CN114390593A

CN114390593A - Communication method and device in IAB network

Info

Publication number: CN114390593A
Application number: CN202011141688.7A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 李思栋; 王达
Original assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd
Current assignee: Datang Mobile Communications Equipment Co Ltd
Priority date: 2020-10-22
Filing date: 2020-10-22
Publication date: 2022-04-22

Abstract

The application discloses a communication method and a device thereof in an IAB network. The method comprises the following steps: and the IAB node sends transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, wherein the transmission hop count indication information is used for indicating at least one of the transmission hop count of the service carried on the RLC channel from the IAB node to the IAB node and the transmission hop count from the IAB node to a target terminal.

Description

Communication method and device in IAB network

Technical Field

The present application relates to the field of wireless communication technologies, and in particular, to a communication method and apparatus in an IAB network.

Background

An Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) network technology performs relay transmission on wireless signals through a plurality of nodes to achieve the purpose of expanding the coverage area of a base station, and is a network networking mode for solving the problem of the coverage area of the base station in the future 5G.

The IAB network enhances coverage through multiple hops while increasing end-to-end transmission delay. With the further development of the IAB technology, load fairness of the IAB network is particularly important, and to achieve load fairness, the number of hops for service transmission needs to be considered, but the number of hops required by an end-to-end data packet is not considered in the scheduling of the conventional network.

Disclosure of Invention

The embodiment of the application provides a communication method and a communication device in an IAB network, which are used for indicating the service transmission hop count to an IAB node, so that the IAB node can realize load fairness according to the service transmission hop count.

In a first aspect, a communication method in an IAB network is provided, including:

an IAB host node (IAB node) sends transmission hop count indication information to an IAB node (IAB node), wherein the transmission hop count indication information is used for indicating at least one of the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB node and the transmission hop count from the IAB node to a target terminal of a service carried on a Radio Link Control (RLC) channel.

In some implementations, the IAB node sends transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, including at least one of:

after the IAB donor configures the at least one DRB, sending transmission hop count indication information to an IAB node configured with the RLC channel;

after the IAB donor reconfigures the at least one DRB, sending transmission hop count indication information to an IAB node configured with the RLC channel;

the IAB node sends transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node according to the period;

when the IAB node detects that the service transmission delay on the return link is greater than a set threshold value, transmitting transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node; wherein the backhaul link comprises at least one of: the link from the IAB node to the parent node and the link from the IAB node to the child node.

In some implementations, the sending, by the IAB node, transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node includes:

the IAB node receives a transmission hop count request message sent by the IAB node;

and the IAB donor sends transmission hop count indication information to the IAB donor according to the transmission hop count request message.

In some implementations, the transmission hop count request message is sent by the IAB node when detecting that a DRB is changed or when detecting that a service transmission delay on a backhaul link is greater than a set threshold; wherein the backhaul link comprises at least one of: the link from the IAB node to the parent node and the link from the IAB node to the child node.

In some implementations, the transmit hop count request message includes an FI interface application part F1AP message or a radio resource control RRC message.

In some implementations, the transmission hop count indication information is carried in an F1AP reconfiguration message or an RRC message.

In some implementation manners, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB donor according to a cycle, before the sending, by the IAB donor, the transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, the method further includes:

the IAB node determines the transmission hop count indication information according to the statistical average value of the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB node in the latest period of the DRB carried on the RLC channel and/or according to the statistical average value of the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the target terminal in the transmission hop count required by the DRB carried on the RLC channel in the latest period; wherein the RLC channel carries only one DRB.

In some implementation manners, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent when the IAB node detects that the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than a set threshold, before the IAB node sends the transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, the method further includes:

the IAB node determines the indication information of the transmission hop count according to the statistical average value of the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB node in the latest time period of the DRB carried on the RLC channel and/or according to the statistical average value of the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the target terminal in the transmission hop count required by the DRB carried on the RLC channel in the latest time period; the latest time period is a time period from the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold to the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold last time, or a time period within the time period, which is the latest time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold and has a length equal to the set time, and the RLC channel only carries one DRB.

In some implementation manners, before the sending, by the IAB node, transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, the method further includes:

the IAB donor determines the indication information of the transmission hop count according to the maximum transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB donor carried by all DRBs on the RLC channel and/or according to the maximum transmission hop count from the IAB node to a target terminal of all DRBs carried by the RLC channel; wherein the RLC channel carries at least one DRB.

