CN113826410A

CN113826410A - Method and device for deactivating IAB node

Info

Publication number: CN113826410A
Application number: CN201980096385.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 卓义斌; 刘菁; 朱元萍; 戴明增; 史玉龙; 曹振臻
Original assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Current assignee: Huawei Technologies Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-08-09
Filing date: 2019-08-09
Publication date: 2021-12-21
Anticipated expiration: 2039-08-09
Also published as: CN113826410B; WO2021026707A1

Abstract

The embodiment of the application provides a method and a device for deactivating an IAB node, which are used for solving the problem of power consumption waste of the IAB node in the prior art. Wherein the method comprises the following steps: the IAB node receiving a deactivation indication from a donor base station; and the IAB node enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication.

Description

Method and device for deactivating IAB node

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for deactivating an IAB node.

Background

An Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) network technology is introduced into a fifth generation mobile communication system (5th-generation, 5G), and an access link (access link) and a backhaul link (backhaul link) in the IAB network both adopt a wireless transmission scheme, so that optical fiber deployment is avoided, thereby reducing deployment cost and improving deployment flexibility.

In the IAB network, an IAB node (IAB node) and a donor base station (donor gdnodeb, DgNB) are included. The terminal side equipment can access the IAB node, so that the service data of the terminal side equipment can be transmitted by the IAB node through the wireless backhaul link connected to the IAB host base station.

In practical situations, the fluctuation of service data transmitted by the IAB node is large in different time periods, but in the current IAB network, the IAB node is always in an active state no matter whether the service data is transmitted on the IAB node or not, which causes a lot of power consumption waste.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a method and a device for deactivating an IAB node, which are used for solving the problem of power consumption waste of the IAB node in the prior art.

In a first aspect, a method of deactivating an IAB node is provided, the method comprising: the IAB node receiving a deactivation indication from a donor base station; and the IAB node enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication.

In the embodiment of the application, the IAB node enters the deactivated state based on the deactivation indication received from the host base station, and the power saving effect of the IAB node can be achieved.

In one possible design, the IAB node may include a mobile terminal MT part and a distribution unit DU part; the deactivation indication may be used to indicate that the MT enters a deactivated state. Correspondingly, the MT enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication. Therefore, the MT can enter a deactivation state, the power consumption of the IAB node in the MT part can be reduced, and the effect of saving power of the IAB node can be realized.

In one possible design, the DU may also be made inactive in several ways.

Mode 1, the deactivation indication is further used to indicate that the DU enters a deactivation state; the IAB node enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication, and the method further comprises the following steps: and the DU enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication. The method can enable the DU to enter the deactivation state, further reduce the power consumption of the IAB node and realize better power saving effect of the IAB node.

Mode 2, after the MT receives the deactivation indication from the host base station, the MT may further send first indication information to the DU; wherein the first indication information is used to indicate that the DU enters a deactivated state. Correspondingly, the DU enters a deactivation state according to the first indication information. The method can also enable the DU to enter a deactivation state, further reduce the power consumption of the IAB node, and realize better power saving effect of the IAB node.

In one possible design, the deactivation indication may be carried in a radio resource control Release, RRC, Release message.

In one possible design, the IAB node includes a mobile terminal MT part and a distribution unit DU part; the deactivation indication is used to indicate that the DU enters a deactivated state. Correspondingly, the DU enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication. Thus, the DU can enter a deactivation state, the power consumption of the IAB node in the DU part can be reduced, and the effect of saving power of the IAB node can be realized.

In one possible design, the MT may also be made to enter the deactivated state in several ways.

Mode 1, the deactivation indication is further used for indicating the MT to enter a deactivated state; correspondingly, the MT enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication. The method can enable the MT to enter a deactivation state, further reduce the power consumption of the IAB node and realize a better power saving effect of the IAB node.

Mode 2, after the DU receives the deactivation indication from the host base station, the DU sends second indication information to the MT; wherein the second indication information is used for indicating that the MT enters a deactivated state. Correspondingly, the MT enters a deactivation state according to the second indication information. The method can also make the MT enter a deactivation state, further reduce the power consumption of the IAB node and realize better power saving effect of the IAB node.

In both of the above manners, the deactivation indication may be carried in a F1-AP message on a F1 interface between the donor base station and the IAB node.

In one possible design, the deactivation indication may be used to instruct the DU to deactivate one or more cells of the DU. Correspondingly, the DU may deactivate the one or more cells of the DU according to the deactivation indication, and when the deactivated cells of the DU reach the first number, the DU enters a deactivated state. The method can enable the DU to enter the deactivation state, reduce the power consumption of the IAB node and realize the power saving effect of the IAB node.

Further, after the DU receives a deactivation indication from the donor base station, the MT enters a deactivated state when determining that the deactivated cells of the DU reach the first number. The method can enable the MT to enter a deactivation state, further reduce the power consumption of the IAB node and realize a better power saving effect of the IAB node.

In one possible design, the deactivation of the DU by one or more cells may be the cessation of service by the one or more cells.

Alternatively, it may be in one or more of the following ways: the one or more cells transmit only one or more of SSBs, MIBs, and SIBs 1 and receive only random access pilot signals; adjusting a communication bandwidth of the one or more cells; adjusting a bandwidth part BWP used by the one or more cells; the one or more cells transmit the synchronization signal block SSB using the synchronization signal block transmission configuration STC of the longest period.

In one possible design, after the DU enters the deactivated state, the DU may also instruct the host base station to release the F1 connection between the host base station and the DU. In this way, the power consumption of the host base station can be reduced.

In one possible design, the MT entering the deactivated state may be the MT suspending a backhaul link BH radio link control RLC channel of the MT and/or the MT suspending backhaul adaptation protocol layer BAP configuration information. Thus, when the MT resumes the RRC connection, the MT can continue to use the previously suspended backhaul link BH radio link control RLC channel and/or BAP configuration information of the MT to resume data communication quickly.

In a possible design, the DU enters the deactivation state, which may be a deactivation state entered by using a first mode or a deactivation state entered by using a second mode, and the embodiment of the present application is not limited. Wherein the first mode is: one or more cells of the DU are out of service. The second mode includes one or more of: the DU transmits only one or more of SSB, MIB and SIB1 and receives only a random access pilot signal; the DU adjusts a communication bandwidth of one or more cells of the DU; the DU adjusts a bandwidth portion BWP used by one or more cells of the DU; one or more cells of the DU transmit a synchronization signal block SSB using the longest period synchronization signal block transmission configuration STC. The method provides a plurality of modes for the DU to enter the deactivation state, thereby improving the flexibility of the scheme.

In one possible design, the deactivation indication is further used to indicate the first mode or the second mode adopted by the DU to enter the deactivated state. Therefore, the information transmission quantity between the base station and the IAB node can be reduced, the system resource is saved, and the communication rate is improved.

In a second aspect, a method of deactivating an IAB node is provided, comprising: the host base station determines that the IAB node needs to be deactivated; and the host base station sends a deactivation indication to the IAB so as to enable the IAB node to enter a deactivation state.

In one possible design, the donor base station may also receive a deactivation request from an IAB node before determining that deactivation of the IAB node is required. Correspondingly, the host base station determines that the IAB node needs to be deactivated according to the deactivation request.

In one possible design, the IAB node may include a mobile terminal MT part and a distribution unit DU part; the deactivation indication may be carried in an RRC Release message for indicating that the MT enters the deactivated state, or may be carried in an F1-AP message on an F1 interface between the donor base station and the IAB node for indicating that the DU enters the deactivated state.

In a third aspect, an apparatus for deactivating an IAB node is provided, comprising: a receiving unit configured to receive a deactivation indication from a donor base station; and the processing unit is used for controlling the device to enter a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication.

In one possible design, the apparatus includes a mobile terminal MT part and a distribution unit DU part; the processing unit is configured to: and controlling the MT to enter a deactivated state according to the deactivation indication.

In one possible design, the deactivation indication is further used to indicate that the DU enters a deactivated state; the processing unit is further to: and controlling the DU to enter a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication.

In one possible design, the processing unit is configured to: after the receiving unit receives a deactivation instruction from a host base station, controlling the MT to send first instruction information to the DU; wherein, the first indication information is used for indicating the DU to enter a deactivation state; the processing unit is further to: and controlling the DU to enter a deactivation state according to the first indication information.

In one possible design, the deactivation indication is carried in a radio resource control Release, RRC, Release message.

