EP-4216456-B1 - NETWORK-CONTROLLED REPEATER DEVICES, METHODS, AND NETWORKS INCLUDING SAME

EP4216456B1EP 4216456 B1EP4216456 B1EP 4216456B1EP-4216456-B1

Inventors

KOWALSKI, JOHN MICHAEL
ISHII, ATSUSHI
YIN, ZHANPING

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20220309

Claims (11)

A repeater node (28) of a telecommunications network which wirelessly communicates with a parent node (22) and another node, the repeater node comprising: receiver circuitry (56) configured to receive a frame of information from the parent node, the frame of information including radio resources transmitted by the parent node with zero power; processor circuitry (50) configured to: generate a customized control signal, the customized control signal being customized for the repeater node in view of an individual determination of the repeater node's own local circumstances, and generate a modified frame of information from the frame of information by inserting the customized control signal into the radio resources which were transmitted by the parent node with zero power; and transmitter circuitry (55') configured to transmit the modified frame of information to the another node.
The repeater node of claim 1, wherein the customized control signal comprises at least one of a reference signal, channel state information, and a signal synchronization block.
The repeater node of claim 1, wherein the receiver circuitry is further configured to receive from the parent node a resource allocation message via signaling dedicated to the repeater node, the resource allocation message being configured to allocate to the repeater node available radio resources within the frame of information, the available radio resources being eligible for inclusion of the customized control signal by the repeater node; and the processor circuitry is further configured to include the customized control signal in the available radio resources.
The repeater node of claim 3, wherein the resource allocation message comprises a (re)configuration message.
The repeater node of claim 1, wherein the customized control signal comprises a broadcast channel.
A method in a repeater node of a telecommunications network which wirelessly communicates with a parent node and another node, the method comprising: receiving a frame of information from the parent node, the frame of information including radio resources transmitted by the parent node with zero power; generating a customized control signal, the customized control signal being customized for the repeater node in view of an individual determination of the repeater node's own local circumstances; generating a modified frame of information from the frame of information by inserting the customized control signal into the radio resources which were transmitted by the parent node with the zero power; and transmitting the modified frame of information which includes the customized control signal to the another node.
A telecommunication system (20) comprising a parent node (22) and a repeater node (28) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the parent node wirelessly communicates with the repeater node, the parent node comprising: processor circuitry (40) configured to allocate, to the repeater node, available radio resources, the available radio resources being eligible for generation by the repeater node of the customized control signal and insertion by the repeater node of the customized control signal, the customized control signal being configured for the repeater node in view of an individual determination of the repeater node's own local circumstances; and transmitter circuitry (45) configured to transmit to the repeater node a frame of information which includes the available radio resources, wherein the available radio resources are transmitted with zero power
The telecommunication system of claim 7, wherein processor circuitry of the parent node is further configured to generate a resource allocation message which informs the repeater node of the available radio resources and wherein the transmitter circuitry is further configured to transmit the resource allocation message to the repeater node.
The telecommunication system of claim 8, wherein the resource allocation message comprises a (re)configuration message.
The telecommunication system of claim 7, wherein the available radio resources are eligible for use by the repeater node as at least one of a reference signal, channel state information, and a signal synchronization block.
The telecommunication system of claim 7, wherein the available radio resources are eligible for use by the repeater node as a broadcast channel.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The technology relates to wireless communications, and particularly to radio architecture and operation of wireless relay networks, including relay nodes of a type referred to as repeaters. BACKGROUND A radio access network typically resides between wireless devices, such as user equipment (UEs), mobile phones, mobile stations, or any other device having wireless termination, and a core network. Example of radio access network types includes the GRAN, GSM radio access network; the GERAN, which includes EDGE packet radio services; UTRAN, the UMTS radio access network; E-UTRAN, which includes Long-Term Evolution; and g-UTRAN, the New Radio (NR). A radio access network may comprise one or more parent nodes, such as base station nodes, which facilitate wireless communication or otherwise provides an interface between a wireless terminal and a telecommunications system. A non-limiting example of a base station can include, depending on radio access technology type, a Node B ("NB"), an enhanced Node B ("eNB"), a home eNB ("HeNB"), a gNB (for a New Radio ["NR"] technology system), or some other similar terminology. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project ("3GPP") is a group that, e.g., develops collaboration agreements such as 3GPP standards that aim to define globally applicable technical specifications and technical reports for wireless communication systems. Various 3GPP documents may describe certain aspects of radio access networks. Overall architecture for a fifth generation system, e.g., the 5G System, also called "NR" or "New Radio", as well as "NG" or "Next Generation", is shown in Fig. 1, and is also described in 3GPP TS 38.300. The 5G NR network is comprised of NG RAN (Next Generation Radio Access Network) and 5GC (5G Core Network). As shown, NGRAN is comprised of gNBs (e.g., 5G Base stations) and ng-eNBs (i.e. LTE base stations). An Xn interface exists between gNB-gNB, between (gNB)-(ng-eNB) and between (ng-eNB)-(ng-eNB). The Xn is the network interface between NG-RAN nodes. Xn-U stands for Xn User Plane interface and Xn-C stands for Xn Control Plane interface. A NG interface exists between 5GC and the base stations (i.e., gNB & ng-eNB). A gNB node provides NR user plane and control plane protocol terminations towards the UE and is connected via the NG interface to the 5GC. The 5G NR (New Radio) gNB is connected to AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) and UPF (User Plane Function) in 5GC (5G Core Network). In some cellular mobile communication systems and networks, such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and New Radio (NR), a service area is covered by one or more base stations, where each of such base stations may be connected to a core network by fixed-line backhaul links, e.g., optical fiber cables. In some instances, due to weak signals from the base station at the edge of the service area, users tend to experience performance issues, such as: reduced data rates, high probability of link failures, etc. A relay node concept has been introduced to expand the coverage area and increase the signal quality. As implemented, the relay node may be connected to the base station using a wireless backhaul link. In 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the relay node concept for the fifth generation (5G) cellular system has been discussed and standardized, where the relay nodes may utilize the same 5G radio access technologies, e.g., New Radio (NR)) for the operation of services to User Equipment (UE) (access link) and connections to the core network (backhaul link) simultaneously. These radio links may be multiplexed in time, frequency, and/or space. This system may be referred to as Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB). Some such cellular mobile communication systems and networks may comprise IAB-donors and IAB-nodes, where an IAB-donor may provide interface to a core network to Ues and wireless backhauling functionality to IAB-nodes. Additionally, an IAB-node may provide IAB functionality combined with wireless self-backhauling capabilities. IAB-nodes may need to periodically perform inter-IAB-node discovery to detect new IAB-nodes in their vicinity based on cell-specific reference signals, e.g., Synchronization Signal and PBCH block SSB). The cell-specific reference signals may be broadcasted on a Physical Broadcast Channel (PBCH) where packets may be carried or broadcasted on the Master Information Block (MIB) section. A radio frequency, RF, repeater is a type of relay node. A repeater node simply amplifies and forwards any signal that the repeater receives. Recently 3GPP Study Item Description draft document RP-212703 has been proposed for 3GPP RANI, which concerns the specification of smart repeaters. As used herein, the term "smart repeater" will be used interchangeably with "Network Controlled Repeater" or "NCR." Concerning smart repeaters, the 3GPP Study Item Description draft document RP-212703 explains: A smart repeater is an enhancement over conventional RF repeaters with th