In some implementations, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB donor according to a cycle, then:

the largest one of the transmission hops of all DRBs from the IAB node to the IAB donor is: the one with the largest statistical average value in the latest period in the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the IAB donor of all the DRBs;

the maximum one of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal of all DRBs is: and the transmission hop count of all DRBs from the IAB node to the target terminal is the largest one of the statistical averages in the latest period.

In some implementation manners, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent when the IAB donor detects that the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than a set threshold, then:

the largest one of the transmission hops of all DRBs from the IAB node to the IAB donor is: the one with the largest statistical average value in the latest time period in the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the IAB donor of all the DRBs;

the maximum one of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal of all DRBs is: the transmission hop count of all DRBs from the IAB node to the target terminal is the largest one of the statistical averages in the latest time period;

the latest time period is a time period from the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold to the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold at the previous time, or a time period within the time period, which is the latest time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold and has a length equal to the set time.

the IAB donor determines the indication information of the transmission hop count according to the minimum transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB donor borne on the RLC channel and/or according to the minimum transmission hop count from the IAB node to a target terminal of all DRBs borne on the RLC channel; wherein the RLC channel carries at least one DRB.

the minimum one of the transmission hops of all DRBs from the IAB node to the IAB donor is: the statistical average value of the transmission hops of all DRBs from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the latest period is the smallest;

the minimum one of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal of all DRBs is: and the statistical average value of the transmission hop counts of all DRBs from the IAB node to the target terminal in the latest period is the smallest one.

the minimum one of the transmission hops of all DRBs from the IAB node to the IAB donor is: the one with the smallest statistical average value in the latest time period in the transmission hop counts of all DRBs from the IAB node to the IAB donor;

the minimum one of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal of all DRBs is: the statistical average value of the transmission hop counts of all DRBs from the IAB node to the target terminal in the latest time period is the smallest;

the IAB donor determines the indication information of the transmission hop count according to the average hop count of the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB donor of all DRBs borne on the RLC channel and/or according to the average hop count of the transmission hop count from the IAB node to a target terminal of all DRBs borne on the RLC channel; wherein the RLC channel carries at least one DRB.

the average hop count of the transmission hop counts of all DRBs from the IAB node to the IAB donor is: a statistical average value in the latest period among the transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB donor among the transmission hops required by all DRBs; or, the average hop count of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal of all DRBs is: a statistical average value in the latest period among the transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB donor among the transmission hops required by all DRBs.

the average hop count of the transmission hop counts of all DRBs from the IAB node to the IAB donor is: a statistical average value in a latest time period of transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB donor among the transmission hops required by all DRBs;

the average hop count of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal of all DRBs is: a statistical average value in the latest time period of the transmission hops from the IAB node to the target terminal among the transmission hops required by all DRBs;

the IAB donor determines the transmission hop count indication information according to the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB donor of each DRB borne on the RLC channel and/or according to the transmission hop count from the IAB node to a target terminal of each DRB borne on the RLC channel; wherein the RLC channel carries at least one DRB.

the number of transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB node of each DRB is: a statistical average value of transmission hops of each DRB from the IAB node to the IAB donor in a latest period;

the number of transmission hops from the IAB node to the target terminal of each DRB is: and the statistical average value of the transmission hop counts of each DRB from the IAB node to the target terminal in the latest period.

the number of transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB node of each DRB is: a statistical average of the number of transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB donor for each DRB over a recent time period;

the number of transmission hops from the IAB node to the target terminal of each DRB is: the statistical average value of the transmission hop counts of each DRB from the IAB node to the target terminal in the latest time period;

In a second aspect, a communication method in an IAB network is provided, including:

the method comprises the steps that an IAB node receives transmission hop count indication information sent by the IAB node, wherein the transmission hop count indication information is used for indicating at least one of the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB node and the transmission hop count from the IAB node to a target terminal of a service carried on an RLC channel of radio link control.

In some implementation manners, before the IAB node receives the indication information of the number of transmission hops sent by the IAB node, the method further includes:

and the IAB node sends a transmission hop count request message to the IAB node.

