Initial access and radio resource management for integrated access and backhaul (IAB) wireless networks

• US 10,206,232 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2017
• Issued: 02/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Novlan, Thomas David, Majmundar, Milap, Ghosh, Arunabha
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Application Number:
  US15/445,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20180092139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15507 Relay station based processing for cell extension or control of coverage area, network planning with network coordinated processing with regard to cell extension H04W16/26; network topologies using dedicated repeater stations H04W84/047; terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from an other terminal H04W88/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/0045 compensating for timing error by altering transmission time
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 74/0833 Random access procedures, e.g. with 4-step access
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Establishment of integrated links comprising integrated wireless backhaul communications links and access communications links is facilitated by transmitting multiplexed sync signals to enable synchronization between the relay transmission point devices, and using a random access channel procedure to complete the establishment. The integrated wireless backhaul communications links and access communications links can be maintained by measuring channel characteristics of the backhaul communications links using a measurement reference signal.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

facilitating, by a system comprising a processor, an establishment of integrated links comprising an integration of wireless backhaul communications links and access communications links, wherein the facilitating the establishment comprises facilitating a first transmission of a multiplexed sync signal to enable synchronization between relay transmission point devices in a wireless communications network, and using a random-access channel procedure to complete the establishment, wherein;

the wireless backhaul communications links comprise first wireless communications transmission links between the relay transmission point devices,

the access communications links comprise second wireless communications transmission links between user equipment and the relay transmission point devices, and

the random-access channel procedure comprises receiving a random-access channel procedure preamble;

in response to the receiving the random-access channel procedure preamble, facilitating a second transmission of a signal comprising a timing advance and a transmission grant allowing the relay transmission point devices to further communicate via the integrated links;

maintaining, by the system, the integrated links by measuring channel characteristics of the integrated links using a measurement reference signal; and

configuring, by the system, the wireless backhaul communications links using the channel characteristics.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the multiplexed sync signal comprises a signal carrying relay transmission point identifications for discovery of network devices in the wireless communications network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the relay transmission point identifications are reused for the wireless backhaul communications links.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the relay transmission point identifications are used for a selection of routes for data to travel via the wireless backhaul communications links.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring the channel characteristics comprises measuring for link strength of the wireless backhaul communications links.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring the channel characteristics comprises measuring for interference of the wireless backhaul communications links.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring the channel characteristics comprises obtaining the channel characteristics using cell identification-based measurements specific to cells corresponding to the relay transmission point devices.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the measuring the channel characteristics comprises obtaining the channel characteristics using beam-based measurements related to measurements of beams radiated from antennas of the relay transmission point devices specific to respective antenna beams radiated from the relay transmission point devices.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, by the system, transmission routes between the relay transmission point devices.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring comprises configuring the wireless backhaul communications links using a topology maintenance parameter relating to maintaining a topology of network devices of the wireless communications network.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring comprises configuring the wireless backhaul communications links using a route maintenance parameter related to maintaining a route between at least two of the wireless backhaul communications links.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring comprises configuring the wireless backhaul communications links using a backhaul resource allocation parameter related to allocation of backhaul resources of the wireless backhaul communications links.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring comprises configuring the wireless backhaul communications links using a network slice provisioning parameter related to division of network devices of the wireless communications network into subgroups of the network devices.

14. A relay transmission point device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory that stores computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising;

facilitating an establishment of integrated links comprising integrated wireless backhaul communications links and access communications links, wherein;

the wireless backhaul communications links comprise wireless communications transmission links between relay transmission point devices in a wireless communications network,

the access communications links comprise wireless communications transmission links between user equipment and the relay transmission point devices, and

the facilitating the establishment comprises transmitting a multiplexed sync signal to enable synchronization between the relay transmission point devices, and using a random-access channel procedure comprising receiving a random-access channel procedure preamble to complete the establishment;

in response to the receiving the random-access channel procedure preamble, transmitting a signal comprising a timing advance and a transmission grant allowing the relay transmission point devices to further communicate via the integrated links;

maintaining the integrated links by measuring channel characteristics of the integrated links using a measurement reference signal; and

configuring the wireless backhaul communications links using a network slice provisioning parameter that relates to division of network devices of the wireless communications network into subgroups of the network devices.

15. The relay transmission point device of claim 14, wherein the configuring comprises configuring the wireless backhaul communications links using a topology maintenance parameter relating to maintaining a topology of network devices of the wireless communications network.

16. The relay transmission point device of claim 14, wherein the configuring comprises configuring the wireless backhaul communications links using and the channel characteristics.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, comprising:

facilitating an establishment of integrated links comprising integrated wireless backhaul communications links and access communications links, wherein;

the wireless backhaul communications links comprise wireless communications transmission links between relay transmission point devices in a wireless communications network, the access communications links comprise wireless communications transmission links between user equipment and the relay transmission point devices, and the facilitating the establishment comprises transmitting a multiplexed sync signal to enable synchronization between the relay transmission point devices, and using a random-access channel procedure comprising receiving a random-access procedure preamble to complete the establishment;

in response to the receiving the random-access channel procedure preamble, transmitting a signal comprising a timing advance and a transmission grant allowing the relay transmission point devices to further communicate via the integrated links;

maintaining the integrated links by measuring channel characteristics of the integrated links using a measurement reference signal;

facilitating formation of radio resource control connections between the relay transmission point devices; and

configuring the backhaul communications links using a network slice provisioning parameter that relates to division of network devices of the wireless communications network into subgroups of the network devices.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the measuring the channel characteristics comprises obtaining the channel characteristics using cell identification-based measurements specific to cells respectively corresponding to the relay transmission point devices.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the measuring the channel characteristics comprises obtaining the channel characteristics using beam-based measurements specific to antenna beams respectively radiated from the relay transmission point devices.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the measuring the channel characteristics comprises measuring for link strength of the wireless backhaul communications links.