In one possible design, the IAB includes a mobile terminal MT part and a distribution unit DU part; the deactivation indication is used for indicating the DU to enter a deactivation state; the processing unit is configured to: and controlling the DU to enter a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication.

In one possible design, the deactivation indication is further used to indicate that the MT enters a deactivated state; the processing unit is further to: and controlling the MT to enter a deactivated state according to the deactivation indication.

In one possible design, the processing unit is further configured to: after the receiving unit receives the deactivation indication from the host base station, controlling the DU to transmit second indication information to the MT; wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the MT to enter a deactivated state; the processing unit is further to: and controlling the MT to enter a deactivation state according to the second indication information.

In one possible design, the deactivation indication is carried in a F1-AP message on a F1 interface between the donor base station and the apparatus.

In one possible design, the deactivation indication is used to instruct the DU to deactivate one or more cells of the DU; the processing unit is configured to: deactivating the one or more cells of the DU; and determining that the DU enters a deactivation state after the deactivated cells of the DU reach a first number.

In one possible design, the processing unit is further configured to: controlling the MT to enter a deactivated state upon determining that the deactivated cells of the DU reach the first number after the receiving unit receives a deactivation indication from a host base station.

In one possible design, when deactivating one or more cells, the processing unit is specifically configured to: stopping service of the one or more cells; or controlling the one or more cells to transmit only one or more of SSBs, MIBs and SIBs 1 and to receive only random access pilot signals; or adjusting the communication bandwidth of the one or more cells; or adjusting a bandwidth part BWP used by the one or more cells; or controlling the one or more cells to transmit the synchronization signal block SSB by using the STC transmission configuration with the longest period.

In one possible design, the processing unit is further configured to: after controlling the DU to enter the deactivation state, controlling the DU to instruct the host base station to release the F1 connection between the host base station and the DU.

In a possible design, when controlling the MT to enter the deactivated state, the processing unit is specifically configured to: and controlling the MT to suspend the configuration information of a back transmission link BH wireless link control RLC channel and/or a back transmission adaptation protocol layer BAP of the MT.

In one possible design, when controlling the DU to enter the deactivation state, the processing unit is specifically configured to: controlling the DU to enter a deactivation state by adopting a first mode, wherein the first mode is as follows: one or more cells of the DU cease to be serviced; or, controlling the DU to enter a deactivated state in a second mode, where the second mode includes one or more of the following: the DU transmits only one or more of SSB, MIB and SIB1 and receives only a random access pilot signal; the DU adjusts a communication bandwidth of one or more cells of the DU; the DU adjusts a bandwidth portion BWP used by one or more cells of the DU; one or more cells of the DU transmit a synchronization signal block SSB using the longest period synchronization signal block transmission configuration STC.

In one possible design, the deactivation indication is further used to indicate the first mode or the second mode adopted by the DU to enter the deactivated state.

In a fourth aspect, an apparatus for deactivating an IAB node is provided, comprising: the processing unit is used for determining that the IAB node needs to be deactivated; a sending unit, configured to send a deactivation indication to the IAB, so that the IAB node enters a deactivated state.

In one possible design, the apparatus further includes a receiving unit configured to receive a deactivation request from an IAB node before the processing unit determines that the IAB node needs to be deactivated; the processing unit is specifically configured to: and determining that the IAB node needs to be deactivated according to the deactivation request.

In one possible design, the IAB node includes a mobile terminal MT part and a distribution unit DU part; the deactivation indication is carried in a radio resource control Release RRC Release message and is used for indicating the MT to enter a deactivation state; or the deactivation indication is carried in a F1-AP message on a F1 interface between the apparatus and the IAB node, and is used to indicate that the DU enters a deactivated state.

In a fifth aspect, a communication apparatus is provided, including: at least one processor; and a memory and/or a communications interface communicatively coupled to the at least one processor; wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor, and the at least one processor executes the method according to the first aspect or the second aspect of the embodiments by executing the instructions stored in the memory.

In a sixth aspect, a computer-readable storage medium is provided, which stores a computer program comprising program instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of the first or second aspect of an embodiment of the present application.

In a seventh aspect, a computer program product is provided, which contains instructions that, when executed on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method according to the first or second aspect of the embodiments of the present application.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a network architecture diagram of an IAB network according to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 is a network architecture diagram of another IAB network in the practice of the present application;

fig. 3 is a flow chart of a method for deactivating an IAB node in an implementation of the present application;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of another method for deactivating an IAB node in the practice of the present application;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of another method for deactivating an IAB node in the practice of the present application;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of another method for deactivating an IAB node in the practice of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an apparatus for deactivating an IAB node in an implementation of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of another apparatus for deactivating an IAB node in the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a communication device in an implementation of the present application.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the embodiments of the present application clearer, the embodiments of the present application will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The fifth Generation mobile communication (5th-Generation, 5G) system has more stringent requirements for various performance indexes of the network than the fourth Generation mobile communication (4th-Generation, 4G) system. For example, the capacity index is improved by 1000 times, the coverage requirement is wider, the time delay is ultrahigh and reliable, and the time delay is ultralow. On one hand, in consideration of rich high-frequency carrier frequency resources, in a hot spot area, in order to meet the requirement of 5G ultrahigh capacity, networking by using high-frequency small stations is more popular. The high-frequency carrier wave has poor propagation characteristics, serious shielding attenuation and a small coverage range, so a large number of densely deployed small stations are required. However, it is very costly and difficult to construct to provide optical fiber backhaul for these small stations densely deployed in large quantities, and therefore an economical and convenient backhaul scheme is required. On the other hand, from the perspective of wide coverage requirement, network coverage is provided in some remote areas, the deployment difficulty of optical fibers is high, and the cost is high, so that a flexible and convenient access and backhaul scheme also needs to be designed. An Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node may provide a wireless access service and a backhaul service for a UE, and service data of the UE may be transmitted by one or more IAB nodes connected to a host base station (donor nodeb, DgNB) through a wireless backhaul link.

Like the network device gNB in 5G, which adopts a structure in which a Centralized Unit (CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) are separated, an IAB node may include an MT part and a DU part. When an IAB node faces its parent node (i.e., the last hop node of the IAB node), it can be regarded as a terminal device, i.e., as a role of MT; when an IAB faces its child node (i.e. the next hop node of the IAB node, which may be another IAB node or a UE), it can be regarded as a network device providing backhaul service for the child node, i.e. as a role of DU. The DU of the IAB node is similar to the DU in the gNB, and includes functions of a physical layer (PHY)/Medium Access Control (MAC)/Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, communicates with the child node, and provides an access service for the child node, and when the child node is another IAB node, the RLC layer further includes a Backhaul Adaptation Protocol (BAP) layer.

It should be noted that the IAB device may have different names in different communication systems, for example, in a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system and an advanced Long Term Evolution (LTE-a) system, the IAB node may be called a Relay Node (RN); in the 5G system, the system may be referred to as an integrated access and backhaul node (IAB node). Of course, in other communication systems, the wireless backhaul device may also have a different name, which is not limited herein.

The IAB integrates a wireless access link and a wireless backhaul link, wherein the wireless access link is a communication link between the UE and the IAB, the wireless backhaul link is a communication link between the IAB, and the communication link between the IAB and the IAB host is used for data backhaul. Therefore, the IAB does not need a wired transmission network for data return, and the IAB is easier to be deployed in a dense scene, so that the burden of deploying the wired transmission network is reduced.

Please refer to fig. 1, which is a network architecture diagram of an IAB network provided in the present application. The network architecture comprises a terminal side device, an IAB node and a host base station. In the network architecture shown in fig. 1, the terminal-side device 110 is wirelessly connected to the IAB node 120, and the IAB node 120 is wirelessly connected to the donor base station 130. The terminal side device 110 and the IAB node 120, and the IAB node 120 and the donor base station 130 may both communicate through a licensed spectrum (licensed spectrum), may communicate through an unlicensed spectrum (unlicensed spectrum), and may simultaneously communicate through a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum, for example, the licensed spectrum may be a spectrum less than or equal to 6GHz, which is not limited herein. In the network architecture shown in fig. 1, the IAB node treats the node for which backhaul service is provided as a parent node, e.g., IAB node 120 treats home base station 130 as a parent node. When the IAB node 120 receives the uplink data of the terminal side device 110, the uplink data is transmitted to the host base station, and then the host base station sends the uplink data to a mobile gateway device (e.g., a User Port Function (UPF) in a 5G network). The mobile gateway device sends the downlink data to the host base station, and then sends the downlink data to the terminal-side device 110 via the IAB node 120 in sequence.