In some implementations, the sending, by the IAB node, the transmission hop count request message to the IAB node includes:

when the IAB node detects that the DRB changes or detects that the service transmission delay on the return link is greater than a set threshold value, the IAB node sends the transmission hop count request message to the IAB node; wherein the backhaul link comprises at least one of: the link from the IAB node to the parent node and the link from the IAB node to the child node.

In a third aspect, there is provided an IAB donor apparatus comprising:

a sending module, configured to send transmission hop count indication information to an IAB node, where the transmission hop count indication information is used to indicate at least one of the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB node and the transmission hop count from the IAB node to a target terminal for a service carried on an RLC channel.

In a fourth aspect, there is provided an IAB node apparatus comprising:

a receiving module, configured to receive transmission hop count indication information sent by an IAB host node IAB donor, where the transmission hop count indication information is used to indicate at least one of the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB donor the transmission hop count from the IAB node to a target terminal for a service carried on an RLC channel.

In a fifth aspect, there is provided an IAB donor device comprising: a processor, memory, transceiver; the transceiver receives and transmits data under the control of the processor; the memory storing computer instructions; the processor is configured to read the computer instructions to perform the method according to any one of the above first aspects.

In a sixth aspect, there is provided an IAB node apparatus comprising: a processor, memory, transceiver; the transceiver receives and transmits data under the control of the processor; the memory storing computer instructions; the processor is configured to read the computer instructions to perform the method according to any one of the second aspects.

In a seventh aspect, there is provided a computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the method of any of the first or second aspects above.

In the embodiment of the present application, the IAB node sends the transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, where the transmission hop count indication information is used to indicate at least one of the transmission hop count of the service carried by the RLC channel from the IAB node to the IAB node and the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the target terminal, so that the IAB node can obtain the remaining transmission hop count of the service in the uplink or downlink direction, and further, the IAB node can implement load fairness according to the service transmission hop count.

Drawings

In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present application, the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments of the present application will be briefly described below, and it is obvious that the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application, and it is obvious for those skilled in the art to obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative efforts.

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

fig. 2 is a schematic connection diagram of an IAB node in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a 1:1 load map in the embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 4a and FIG. 4b are schematic diagrams of load mapping of N:1 in the embodiment of the present application, respectively;

fig. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method in an IAB network according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a communication method in an IAB network according to an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of an IAB donor apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of an IAB node apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of an IAB donor apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application;

fig. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of an IAB node apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application.

Detailed Description

In order to make the objects, technical solutions and advantages of the present application clearer, the present application will be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present application, and not all embodiments. All other embodiments, which can be derived by a person skilled in the art from the embodiments given herein without making any creative effort, shall fall within the protection scope of the present application.

Some terms in the embodiments of the present application are explained below to facilitate understanding by those skilled in the art.

(1) In the embodiments of the present application, the terms "network" and "system" are often used interchangeably, but those skilled in the art can understand the meaning.

(2) In the embodiments of the present application, the term "plurality" means two or more, and other terms are similar thereto.

(3) "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. The character "/" generally indicates that the former and latter associated objects are in an "or" relationship.

Fig. 1 illustrates a topology diagram of an IAB network.

As shown in fig. 1, the IAB network includes an IAB node (IAB donor node or central control node), an IAB node (IAB node), and a terminal (UE). The IAB node is a node with wired connection, is connected with the core network, and is used for returning the information of the IAB node and the UE to the core network and transmitting the information of the core network to the IAB node and the UE. The IAB donor is also responsible for managing IAB nodes throughout the IAB network.

The IAB node is responsible for relaying and transmitting information of the UE to the IAB donor and relaying and transmitting information of the IAB donor to the UE through a radio link (NR Uu interface). The IAB nodes and the IAB donors are connected through wireless links (NR Uu interfaces).

A terminal is a device that can provide voice and/or data connectivity to a user. For example, the terminal device includes a handheld device, an in-vehicle device, and the like having a wireless connection function. Currently, the terminal device may be: a mobile phone (mobile phone), a tablet computer, a notebook computer, a palm top computer, a Mobile Internet Device (MID), a wearable device, 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 smart grid (smart grid), a wireless terminal in transportation safety (transportation safety), a wireless terminal in smart city (smart city), or a wireless terminal in smart home (smart home), etc.

