Integrated access and backhaul link selection

Abstract

The disclosed technology is generally directed towards communicating whether a small deployed (e.g., millimeter wave 5G) cell is capable of operating as a self-backhaul device and can thereby operate as a relay node for another network device's backhaul (e.g., integrated access and backhaul) traffic. Data communicated between network devices, such as an attribute in in the CellAccessRelatedInfo information element of the system information block (e.g., a SIB type 1) message, can be used to convey the self-backhaul capability information. The network device that is searching for a self-backhaul cell evaluates the self-backhaul data of another cell, along with other selection criteria, to determine if the other cell can serve as a backhaul link; if the criteria is met, that other cell is selected, otherwise another cell is searched for such a capability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 evaluating, by a first millimeter wave cell comprising a processor, a system information message associated with a second millimeter wave cell; and   in response to the system information message satisfying a criterion with respect to the second millimeter wave cell operating as a relay node to a self-backhaul link, registering, by the first millimeter wave cell, the first millimeter wave cell with the second millimeter wave cell for use as the relay node to the self-backhaul link for the first millimeter wave cell.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the criterion is based on a self-backhaul parameter of the system information message indicating a self-backhaul capability. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the criterion is based on a public land mobile network parameter of the system information message matching identity information associated with the first millimeter wave cell. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the criterion is whether a signal quality parameter of the system information message satisfies a signal quality threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the criterion is whether a parameter of the system information message indicates that the second millimeter wave cell is not barred. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the system information message comprises a system information block. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the system information message comprises a master information block. 
     
     
         8 . A first millimeter wave cell, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 evaluating respective system information messages associated with second millimeter wave cells; 
 selecting a second millimeter wave cell of the second millimeter wave cells having a corresponding system information message that satisfies a criterion with respect to the second millimeter wave cell operating as a relay node to a self-backhaul link; and 
 registering the first millimeter wave cell with the second millimeter wave cell for use as the relay node to the self-backhaul link for the first millimeter wave cell. 
   
     
     
         9 . The first millimeter wave cell of  claim 8 , wherein the criterion is based on whether a self-backhaul parameter of the corresponding system information message indicates a self-backhaul capability. 
     
     
         10 . The first millimeter wave cell of  claim 8 , wherein the criterion is based on whether a public land mobile network parameter of the corresponding system information message matches identification information associated with the first millimeter wave cell. 
     
     
         11 . The first millimeter wave cell of  claim 8 , wherein the criterion is based on whether a signal quality parameter of the corresponding system information message exceeds a signal quality threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The first millimeter wave cell of  claim 8 , wherein the criterion is based on whether a parameter of the corresponding system information message indicates that the second millimeter wave cell is not barred. 
     
     
         13 . The first millimeter wave cell of  claim 8 , wherein the corresponding system information message comprises a system information block. 
     
     
         14 . The first millimeter wave cell of  claim 8 , wherein the corresponding system information message comprises a master information block. 
     
     
         15 . A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of a first network cell, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:
 evaluating respective system information messages associated with second network cells;   selecting a second network cell of the second network cells with a corresponding system information message that satisfies a criterion with respect to the second network cell operating as a relay node to a self-backhaul link; and   registering the first network cell with the second network cell for use as the relay node to the self-backhaul link for the first network cell.   
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein satisfaction of the criterion is based on a self-backhaul parameter of the corresponding system information message indicating a self-backhaul capability. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein satisfaction of the criterion is based on a public land mobile network parameter of the corresponding system information message matching identifying information associated with the first network cell. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the criterion is satisfied based on a signal quality parameter of the corresponding system information message exceeding a minimum signal quality. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the criterion is satisfied based on a parameter of the corresponding system information message indicating that the second network cell is not cell barred. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory machine-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the corresponding system information message comprises a system information block.