Considering that the coverage area of the high frequency band is small, in order to guarantee the coverage performance of the network, the IAB network may adopt multi-hop networking. In addition, considering the requirement of service transmission reliability, the IAB node may support Dual Connectivity (DC) or multi-connectivity (multi-connectivity) to cope with abnormal situations that may occur in the backhaul link, such as an interruption or blocking (block) of the link and load fluctuation, and improve the reliability guarantee of transmission. When the IAB network supports multi-hop and multi-connection networking, multiple transmission paths may exist between the UE and the donor base station. On one path, there is a certain hierarchical relationship between IAB nodes, and between IAB nodes and the hosting base station serving the IAB nodes, each IAB node regards the node providing backhaul service as a parent node, and accordingly, each IAB node can be regarded as a child node of its parent node.

Please refer to fig. 2, which is a network architecture diagram of another IAB network provided in the present application. The network architecture comprises two terminal side devices, five IAB nodes and a host base station. In the network architecture shown in fig. 2, the terminal-side device is wirelessly connected to the IAB node, and the IAB node is wirelessly connected to the donor base station or another IAB node. The terminal side device and the IAB node, the IAB node and the IAB node, and the IAB node and the host base station may all communicate through a licensed spectrum, may also communicate through an unlicensed spectrum, and may also communicate through a licensed spectrum and an unlicensed spectrum at the same time, for example, the licensed spectrum may be a spectrum below 6GHz, which is not limited herein. In the network architecture shown in fig. 2, the IAB node regards the node providing backhaul service for the IAB node as a parent node, for example, the parent node of the IAB node 121 is a host base station, the IAB node 121 is a parent node of the IAB node 122 and the IAB node 123, the IAB node 122 and the IAB node 123 are both parent nodes of the IAB node 124, and the parent node of the IAB node 125 is the IAB node 122. In the network architecture shown in fig. 2, uplink data of the UE may be transmitted to the host base station of the host site through one or more IAB nodes, and then sent to the mobile gateway device (for example, a user plane function unit UPF in a 5G core network) by the host base station, and downlink data is received from the mobile gateway device by the host base station, and then sent to the UE through the IAB nodes. For example, there are two available paths for data transmission between the terminal-side device 111 and the donor base station 130, path 1: the terminal-side device 111 ← → IAB node 124 ← → IAB node 123 ← → IAB node 121 ← → host base station, path 2: the terminal-side device 111 ← → IAB node 124 ← → IAB node 122 ← → IAB node 121 ← → host base station. For example, there are three available paths for data transmission between the terminal-side device 112 and the donor base station, path 3: the terminal-side device 112 ← → IAB node 124 ← → IAB node 123 ← → IAB node 121 ← → host base station, path 4: the terminal-side device 112 ← → IAB node 124 ← → IAB node 122 ← → IAB node 121 ← → host base station, path 5: the terminal-side device 112 ← → IAB node 125 ← → IAB node 122 ← → IAB node 121 ← → host base station.

In the embodiment of the present application, the terminal-side device is a device that provides voice and/or data connectivity to a user. The terminal side device related to the present application may be a terminal device, or a hardware component capable of implementing the function of the terminal device inside the terminal device.

The terminal device may be referred to as a User Equipment (UE), a Mobile Station (MS), a Mobile Terminal (MT), etc., and may include, for example, a handheld device having a wireless connection function or a processing device connected to a wireless modem. The terminal may communicate with a core network via a Radio Access Network (RAN), exchanging voice and/or data with the RAN. Examples of some terminal devices are: personal Communication Service (PCS) phones, cordless phones, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phones, Wireless Local Loop (WLL) stations, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), bar codes, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), sensors, Global Positioning System (GPS), laser scanners, and other information sensing devices.

The terminal device may also be a wearable device. Wearable equipment can also be called wearable intelligent equipment, is the general term of applying wearable technique to carry out intelligent design, develop the equipment that can dress to daily wearing, like glasses, gloves, wrist-watch, dress and shoes etc.. A wearable device is a portable device that is worn directly on the body or integrated into the clothing or accessories of the user. The wearable device is not only a hardware device, but also realizes powerful functions through software support, data interaction and cloud interaction. The generalized wearable smart device includes full functionality, large size, and can implement full or partial functionality without relying on a smart phone, such as: smart watches or smart glasses and the like, and only focus on a certain type of application functions, and need to be used in cooperation with other devices such as smart phones, such as various smart bracelets, smart helmets, smart jewelry and the like for monitoring physical signs. The terminal may be a Virtual Reality (VR) device, an Augmented Reality (AR) device, a wireless terminal in industrial control (industrial control), a wireless terminal in self driving (self driving), a wireless terminal in remote medical supply (tele operation), a wireless terminal in smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation safety (transportation safety), a wireless terminal in smart city (smart city), a wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), or the like.

With the development of wireless communication technology, a terminal device may access a wireless communication network, may communicate with a wireless network side, or may be a terminal in this embodiment of the application, such as a terminal in intelligent transportation and an automobile, a home device in an intelligent home, a power meter reading instrument in an intelligent power grid, a voltage monitoring instrument, an environment monitoring instrument, a video monitoring instrument in an intelligent security network, a cash register, and the like. The terminal device may be stationary or mobile.

In the network architecture diagrams shown in fig. 1 and 2, the functions of the terminal device may be implemented by hardware components inside the terminal device, which may be a processor and/or a programmable chip inside the terminal device. Alternatively, the chip may be implemented by an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or a Programmable Logic Device (PLD). The PLD may be any one of or any combination of a Complex Programmable Logic Device (CPLD), a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a General Array Logic (GAL), a system on a chip (SOC).

It should be noted that, in the network architecture diagrams shown in fig. 1 and fig. 2, although the terminal-side device, the IAB node, and the donor base station are shown, the network architecture may not be limited to include the terminal-side device, the IAB node, and the donor base station. For example, a core network device or a device for carrying virtualized network functions, etc. may be further included, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail herein.

In addition, although one terminal side device, one IAB node, and one donor base station are shown in the network architecture diagram shown in fig. 1, and although two terminal side devices, five IAB nodes, and one donor base station are shown in the network architecture diagram shown in fig. 2, the number of terminal side devices, IAB nodes, and donor base stations is not limited in the IAB network architecture in specific implementation. The foregoing two network architecture diagrams are merely examples, and in practical use, other network architecture diagrams may be included, which are not examples here.

In current 5G systems, the Radio Resource Control (RRC) state of the UE may include an IDLE state (RRC _ IDLE), a Connected state (RRC _ Connected), and a deactivated dynamic state (RRC _ Inactive), wherein the deactivated dynamic state of the RRC is a Radio Resource Control (RRC) state newly introduced by a New Radio (NR) (also called "RRC Inactive state" or "RRC deactivated dynamic" or "Inactive state". RRC deactivated dynamic is the same as the IDLE state, and in the deactivated dynamic state, the UE disconnects the RRC from the network, thereby achieving the same power saving effect as the IDLE state. When the IAB node is in some hot spot scenes or disaster areas, the traffic of the IAB node itself fluctuates greatly in different time periods. However, in the prior art, when the IAB node has no service in a certain period, the IAB node is still in an active state, which causes a lot of unnecessary power consumption waste.

In view of this, the embodiments of the present application provide a scheme for deactivating an IAB node. And issuing a deactivation instruction to the IAB node through the host base station, so that the IAB node enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation instruction, and the aim of saving power of the IAB node is fulfilled. Specific implementations will be described in detail later.

In order to make the embodiments of the present application clearer, the following provides a general description of some of the contents and concepts related to the embodiments of the present application.

1) The host base station, or an IAB host (IAB donor) or a host node, is a device for accessing the terminal side device to the wireless network in the communication system. The host base station may be connected to a network element of a core network (e.g., to a 5G core network, 5GC) serving the UE by means of a wired link or a wireless link, and provides a wireless backhaul function for the IAB node.

As an example, the host base station may be an access network element with full base station functionality. For example, the donor base station may include a Radio Network Controller (RNC), a Node B (NB), a Base Station Controller (BSC), a Base Transceiver Station (BTS), a home base station (e.g., home evolved NodeB or home Node B, HNB), a baseband unit (base band unit, BBU), etc., may also include an evolved Node B (NodeB or eNB or e-NodeB) in an evolved LTE system (LTE-Advanced, LTE-a), or may also include a next generation Node B (neighbor B, gbb) in a fifth generation mobile communication technology (5G) New Radio (NR) system, etc.

