IAB Node Slot Format Configuration for MT-DU Resource Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently configuring slot formats for integrated access and backhaul links in New Radio (NR) networks, particularly in managing resource sharing between Master Terminal (MT) and Distributed Unit (DU) in Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) nodes, which affects communication efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves configuring slot formats that consider resource sharing in a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) scheme between MT and DU in IAB nodes, allowing for flexible configuration of link directions and availability, optimizing the placement of Downlink (DL), Uplink (UL), and flexible (F) resources within a slot format to enhance communication efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If slot format configuration is optimized for resource sharing between MT and DU in IAB nodes, then communication efficiency increases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The slot format configuration is segmented into multiple types (first type with DL dominant, second type with UL dominant, third type with flexible resources) that can be selectively applied to different IAB nodes based on their specific MT-DU resource sharing requirements. This segmentation allows optimized communication efficiency for each node type while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized configuration categories.
2Quantity of substance
If TDM scheme is implemented for resource sharing between MT and DU, then resource utilization improves, but flexibility in link direction configuration decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The slot format configuration introduces dynamic flexibility through the third type configuration that allows flexible resources to be dynamically allocated between DL and UL based on real-time traffic demands. The network can dynamically select among different slot format types (first, second, or third type) for different time slots, enabling adaptive resource allocation that maintains high utilization while providing link direction flexibility.
3Loss of energy
If slot format configuration considers MT and DU characteristics, then resource efficiency increases, but configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent defines specific parameter sets for different slot format types (e.g., DL dominant, UL dominant, flexible) that can be configured through standardized parameters. By changing these predefined parameter sets rather than creating custom configurations for each node, the system achieves high resource efficiency tailored to MT-DU characteristics while keeping configuration complexity manageable through parameter-based management.
Data Source
AI summary
In the present specification, settings for a link direction and link availability of a time resource for a DU child link may be referred to as DU setting. The resource types from an IAB node DU perspective are UL, DL, and F, and the settings for availability may be classified into NA, hard resources, and soft resources, respectively. Specifically, the IAB node may receive resource setting information, wherein the resource setting information may include link direction information and availability information. The link direction information may indicate whether the type of a specific resource is UL, DL, or F, and the availability information may indicate whether a specific resource is a hard resource, an NA resource, or a soft resource. Considering the feature of sharing resources in a TDM scheme between a MT and a DU in the IAB node, the present specification proposes a feature to be had by a slot format setting for the IAB node.