The relay function of the IAB node is implemented by a BAP layer (Backhaul attachment Protocol layer) in the IAB node.

Fig. 2 exemplarily shows a connection relationship between an IAB node and an IAB node based on the BAP layer protocol under an architecture based on CU/DU (Distributed Unit/Distributed Unit) separation.

As shown in fig. 2, an IAB node comprises two parts: an IAB MT (IAB Mobile Termination) and an IAB DU (IAB Distributed Unit), one IAB donor comprising two parts: DU and CU.

An IAB MT pair of an IAB node is connected with an IAB DU in the IAB node or a DU of the IAB node, and the IAB node of the previous stage connected with the IAB node or the IAB node connected with the IAB node is called a parent node of the IAB node; an IAB DU of an IAB node is connected to a UE or MT part of the IAB node, and the UE connected to the IAB node or the next IAB node connected to the IAB node is called a child node of the IAB node.

As shown in fig. 1, IAB node1 is a parent node of IAB node2, IAB node3 is a child node of IAB node2, and IAB node3 is a descendant node of IAB node 1. The hop count from the IAB node1 to the IAB donor is 1 hop, namely the IAB node1 is directly connected with the IAB donor; the hop count from the IAB node2 to the IAB node is 2 hops, namely, one relay node IAB node exists between the IAB node2 and the IAB node; the number of hops from IAB node3 to IAB donor is 3 hops. By analogy, in the uplink direction, the hop count from one child node to IAB donor is equal to the hop count from the parent node of the child node to IAB donor plus 1.

The IAB nodes serve as a DU to provide access service for local UE, each IAB node is connected with the parent node at the upper stage through a local MT, and the MT serves as the access UE of the parent node and other UEs of the parent node to share access bandwidth. Since the DU of the IAB node and the CU of the IAB node are connected via the F1 interface, a one-hop or multi-hop Data Radio Bearer (DRB) needs to be established between the DU of the IAB node and the CU of the IAB node to transmit the F1 message. At each hop, the DRB performs data transmission through a BH RLC (BH is an abbreviation for Backhaul Link; RLC is an abbreviation for Radio Link Control, indicating Radio Link Control) channel on a wireless NR Uu interface between the MT and the DU.

A1: 1 load map may be employed in an IAB network topology, as may an N:1 load map.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of a 1:1 load map. In 1:1 load mapping, the IAB node needs to aggregate DRBs of multiple UEs onto the same backhaul RLC channel. In this case, each UE DRB is mapped to an independent backhaul RLC channel, and each backhaul RLC channel is mapped to an independent backhaul RLC channel on the next hop node, so the IAB node needs to establish the number of backhaul RLC channels equal to the number of UE DRBs carried. As shown in fig. 3, the UE1 is configured with 2 DRBs: a UE DRB1 for carrying VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) traffic and a UE DRB2 for carrying streaming traffic, which are mapped onto two independent BH RLC channels (RLC channel 1, RLC channel 2) between IAB node2 and IAB node1 and two independent BH RLC channels between IAB node1 and IAB node, respectively. The UE1 is configured with 2 DRBs and the UE3 is configured with 3 DRBs.

Fig. 4a and 4b illustrate diagrams of load maps of N:1, respectively. In the N:1 load mapping, the IAB node multiplexes multiple DRBs from different UEs onto the same backhaul RLC channel, and the DRBs on the same backhaul RLC channel generally have the same Quality of Service (QoS) requirement. In fig. 4a, UE1, UE2, and UE3 are all connected to IAB node2, the number of DRBs included in the RLC channels between IAB node2 and IAB node1, and the number of DRBs included in the RLC channels between IAB node1 and IAB node, for example, 3 DRBs from 3 UEs are included in RLC channel 1; in fig. 4b, UE1 and UE2 are connected to IAB node2, and UE3 is connected to different numbers of DRBs included in the RLC channels between IAB node1, IAB node2 and IAB node1, and the RLC channel between IAB node1 and IAB node, for example, the RLC channel 1 between IAB node2 and IAB node1 includes DRBs corresponding to the VoIP service of UE1 and UE2, and the RLC channel 1 between IAB node1 and IAB node includes DRBs corresponding to the VoIP service of UE1, UE2, and UE 3. Since multiple DRBs on the backhaul RLC channel may be from different UEs, the identifiers of the UEs or DRBs need to be included in the backhaul RLC channel, and which identifiers are needed depends on the IAB implementation.