As another example, a Donor base station may include a Centralized Unit (CU) (which may be referred to as a Donor CU, a Donor-CU) and a Distributed Unit (DU) (which may be referred to as a Donor DU, a Donor-DU). This structure splits apart the protocol layers of eNB or gNB in the NR system in the Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, puts the functions of part of the protocol layers (e.g., Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP) layer and Radio Resource Control (RRC) layer to be centrally controlled in the CU node, and leaves the functions of part or all of the protocol layers (e.g., Physical (PHY) layer, Media Access Control (MAC) layer, Radio Link Control (RLC) layer, Backhaul Adaptation Protocol (BAP) layer to be distributed in the DU node, the DU node being controlled by the CU node, for convenience, the centralized unit of the host base station may be referred to as a dongle, the distributed unit of the host base station may be referred to as a dongle, where the dongle may be referred to as a CP and user plane (CP), UP) separate modalities, e.g., a CU may consist of one CU-CP and one (or more) CU-UPs.

2) Link, access link and backhaul link

And link: refers to a path between two adjacent nodes in a path.

The access link refers to a link accessed by the terminal, and may refer to a link between the terminal and an access network device, or between the terminal and an IAB node, or between the terminal and a host DU. Alternatively, the access link may comprise a radio link used by an IAB node to communicate with its parent node in the role of a normal end device. When the IAB node is in the role of a common terminal device, the back-transmission service is not provided for any child node. The access link includes an uplink access link and a downlink access link. In this application, the access link of the terminal is a wireless link, so the access link may be referred to as a wireless access link.

Backhaul link refers to the link between the IAB node and the parent node when it is acting as a wireless backhaul node. When the IAB node is used as a wireless backhaul node, the IAB node provides wireless backhaul service for the child node. The backhaul links include an uplink backhaul link, and a downlink backhaul link. In the present application, the backhaul link between the IAB node and the parent node is a wireless link, and therefore the backhaul link may also be referred to as a wireless backhaul link.

3) Node of previous hop, node of next hop

Last hop node of the node: refers to the node in the path containing the node that last received a packet before the node.

Next hop node of node: refers to the node in the path containing the node that first receives a packet after the node.

4) Transmission (transmission or transmit): which may be understood as transmit and/or receive. For example, a data packet is transmitted over a backhaul link between the IAB node and the donor base station, where the data packet is transmitted over the backhaul link for the IAB node and received over the backhaul link for the donor base station.

5) In the embodiments of the present application, "a plurality" means two or more, and in view of this, the "plurality" may also be understood as "at least two". "at least one" is to be understood as meaning one or more, for example one, two or more. For example, including at least one means including one, two, or more, and does not limit which ones are included, for example, including at least one of A, B and C, then including may be A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, or a and B and C. "and/or" describes the association relationship of the associated objects, meaning that there may be three relationships, e.g., a and/or B, which may mean: a exists alone, A and B exist simultaneously, and B exists alone. In addition, the character "/" generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects are in an "or" relationship, unless otherwise specified. The terms "system" and "network" in the embodiments of the present application may be used interchangeably. Unless stated to the contrary, the embodiments of the present application refer to the ordinal numbers "first", "second", etc., for distinguishing between a plurality of objects, and do not limit the sequence, timing, priority, or importance of the plurality of objects.

In the following description, the method for deactivating the IAB node is applied to the network architecture shown in fig. 1 or fig. 2 as an example. The method may be performed by a donor base station and an IAB node. The donor base station described below may be the donor base station 130 in the network architecture shown in fig. 1, or may be the donor base station 130 in the network architecture shown in fig. 2, and the IAB node described below may be the IAB node 120 in the network architecture shown in fig. 1, or may be the IAB node 121, the IAB node 122, the IAB node 123, the IAB node 124, or the IAB node 125 in the network architecture shown in fig. 1. When the method is applied to other network architectures, the understanding of the donor base station and the IAB node may refer to the description of applying the method to the network architecture shown in fig. 1 or fig. 2, and will not be described herein again.

Referring to fig. 3, a flowchart of a method for deactivating an IAB node according to an embodiment of the present application is shown, where the method includes:

s301, the host base station sends a deactivation indication to the IAB node.

As described above, the host base station may be a complete network element, or an access network element with separate CU and DU. If the host base station is a complete network element, the host base station sends a deactivation indication to the IAB node, and if the host base station is an access network element with a CU and DU separated form, the CU of the host base station can send the deactivation indication to the IAB node.

In this embodiment of the present application, if the IAB node is a child node (i.e., a next hop node) of the donor base station, for example, the IAB node is the IAB node 120 in fig. 1 or the IAB node 121 in fig. 2, the donor base station may directly send the deactivation indication to the IAB node; if the IAB node is not a child node of the donor base station, the donor node may transmit the deactivation indication to the IAB node through other network devices between the IAB node and the donor node, for example, the IAB node is the IAB node 125 in fig. 2, and the donor base station may send the deactivation indication to the IAB node 121, transmit the deactivation indication to the IAB node 122 by the IAB node 121, and transmit the deactivation indication to the IAB node 125 by the IAB node 122; if the IAB node is not a child node of the anchor base station, but the IAB node is in direct connection with the anchor base station at the same time, the anchor base station may directly send the deactivation indication to the IAB node, for example, the anchor base station and the IAB node may be in direct connection with the control plane through a low frequency.

As an alternative embodiment, before the host base station sends the deactivation indication to the IAB, it is determined that the IAB node needs to be deactivated. In the embodiment of the present application, there may be a plurality of implementation manners in which the donor base station determines that the IAB node needs to be deactivated.

And the 1 st is initiated by the host base station actively. For example, the donor base station determines whether the IAB node is to enter the inactive state according to the cell service condition of the IAB node. Optionally, before the host base station determines whether the IAB node is to enter the non-active state according to the cell service condition of the IAB node, the host base station may further request the IAB node to report the cell service condition of the host base station. For another example, the donor base station may decide that the IAB node needs to be deactivated according to the state of a subordinate child node (including the IAB node and/or the UE) of the IAB node. One possible scenario is that when the donor base station detects a child node in an unconnected state under the IAB node, it determines that the IAB node needs to be deactivated.

Type 2, requested by the IAB node. For example, the donor base station receives a deactivation request sent by the IAB node, and decides to deactivate the IAB node according to the deactivation request.

Of course, the above two cases are only examples of implementation manners for determining to deactivate the IAB node by the donor base station, and in specific implementation, the donor base station may also determine to deactivate the IAB node by other implementation manners.

S302, the IAB node receives the deactivation indication and enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication.

When the IAB node enters the deactivated state, part of the functions can be suspended or turned off, for example, the IAB node disconnects the RRC connection with the network, but retains the context and/or suspends part of the functions or configurations, so as to achieve the purpose of saving power.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the state name of the IAB after entering the deactivated state is not limited. For example, it can be defined as RRC deactivated state/mode, RRC inactive state/mode, discontinuous transmission state/mode or power saving state/mode, etc.

According to the scheme, the host base station issues the deactivation indication to the IAB node, so that the IAB node can enter a deactivation state (such as a pause or a partial function shutdown) according to the deactivation indication, the power consumption waste of the IAB node can be reduced, and the effect of saving power of the IAB node is achieved.

As described above, since the IAB node includes two parts, namely the MT and the DU, in view of this, the deactivation indication in this embodiment may be only used to indicate the MT of the IAB node to enter a deactivated state, that is, to make the MT be in a power saving mode; or may be used to only instruct the DU of the IAB node to enter the deactivated state, that is, to make the DU in the power saving mode; of course, the method and the apparatus may also be used to indicate that both the MT and the DU of the IAB node enter a deactivated state, that is, both the MT and the DU are in a power saving mode.

The above three cases will be described in detail by three embodiments, respectively.

In scheme 1, the deactivation indication sent by the donor base station is used to indicate the MT of the IAB node to enter a deactivated state. Accordingly, the MT of the IAB enters a deactivated state according to the deactivation indication.

Referring to fig. 4, a flow chart of an MT of an IAB node entering a deactivated state may include:

s401, the host base station determines that the MT of the IAB node needs to enter a deactivation state.

