS flow level before packet transmission. By pre-calculating and configuring PDB values based on QoS requirements and network conditions, the system enables efficient scheduling decisions without requiring real-time high-precision measurements during packet forwarding, thus improving productivity while maintaining adequate measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12568482B2Packet delay budget (PDB) and time sensitive communication (TSC) traffic in integrated access and backhaul (IAB) networks

Publication Date: 2026.03.03 QUALCOMM INC

AI summary

Aspects of the present disclosure may provide an apparatus, which may include a first node that may receive an indication of a one-hop radio link control (RLC) channel packet delay budget (PDB) for an RLC channel between the first node and a second node. The PDB is across a full protocol stack or a partial protocol stack. The first node may then schedule communications with the second node based on the one-hop RLC channel PDB. In some cases, an IAB node may report a capability of its stack processing time to an IAB donor node and/or a parent IAB node (directly or indirectly).