Method for integrated access backhaul resource multiplexing

Abstract

A parent node in a wireless communication network is arranged to communicate backhaul traffic wirelessly with an Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB) node. The parent node may determine time resources for a distributed unit (DU) of the IAB node to communicate backhaul traffic with a child node or a mobile terminal, and transmit an indication of the determined time resources to the IAB node. The parent node may also determine time resources for a mobile termination (MT) of the IAB node to communicate backhaul traffic with the parent node, and transmit an indication of the determined time resources to the IAB node. The IAB may receive, from the parent node, at least one indication of time resources for communicating backhaul data with the parent node, and communicate backhaul data with the parent node based on the time resources. The IAB node may also receive, from the parent node, at least one indication of time resources for communicating backhaul data with the child node or the mobile terminal, and communicate backhaul data with the child node or the mobile terminal based on the time resources.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A parent node in a wireless communication network, the parent node comprising:
 a transceiver; and   a processor configured to:   determine time resources for a distributed unit (DU) of an integrated access backhaul (IAB) node to communicate backhaul data with a child node or a mobile terminal; and   control the transceiver to transmit at least one indication of the determined time resources to the IAB node.   
     
     
         2 . The parent node of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one indication includes an indication of whether at least one of an uplink resource, a downlink resource, or a flexible resource is dedicated or non-dedicated to backhaul data communication between the IAB node and the child node or the mobile terminal. 
     
     
         3 . The parent node of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 control the transceiver to transmit a further indication to the IAB node, the further indication indicating whether a non-dedicated resource is allocated to backhaul data communication between the IAB node and the child node or the mobile terminal.   
     
     
         4 . The parent node of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine frequency resources for the DU of the IAB node to communicate backhaul data with the child node or the mobile terminal; and   control the transceiver to transmit at least one indication of the determined frequency resources to the IAB node.   
     
     
         5 . The parent node of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 control the transceiver to transmit a further indication to the IAB node, the further indication indicating whether at least one of an uplink resource, a downlink resource, or a flexible resource is a hard type resource or a soft type resource.   
     
     
         6 . The parent node of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to provide information regarding a semi-static configuration or a static configuration of the determined time resources. 
     
     
         7 . The parent node of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to dynamically indicate an availability of a resource using a downlink control information (DCI) format. 
     
     
         8 . A parent node in a wireless communication network, the parent node comprising:
 a transceiver; and   a processor configured to:   determine time resources for a mobile termination (MT) of an integrated access backhaul (IAB) node to communicate backhaul data with the parent node; and   control the transceiver to transmit at least one indication of the determined time resources to the IAB node.   
     
     
         9 . The parent node of  claim 8 , wherein the time resources are time division multiplexed resources. 
     
     
         10 . The parent node of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 determine frequency resources for the MT of the IAB node to communicate backhaul data with the parent node; and   control the transceiver to transmit at least one indication of the determined frequency resources to the IAB node.   
     
     
         11 . The parent node of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 control the transceiver to transmit a further indication to the IAB node, the further indication indicating whether at least one of an uplink resource, a downlink resource, or a flexible resource is a hard type resource or a soft type resource.   
     
     
         12 . The parent node of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to dynamically indicate an availability of a resource using a downlink control information (DCI) format. 
     
     
         13 . An integrated access backhaul (IAB) node in a wireless communication network, the IAB node comprising:
 a transceiver; and   a processor configured to:   receive, from a parent node via the transceiver, at least one indication of time resources for communicating backhaul data with a child node or a mobile terminal, and   control the transceiver to communicate backhaul data with the child node or the mobile terminal based on the time resources.   
     
     
         14 . The IAB node of  claim 13 , wherein the time resources include one or more of downlink resources, uplink resources, flexible resources, or unavailable resources, and wherein the flexible resources can be utilised as downlink resources or uplink resources. 
     
     
         15 . The IAB node of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one indication includes an indication of whether an uplink resource, a downlink resources, and a flexible resources is dedicated or non-dedicated to backhaul communication between the IAB node and the child node or the mobile terminal. 
     
     
         16 . The IAB node of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive, from the parent node via the transceiver, a further indication, the further indication indicating whether a non-dedicated resource is allocated to backhaul communication between the IAB node and the child node or the mobile terminal.   
     
     
         17 . The IAB node of  claim 13 , wherein the time resources are time division multiplexed resources. 
     
     
         18 . The IAB node of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive, from the parent node via the transceiver, at least one indication of frequency resources for communicating backhaul data with the child node or the mobile terminal. 
     
     
         19 . The IAB node of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive, from the parent node via the transceiver, information regarding a semi-static configuration or a static configuration of the determined time resources. 
     
     
         20 . The IAB node of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is further configured to receive, from the parent node via the transceiver, dynamic signalling in a downlink control information (DCI) format that indicates an availability of a resource. 
     
     
         21 . A method of operating a parent node in a wireless communication network, the parent node including at least one processor and being arranged to communicate backhaul data wirelessly with an integrated access backhaul (IAB) node, the method comprising:
 determining time resources for a distributed unit (DU) of the IAB node to communicate backhaul data with a child node or a mobile terminal; and   transmitting at least one indication of the determined time resources to the IAB node.   
     
     
         22 . A method of operating a parent node in a wireless communication network, the parent node including at least one processor and being arranged to communicate backhaul data wirelessly with an Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB) node, the method comprising:
 determining time resources for a mobile termination (MT) of the IAB node to communicate backhaul data with the parent node; and   transmitting at least one indication of the determined time resources to the IAB node.   
     
     
         23 . A method of operating an integrated access backhaul (IAB) node in a wireless communication network, the IAB node including at least one processor and being arranged to communicate backhaul data wirelessly with a parent node or a child node, the method comprising:
 receiving, from the parent node, at least one indication of time resources for communicating backhaul data with the parent node, and   communicating backhaul data with the parent node based on the time resources.   
     
     
         24 . A method of operating an integrated access backhaul (IAB) node including at least one processor and being arranged to communicate backhaul data wirelessly with a parent node or a child node, the method comprising:
 receiving, from the parent node, at least one indication of time resources for communicating backhaul data with the child node or the mobile terminal, and   communicating backhaul data with the child node or the mobile terminal based on the time resources.