Specifically, the donor base station may determine that the MT enters the deactivated state according to the following two situations:

1) and the host base station judges the condition of the IAB node and determines that the MT of the IAB node enters a deactivated state. Specifically, the donor base station may determine that the MT enters the deactivated state according to a cell service condition under a DU of the IAB node where the MT is located, or determine whether the MT of the IAB node needs to enter the deactivated state according to a state of a subordinate child IAB node of the IAB node or/and the UE. For example, when detecting a child IAB node and a UE in an unconnected state under the IAB node, the host base station determines that the MT of the IAB node needs to enter a deactivated state.

2) And the host base station receives the deactivation request sent by the IAB node and decides that the MT enters a deactivation state.

S402, the host base station sends a first deactivation indication to the MT of the IAB node, wherein the first deactivation indication is used for indicating the MT to enter a deactivation state.

As an optional implementation manner, in this embodiment of the present application, the donor base station may carry the first deactivation indication in a radio resource control Release (RRC Release) message, and send the first deactivation indication to the MT of the IAB node. Of course, the donor base station may also send the first deactivation indication to the MT by carrying it in other messages, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

And S403, the MT of the IAB node enters a deactivation state according to the first deactivation indication.

In an embodiment of the present application, the MT may enter the deactivated state by performing one or more of the following operations: 1) saving the context; 2) suspending all signaling radio bearers SRB and data radio bearers DRB except SRB 0; 3) the MT suspends a backhaul link (BH) Radio Link Control (RLC) channel of the MT; 4) the MT suspends the Backhaul Adaptation Protocol (BAP) configuration information of the MT. Wherein, 1), 2) are the deactivated state of the UE in the existing RRC protocol, 3), 4) are specific to the IAB node on the basis of the UE, and the purpose is to directly use some configurations or states of the suspend (suspend) before when the MT returns to the RRC connected state, so as to achieve the purpose of fast recovery. More specifically, the BH RLC channel may include: the configuration information of the BH RLC channels used for carrying all DRBs and/or SRBs 0, 1, 2, 3 (and/or relationships between SRBs 1, 2, 3), the BAP configuration information may include configuration of BAP layers regarding the BAP layers such as bearer mapping rules and routing table information, and address or ID information of BAPs, and when the MT of the IAB node resumes the RRC connection, the MT of the IAB node may continue to use the BH RLC channels of previous suspend for data or signaling transmission (i.e., without reconfiguration and establishment), and/or continue to use the BAP configuration of previous suspend for bearer mapping and packet routing.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, the state name of the MT of the IAB after entering the deactivated state is not limited. For example, the state of the MT after entering the deactivated state may be defined as an RRC deactivated state/mode of the MT, a deactivated state/mode of the MT, an RRC deactivated state/mode of the MT, an deactivated state/mode of the MT, a discontinuous reception state/mode of the MT, or a power saving state/mode of the MT.

Further, the IAB node may be defined to enter the deactivated state after the MT enters the deactivated state. Of course, it may also be defined that the IAB node enters the deactivated state after both the MT and the DU enter the deactivated state, in which case, the DU needs to further enter the deactivated state.

As an optional implementation manner, after the MT of the IAB node receives the first deactivation indication, the IAB node further starts a procedure of entering the DU into the deactivation state.

The specific implementation manner for triggering the DU to enter the deactivated state includes the following two manners: (1) the DU may enter a deactivated state according to the first deactivation indication. That is, the first deactivation indication is further used to indicate that the DU enters a deactivation state. Wherein, if an internal interface is not defined between the DU and the MT, that is, the DU obtains the first deactivation indication when the MT obtains the first deactivation indication, the DU directly enters a deactivation state according to the first deactivation indication received by the MT; if an internal interface is defined between the DU and the MT, the MT forwards the first deactivation indication to the DU through the internal interface after receiving the first deactivation indication, and the DU enters a deactivation state according to the first deactivation indication forwarded by the MT. (2) The MT sends first indication information to the DU, wherein the first indication information is used for indicating the DU to enter a deactivation state, and the DU enters the deactivation state according to the first indication information sent by the MT.

In the embodiment of the present application, there may be various modes when the DU enters the deactivated state, including but not limited to the following:

(1) all cells of the DU are out of service. For example, all uplink and downlink transmissions of all cells and subordinate UEs or sub-nodes are stopped, including sending broadcast information such as synchronization signals and synchronization messages.

(2) Some cells of the DU are out of service, e.g., the DU is out of service for all cells except the primary cell.

(3) The DU stops a designated type of downlink transmission and a designated type of uplink transmission of one or more cells of the DU, wherein the designated type of downlink transmission does not include one or more of a Synchronization Signal Block (SSB), a main signal block (MIB), and an SIB1, and the designated type of uplink transmission does not include receiving a random access pilot signal from the child node and/or the UE. Namely: one or more cells of the DU can only transmit one or more of SSBs, MIBs and SIBs 1, receiving random access pilot signals. Thus, when the DU is in the deactivated state, the SSB/MIB/SIB1 may be sent by the one or more cells, and a random access preamble (preamble) sent by the child node/UE may be received by the one or more cells, so as to provide access possibility for the new child node/UE.

(4) The DU adjusts a communication bandwidth of one or more cells of the DU, e.g., to a preconfigured minimum communication bandwidth.

(5) The DU adjusts a bandwidth part (BWP) used by one or more cells of the DU. For example, the BWP of one or more cells is adjusted to the initial active BWP, or the BWP of one or more cells is adjusted to the minimum bandwidth BWP, or the number of simultaneous active BWPs of one or more cells is reduced to 1, etc.

(6) One or more cells of the DU transmit a synchronization signal block SSB using a synchronization signal block transmission configuration (STC) of the longest period. In this mode, optionally, the DU may also notify the host base station of the updated STC configuration information. It should be noted that when the DU enters the deactivation state, the DU may enter the deactivation state based on any one of the above 6 modes, or may enter the deactivation state based on a combination of any multiple modes in the above (2) to (6), and the embodiment of the present application is not limited specifically.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, a state name of a DU of an IAB after entering a deactivated state is not limited. For example, the state of the DU after entering the deactivation state may be defined as an RRC deactivation state/mode of the DU, a discontinuous transmission state/mode of the DU, or a power saving state/mode of the DU.

In an alternative embodiment, the donor base station may instruct the DU to enter the deactivated state. Specifically, the first deactivation indication or the first indication information may also be used to indicate a mode adopted by the DU to enter the deactivation state, or an RRC Release message carrying the first deactivation indication carries mode indication information, where the mode indication information is used to indicate the mode adopted by the DU to enter the deactivation state, or the host base station may separately send a message to indicate the mode adopted by the DU to enter the deactivation state, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

In some possible designs, the donor base station and the IAB node may be pre-configured with multiple modes for the DU to enter the deactivated state, and may use different identities to indicate different modes. Taking the 6 patterns in the above (1) to (6) as an example, the donor base station and the IAB node are preconfigured with the 6 patterns, and the (1) th pattern is indicated by a first pattern flag, the (2) th pattern is indicated by a second pattern flag, the (3) th pattern is indicated by a third pattern flag, the (4) th pattern is indicated by a fourth pattern flag, the (5) th pattern is indicated by a fifth pattern flag, and the (6) th pattern is indicated by a sixth pattern flag. Accordingly, when instructing the DU to enter the deactivated state, the host base station may indicate the mode to be used by sending the identifier.

For example, in a case that an internal interface is not defined between the MT and the DU, the first deactivation indication carries a first mode identifier, and accordingly, after the DU obtains the first activation indication from the host base station, the DU enters a deactivated state by using a mode corresponding to the first mode identifier (i.e., the mode (1) described above), that is, stops services of all cells to enter the deactivated state.

For example, in a case where an internal interface is defined between the MT and the DU, the first indication information sent by the MT to the DU through the internal interface carries the second mode identity. Accordingly, after the DU obtains the first indication information, the mode corresponding to the second mode identifier (i.e. the mode (2) above) is adopted to enter the deactivated state, i.e. the partial cell service of the DU is stopped to enter the deactivated state.

For example, the host base station separately sends a message to indicate the mode used by the DU entering the deactivated state, where the message carries the third mode identifier. Accordingly, after obtaining the message, the DU enters a deactivated state by using the third mode in the message to identify the corresponding mode (i.e. the above-mentioned mode (3)), that is, one or more cells of the DU can only send one or more of the SSB, the MIB and the SIB1, and only receive the random access pilot signal, so as to enter the deactivated state.

In another alternative embodiment, the donor base station may also not indicate the mode used by the DU to enter the deactivation state, but actively select the mode used by the DU to enter the deactivation state. In this embodiment, optionally, the DU may also report the selected mode to the host base station.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the donor base station may directly issue, to the DU issue mode, configuration parameters corresponding to the DU issue mode, such as an identifier of a cell that needs to be out of service, an identifier of a cell that needs to adjust a communication bandwidth and a corresponding communication bandwidth value, an identifier of a cell that needs to adjust BWP and a corresponding BWP value, an identifier of a cell that needs to adjust an SSB transmission period and a corresponding period value, and the like. Correspondingly, the DU directly configures itself according to the relevant configuration parameters issued by the host base station, and enters a deactivated state.

As an optional implementation manner, before the DU enters the deactivated state, the host base station may also first switch the connected UE and the child node in the DU to other IAB nodes, so as to ensure that the child node and the UE can normally communicate without being affected by other IAB nodes. In a specific example, after determining that the MT of the IAB node needs to enter the deactivated state (i.e., step S401), and before sending the first deactivation indication to the MT of the IAB node (i.e., step S402), the donor base station issues a handover message to the connected UEs and the child nodes under the IAB node, so that the connected UEs and the child nodes are handed over to other IAB nodes.

The scheme provides a scheme of firstly enabling the MT to enter the deactivation state and then enabling the DU to enter the deactivation state, and the power saving effect of the IAB node can be achieved. When the MT enters the deactivated state, part of functions or configurations (such as suspending BH RLC channels and/or BAP configuration information of the MT, etc.) may be suspended, so that when the MT returns to the RRC connected state, some previously suspended configurations or states may be directly used, thereby achieving the purpose of fast recovery and improving user experience. When the DU enters the deactivated state, the service of all cells may be stopped to achieve the purpose of saving power, or the service of one or more cells may be reserved, and the downlink/downlink transmission, the communication bandwidth, the BWP or SSB transmission period, etc. of the reserved cell are adjusted to achieve the purpose of saving power, and at the same time, provide access possibility for the child node or the UE.

In scheme 2, the deactivation indication sent by the donor base station is used to indicate that the DU of the IAB node enters a deactivated state. Correspondingly, the DU of the IAB enters a deactivated state according to the deactivation indication.

Referring to fig. 5, a flowchart of the deactivation state of the DU of the IAB node is shown, where the flowchart may include:

s501, the host base station determines that the DU of the IAB node needs to enter a deactivation state.

Specifically, the donor base station may determine that the DU of the IAB node enters the deactivated state according to the following two situations:

1) and the host base station judges the condition of the IAB node and determines that the DU of the IAB node enters a deactivation state. Specifically, the donor base station may determine, according to a cell service condition under the DU of the IAB node, that the DU of the IAB node enters the deactivated state, or determine, according to a state of a subordinate child IAB node or/and the UE of the IAB node, whether the DU of the IAB node needs to enter the deactivated state. For example, when the host base station detects a child IAB node and a UE in a connected state under the IAB node, it determines that the DU of the IAB node needs to enter a deactivated state.

2) And the host base station receives the deactivation request sent by the IAB node and determines that the DU enters a deactivation state.

S502, the host base station sends a second deactivation indication to the DU of the IAB node.

In this embodiment of the present application, the second deactivation indication may be used to directly indicate that the DU of the IAB node enters the deactivation state, or may be used to indicate that the cell of the DU of the IAB node is deactivated, so as to indirectly indicate that the DU of the IAB node enters the deactivation state.

For example, when the second deactivation indication directly indicates that the DU of the IAB node enters the deactivated state, the donor base station may send to the DU an F1-AP message carrying the second deactivation indication on an F1 interface between the donor base station and the IAB node.

For another example, when the second deactivation indication indirectly indicates that a DU of the IAB node enters a deactivated state, the deactivation indication may be used to indicate that the DU deactivates one or more cells of the DU. For example, the second deactivation indication may multiplex an existing gNB-CU configuration update message (gNB-CU configuration update) message, which carries the cell identity of one or more cells of the DU. In this case, after receiving the GNB-CU configuration update message, the DU deactivates the one or more cells according to the GNB-CU configuration update message, and when the deactivated cells reach the first number (for example, after all the cells are deactivated or all the cells except the primary cell are deactivated), the DU determines that the DU enters the deactivated state.

The way for the DU to deactivate a certain cell may be to stop the service of the cell, or may be a combination of one or more of the following ways: controlling the cell to transmit only one or more of the SSB, MIB and SIB1 and to receive only the random access pilot signal; adjusting the communication bandwidth of the cell; adjusting the BWP used by the cell; the cell transmits the SSB using the STC of the longest period. Of course, other implementations are possible in the specific implementation, and the embodiments of the present application are not limited.

Of course, in specific implementation, the implementation manner of the second deactivation indication of the donor base station is not limited to the above two, and other implementation manners are also possible, which is not limited in this application embodiment.

And S503, the DU of the IAB node enters a deactivation state according to the second deactivation indication.

Similar to the embodiment, in the embodiment, there are various modes of the DU entering the deactivation state, including but not limited to the following:

(1) all cells of the DU are out of service.

(2) Some cells of the DU are out of service. For example, the DU stops the service of all cells except the primary cell.

(3) The DU stops a specified type of downlink transmission and a specified type of uplink transmission for one or more cells of the DU, wherein the specified type of downlink transmission does not include one or more of the SSBs, the MIB, and the SIB1, and the specified type of uplink transmission does not include receiving a random access pilot signal from the child node and/or the UE. Namely: one or more cells of the DU can only transmit one or more of SSBs, MIBs and SIBs 1, receiving random access pilot signals. Thus, when the DU is in the deactivated state, the SSB/MIB/SIB1 may be sent by the one or more cells, and the preamble sent by the child node/UE may be received by the one or more cells, so as to provide access possibility for the new child node/UE.

(4) The DU adjusts the communication bandwidth of one or more cells of the DU. For example, adjusting the communication bandwidth of one or more cells to a pre-configured minimum communication bandwidth.

(5) The DU adjusts the BWP used by one or more cells of the DU. For example, the BWP of one or more cells is adjusted to the initial active BWP, or the BWP of one or more cells is adjusted to the minimum bandwidth BWP, or the number of simultaneous active BWPs of one or more cells is reduced to 1, etc.

(6) One or more cells of the DU transmit a synchronization signal block SSB using the longest period of the STC. In this mode, optionally, the DU may also notify the host base station of the updated STC configuration information.

It should be noted that when the DU enters the deactivation state, the DU may enter the deactivation state based on any one of the above 6 modes, or may enter the deactivation state based on a combination of any multiple modes in the above (2) to (6), and the embodiment of the present application is not limited specifically.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment of the present application, a state name of a DU of an IAB after entering a deactivated state is not limited. For example, the state of the DU after entering the deactivation state may be defined as an RRC deactivation state/mode of the DU, a deactivation state/mode of the DU, an RRC deactivation state/mode of the DU, an inactivity state/mode of the DU, a discontinuous transmission state/mode of the DU, or a power saving state/mode of the DU.

In an alternative embodiment, the donor base station may instruct the DU to enter the deactivated state. Specifically, the second deactivation indication is further used to indicate a mode adopted by the DU to enter the deactivation state, or carry mode indication information in an F1-AP message carrying the second deactivation indication, where the mode indication information is used to indicate the mode adopted by the DU to enter the deactivation state, or the host base station may separately send a message to indicate the mode adopted by the DU to enter the deactivation state, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application. For example, the second deactivation indication carries a third mode identifier, where the third mode identifier is used to indicate that the mode adopted by the DU to enter the deactivation state is to stop service for all cells of the DU, and then the DU stops service for all cells after obtaining the second activation indication from the host base station, so as to enter the deactivation state.

Further, after the DU enters the deactivation state, it may be defined that the IAB node enters the deactivation state. Of course, it may also be defined that the IAB node enters the deactivated state after both the MT and the DU enter the deactivated state, in which case, the MT needs to further enter the deactivated state.

As an optional implementation manner, after the DU of the IAB node receives the second deactivation indication, the IAB node further initiates a flow that the MT enters a deactivated state.

The specific implementation manner for triggering the MT to enter the deactivated state includes the following three types: (1) the MT may enter a deactivated state according to the second deactivation indication. That is, the second deactivation indication is also used to indicate that the MT enters a deactivated state. If an internal interface is not defined between the DU and the MT, that is, the MT also obtains the second deactivation instruction when the DU obtains the second deactivation instruction, the MT directly enters a deactivation state according to the second deactivation instruction received by the DU; if an internal interface is defined between the DU and the MT, the DU forwards the second deactivation indication to the MT through the internal interface after receiving the second deactivation indication, and the MT enters a deactivation state according to the second deactivation indication forwarded by the DU. (2) And the DU sends second indication information to the MT, the second indication information is used for indicating the MT to enter a deactivation state, and the MT enters the deactivation state according to the second indication information sent by the DU. (3) After the MT detects that the DU enters the deactivated state or the cell in which the DU is deactivated reaches the first number (e.g., after all cells are deactivated or all cells except the primary cell are deactivated), the MT enters the deactivated state.

In this embodiment, the operation performed when the MT enters the deactivated state may refer to a specific implementation manner of step S403 in the foregoing embodiments, and is not described herein again.

As an optional implementation manner, after the DU enters the deactivated state, the DU may further instruct the host base station to release the F1 connection between the host base station and the DU. Specifically, the DU may directly send an indication to the donor base station to request the donor base station to release the indication that the donor base station is connected to the F1 of the DU, and the DU may be configured to forward the indication to the donor base station after receiving the indication that the donor base station is requested to release the connection between the donor base station and the F1 of the DU from the MT.

As an optional implementation manner, before the DU enters the deactivated state, the host base station may also first switch the connected UE and the child node in the DU to other IAB nodes, so as to ensure that the child node and the UE can normally communicate without being affected by other IAB nodes. In a specific example, after determining that the DU of the IAB node needs to enter the deactivation state (i.e., step S501), and before sending the second deactivation indication to the DU of the IAB node (i.e., step S502), the donor base station issues a handover message to the connected UEs and the child nodes under the IAB node, so that the connected UEs and the child nodes are handed over to other IAB nodes.

The above scheme provides a scheme of first making the DU enter the deactivation state and then making the MT enter the deactivation state, and can realize the power saving effect of the IAB node. When the DU enters the deactivated state, the service of all cells may be stopped to achieve the purpose of saving power, or the service of one or more cells may be reserved, and the downlink/downlink transmission, the communication bandwidth, the BWP or SSB transmission period, etc. of the reserved cell are adjusted to achieve the purpose of saving power, and at the same time, provide access possibility for the child node or the UE. When the MT enters the deactivated state, part of functions or configurations (such as suspending BH RLC channels and/or BAP configuration information of the MT, etc.) may be suspended, so that when the MT returns to the RRC connected state, some previously suspended configurations or states may be directly used, thereby achieving the purpose of fast recovery and improving user experience.

In scheme 3, the deactivation indication sent by the host base station is used for indicating the IAB node as a whole (including the MT and the DU) to enter a deactivated state. Correspondingly, the IAB node enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication.

Referring to fig. 6, a flowchart of the deactivation state of the DU of the IAB node is shown, where the flowchart may include:

s601, the host base station determines that the IAB node needs to enter a deactivation state.

Specifically, the specific implementation manner of the host base station determining that the IAB node needs to enter the deactivated state may refer to the specific implementation manner of step 401 in the above scheme 1 and the specific implementation manner of step 502 in the above scheme 2, and details are not described here again.

And S602, the host base station sends a third deactivation indication to the DU of the IAB node, and the third activation indication is used for the whole IAB node (including the MT and the DU) to enter a deactivation state.

Specifically, the third deactivation indication may be carried in a radio resource control Release RRC Release message, or carried in an F1-AP message between an IAB node DU and a doror CU, or a multiplexing of an existing GNB-CU configuration update message, which is not limited in this embodiment of the present application.

A specific implementation manner of the third activation indication may refer to the specific implementation manner of the first deactivation indication in the above scheme 1 and the specific implementation manner of the second deactivation indication in the above scheme 2 in combination, and details are not described here again.

And S603, the IAB node enters a deactivation state according to the third deactivation indication.

Specifically, the specific implementation manner of the IAB node entering the deactivated state according to the third deactivation indication may refer to the specific implementation manner of step 403 in scheme 1 and the specific implementation manner of step 503 in scheme 2, which is not described herein again.

By the scheme, the IAB node integrally (including the DU and the MT) enters the deactivated state, and a better power saving effect of the IAB node can be achieved.

Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the present application further provides an apparatus for deactivating an IAB node. Referring to fig. 7, the apparatus includes:

a receiving unit 701, configured to receive a deactivation indication from a donor base station;

a processing unit 702, configured to control the apparatus to enter a deactivated state according to the deactivation indication.

In one possible design, the apparatus includes a mobile terminal MT part and a distribution unit DU part; the processing unit 702 is configured to: and controlling the MT to enter a deactivated state according to the deactivation indication.

In one possible design, the deactivation indication is further used to indicate that the DU enters a deactivated state; the processing unit 702 is further configured to: and controlling the DU to enter a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication.

In one possible design, the processing unit 702 is configured to: after the receiving unit 701 receives a deactivation instruction from a host base station, controlling the MT to transmit first instruction information to the DU; wherein, the first indication information is used for indicating the DU to enter a deactivation state; the processing unit 702 is further configured to: and controlling the DU to enter a deactivation state according to the first indication information.

In one possible design, the IAB includes a mobile terminal MT part and a distribution unit DU part; the deactivation indication is used for indicating the DU to enter a deactivation state; the processing unit 702 is configured to: and controlling the DU to enter a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication.

In one possible design, the deactivation indication is further used to indicate that the MT enters a deactivated state; the processing unit 702 is further configured to: and controlling the MT to enter a deactivated state according to the deactivation indication.

In one possible design, the processing unit 702 is further configured to: after the receiving unit 701 receives a deactivation instruction from a host base station, controlling the DU to transmit second instruction information to the MT; wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the MT to enter a deactivated state; the processing unit 702 is further configured to: and controlling the MT to enter a deactivation state according to the second indication information.

In one possible design, the deactivation indication is used to instruct the DU to deactivate one or more cells of the DU; the processing unit 702 is configured to: deactivating the one or more cells of the DU; and determining that the DU enters a deactivation state after the deactivated cells of the DU reach a first number.

In one possible design, the processing unit 702 is further configured to: after the receiving unit 701 receives the deactivation indication from the host base station, when it is determined that the deactivated cells of the DU reach the first number, the MT is controlled to enter a deactivated state.

In one possible design, when deactivating one or more cells, the processing unit 702 is specifically configured to: stopping service of the one or more cells; or controlling the one or more cells to transmit only one or more of SSBs, MIBs and SIBs 1 and to receive only random access pilot signals; or adjusting the communication bandwidth of the one or more cells; or adjusting a bandwidth part BWP used by the one or more cells; or controlling the one or more cells to transmit the synchronization signal block SSB by using the STC transmission configuration with the longest period.

In one possible design, the processing unit 702 is further configured to: after controlling the DU to enter the deactivation state, controlling the DU to instruct the host base station to release the F1 connection between the host base station and the DU.

In a possible design, when controlling the MT to enter the deactivated state, the processing unit 702 is specifically configured to: and controlling the MT to suspend the configuration information of a back transmission link BH wireless link control RLC channel and/or a back transmission adaptation protocol layer BAP of the MT.

In a possible design, when controlling the DU to enter the deactivation state, the processing unit 702 is specifically configured to: controlling the DU to enter a deactivation state by adopting a first mode, wherein the first mode is as follows: one or more cells of the DU cease to be serviced; or, controlling the DU to enter a deactivated state in a second mode, where the second mode includes one or more of the following: the DU transmits only one or more of SSB, MIB and SIB1 and receives only a random access pilot signal; the DU adjusts a communication bandwidth of one or more cells of the DU; the DU adjusts a bandwidth portion BWP used by one or more cells of the DU; one or more cells of the DU transmit a synchronization signal block SSB using the longest period synchronization signal block transmission configuration STC.

The method and the device are based on the same technical concept, and because the principles of solving the problems of the method and the device are similar, the specific implementation of the operations executed by the above units can refer to the specific implementation of the corresponding steps executed by the IAB in the method for deactivating the IAB node in the embodiment of the present application, so the implementation of the device and the method can be referred to each other, and repeated parts are not described again.

Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the present application further provides an apparatus for deactivating an IAB node. Referring to fig. 8, the apparatus includes:

a processing unit 801, configured to determine that an IAB node needs to be deactivated;

a sending unit 802, configured to send a deactivation indication to the IAB, so that the IAB node enters a deactivated state.

In one possible design, the apparatus further includes a receiving unit configured to receive a deactivation request from an IAB node before the processing unit 801 determines that the IAB node needs to be deactivated; the processing unit 801 is specifically configured to: and determining that the IAB node needs to be deactivated according to the deactivation request.

The method and the device are based on the same technical concept, and because the principles of solving the problems of the method and the device are similar, the specific implementation of the operations executed by the above units can refer to the specific implementation of the corresponding steps executed by the host base station in the method for deactivating the IAB node in the embodiment of the present application, so the implementation of the device and the method can be referred to each other, and repeated parts are not described again.

Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the application also provides a communication device. Referring to fig. 9, the apparatus includes:

at least one processor 901; and

a memory 902, a communication interface 903 communicatively connected to the at least one processor 901; the memory 902 stores instructions executable by the at least one processor 901, and the at least one processor 901 executes the instructions stored in the memory 902 to perform the method for deactivating an IAB node according to the embodiment of the present application.

The communication interface 903 may be an interface for interaction with other devices. Alternatively, the apparatus of fig. 9 may be an IAB node, in which case 903 may be a transceiver through which a deactivation indication may be received from the donor base station. Alternatively, the apparatus of fig. 9 may be a chip in an IAB node, and in this case, the communication interface 903 in the apparatus of fig. 9 may be understood as an input or output interface, a pin, a circuit, or the like.

As an optional implementation manner, in this embodiment of the application, the processor 901 may specifically include a Central Processing Unit (CPU), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), one or more integrated circuits for controlling program execution, a hardware circuit developed by using a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), and a baseband processor.

As an alternative implementation, in this embodiment, the processor 901 may include at least one processing core.

As an alternative implementation manner, in this embodiment of the application, the memory 902 may include a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), and a disk memory. The memory 902 is used for storing data required when the processor 901 operates.

The method and the apparatus of the present application are based on the same technical concept, and because the principles of the method and the apparatus for solving the problems are similar, the specific implementation manner of the operation performed by the at least one processor 901 may refer to the corresponding steps in the method for deactivating the IAB node in the embodiment of the present application, so the apparatus and the method may be mutually referred to, and repeated parts are not described again.

Based on the same technical concept, embodiments of the present application further provide a computer-readable storage medium, where a computer program is stored, where the computer program includes program instructions, and when the program instructions are executed by a computer, the computer executes the method for deactivating an IAB node according to the embodiments of the present application.

Based on the same technical concept, embodiments of the present application further provide a computer program product, where the computer program product includes instructions, and when the instructions are run on a computer, the computer is caused to execute the method for deactivating an IAB node in the embodiments of the present application.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, embodiments of the present invention may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product embodied on one or more computer-usable storage media (including, but not limited to, disk storage, CD-ROM, optical storage, and the like) having computer-usable program code embodied therein.

The present invention is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the application. It will be understood that each flow and/or block of the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, and combinations of flows and/or blocks in the flow diagrams and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, embedded processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart flow or flows and/or block diagram block or blocks.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, additional variations and modifications in those embodiments may occur to those skilled in the art once they learn of the basic inventive concepts. Therefore, it is intended that the appended claims be interpreted as including preferred embodiments and all such alterations and modifications as fall within the scope of the invention.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the embodiments of the present application without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the present application. Thus, if such modifications and variations of the embodiments of the present application fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention and their equivalents, the present invention is also intended to encompass such modifications and variations.

Claims

A method for deactivating an access backhaul integrated IAB node, the method comprising:

the IAB node receiving a deactivation indication from a donor base station;

and the IAB node enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication.
The method of claim 1 wherein the IAB node comprises a mobile terminal, MT, part and a distribution unit, DU, part; the deactivation indication is used for indicating the MT to enter a deactivated state;

the IAB node enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication, and the deactivation state comprises the following steps:

the MT enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication.
The method of claim 2, wherein the deactivation indication is further for indicating the DU to enter a deactivated state;

the IAB node enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication, and the method further comprises the following steps:

and the DU enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication.
The method of claim 2, wherein after the MT receives the deactivation indication from the donor base station, further comprising:

the MT sends first indication information to the DU; wherein, the first indication information is used for indicating the DU to enter a deactivation state;

the IAB node enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication, and the method further comprises the following steps:

and the DU enters a deactivation state according to the first indication information.
The method according to any of claims 2-4, wherein the deactivation indication is carried by a radio resource control Release, RRC, Release message.
The method of claim 1 wherein the IAB node comprises a mobile terminal, MT, part and a distribution unit, DU, part; the deactivation indication is used for indicating the DU to enter a deactivation state;

the IAB node enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication, and the deactivation state comprises the following steps:

and the DU enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication.
The method of claim 6, wherein the deactivation indication is further for indicating that the MT enters a deactivated state;

the IAB node enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication, and the method further comprises the following steps:

the MT enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication.
The method of claim 6, wherein after receiving the deactivation indication from the donor base station, the DU further comprises:

the DU sends second indication information to the MT; wherein the second indication information is used for indicating the MT to enter a deactivated state;

the IAB node enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication, and the method further comprises the following steps:

and the MT enters a deactivation state according to the second indication information.
The method of any one of claims 6-8, wherein the deactivation indication is carried in an F1-AP message on an F1 interface between the donor base station and the IAB node.
The method of claim 6, wherein the deactivation indication is used to instruct the DU to deactivate one or more cells of the DU;

the DU enters a deactivation state according to the deactivation indication, and the deactivation state comprises the following steps:

the DU deactivates the one or more cells of the DU; and when the deactivated cells of the DU reach the first number, the DU enters a deactivated state.
The method of claim 10, wherein after the DU receives a deactivation indication from a donor base station, the method further comprises:

the MT enters a deactivated state when determining that the deactivated cells of the DUs reach the first number.
The method of claim 10, wherein the DU deactivates one or more cells, comprising:

stopping service of the one or more cells; or

The one or more cells transmit only one or more of SSBs, MIBs, and SIBs 1 and receive only random access pilot signals; or

Adjusting a communication bandwidth of the one or more cells; or

Adjusting a bandwidth part BWP used by the one or more cells; or

The one or more cells transmit the synchronization signal block SSB using the synchronization signal block transmission configuration STC of the longest period.
The method of claim 10, wherein after the DU enters a deactivated state, the method further comprises:

the DU instructs the host base station to release the F1 connection between the host base station and the DU.
The method according to any of claims 2-5, 7-8, 11, wherein the MT enters a deactivated state comprising:

the MT suspends the configuration information of a back transmission link BH wireless link control RLC channel and/or a back transmission adaptation protocol layer BAP of the MT.
The method as recited in claims 3-4, 6-13, wherein the entering of the DU into a deactivated state comprises:

the DU enters a deactivation state by adopting a first mode, wherein the first mode is as follows: one or more cells of the DU cease to be serviced; or

The DU enters a deactivated state by adopting a second mode, wherein the second mode comprises one or more of the following modes:

the DU transmits only one or more of SSB, MIB and SIB1 and receives only a random access pilot signal;

the DU adjusts a communication bandwidth of one or more cells of the DU;

the DU adjusts a bandwidth portion BWP used by one or more cells of the DU;

one or more cells of the DU transmit a synchronization signal block SSB using the longest period synchronization signal block transmission configuration STC.
The method of claim 15, wherein the deactivation indication is further for indicating the first mode or the second mode employed by the DU to enter a deactivated state.
A method of deactivating an IAB node, the method comprising:

the host base station determines that the IAB node needs to be deactivated;

and the host base station sends a deactivation indication to the IAB so as to enable the IAB node to enter a deactivation state.
The method of claim 17, wherein the donor base station, prior to determining that deactivation of an IAB node is required, further comprises:

the donor base station receiving a deactivation request from the IAB node;

the host base station determines that the IAB node needs to be deactivated, and the method comprises the following steps:

and the host base station determines that the IAB node needs to be deactivated according to the deactivation request.
The method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the IAB node comprises a mobile terminal, MT, part and a distribution unit, DU, part;

the deactivation indication is carried in a radio resource control Release RRC Release message and is used for indicating the MT to enter a deactivation state; or

The deactivation indication is carried in a F1-AP message on a F1 interface between the donor base station and the IAB node, and is used to indicate that the DU enters a deactivated state.
A communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

a memory and/or a communications interface in communicative connection with the at least one processor;

wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the at least one processor, the at least one processor performing the method of any one of claims 1-16 or 17-19 by executing the instructions stored by the memory.
A computer-readable storage medium, characterized in that the computer-readable storage medium stores a computer program comprising program instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any of claims 1-16 or 17-19.
A computer program product containing instructions which, when run on a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1-16 or 17-19.