In the existing IAB network, the scheduling method based on the conventional network does not consider the number of hops that the service needs to go through to complete the end-to-end transmission during scheduling, and thus load fairness cannot be realized. For example, for two services with the same QoS requirement but different hop counts experienced for completing end-to-end transmission, the priority level in IAB node scheduling should be different, i.e. a service with a higher hop count should be transmitted preferentially under the QoS that can guarantee a service with a lower hop count. However, the IAB node in the current network cannot acquire the information of the service transmission hop count, so that the transmission hop count of the service cannot be considered during scheduling, which is not favorable for network fairness.

In order to solve the above problem, an embodiment of the present application provides a communication method in an IAB network, so as to implement indication of service transmission hop count, and facilitate consideration of the service transmission hop count when the IAB network performs scheduling, thereby making service transmission in the IAB network more balanced and reducing system transmission delay.

The embodiment of the application can be applied to the load mapping process of N:1 or 1: 1. The embodiment of the application can be applied to a 5G NR system or an evolution system thereof.

Referring to fig. 5, a schematic diagram of a communication method in an IAB network according to an embodiment of the present application is provided, where the method may indicate a service transmission hop count to an IAB node.

It should be noted that, the IAB donor may send the transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node corresponding to one RLC channel, respectively, for the service carried on the RLC channel. If a plurality of RLC channels exist, the IAB donor may send the transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node corresponding to the corresponding RLC channel, respectively, for each RLC channel.

Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating transmission of the transmission hop count indication information between the IAB node and one IAB node, and if the IAB node transmits the transmission hop count indication information to a plurality of IAB nodes, a process of transmitting the transmission hop count indication information to each IAB node may refer to a flow illustrated in fig. 5.

As shown, the method may include:

s501: and the IAB node sends transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node.

Wherein, the transmission hop count indication information is used for indicating at least one of the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB donor and the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the target terminal of the service carried on the RLC channel. The transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB donor is the hop count of uplink transmission, and the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the target terminal is the hop count of downlink transmission.

Here, the number of transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB node is the number of hops for uplink transmission, and it can be understood that the number of transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB node CU is the number of hops for uplink transmission.

Wherein, the DRB is used for bearing service data. One RLC channel may carry (or aggregate) one or more DRBs, and the service carried by one RLC channel may be understood as the service data carried by all DRBs aggregated by the RLC channel. For example, for 1:1 load mapping, one RLC channel only carries one DRB, that is, a service carried by one RLC channel is a service carried by the DRB; for the load mapping of N:1, one RLC channel may carry one or more DRBs, for example, DRBs from multiple UEs, and multiple DRBs carried on one RLC channel may be DRBs with the same QoS requirement, for example, DRBs of VoIP services of different terminals may be carried in one RLC channel, that is, the services carried by the RLC channel include VoIP services from multiple UEs. Under the load mapping of N:1, DRBs of different UEs carried by one RLC channel may have different hop counts, for example, as shown in fig. 4b, UE1DRB1 carried by RLC channel 1 has 2 hops, and UE3 DRB1 carried by RLC channel 1 has 1 hop.

Optionally, the transmission hop count indication information may be carried in an F1AP reconfiguration message or an RRC message and sent to the IAB node.

S502: and the IAB node receives the transmission hop count indication information sent by the IAB node.

Further, the IAB-node may perform scheduling decisions according to the transmission hop count indication information of the service carried by each RLC channel. For example, on the premise of guaranteeing the QoS of the service, the service with a large number of transmission hops can be scheduled preferentially, so that the time delay of the IAB network system is reduced, and the fairness of the system is guaranteed.

In the embodiment of the present application, the IAB node sends the transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, where the transmission hop count indication information is used to indicate at least one of the transmission hop count of the service carried by the RLC channel from the IAB node to the IAB node and the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the target terminal, so that the IAB node can obtain the remaining transmission hop count of the DRB in the uplink or downlink direction, and further, the IAB node can implement load fairness according to the transmission hop count.

In some embodiments of the present application, the IAB node may actively send transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node. Specifically, the IAB node actively sends the transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, and may adopt any one of the following active triggering modes:

active triggering mode 1: after the IAB donor configures the DRB, it may send the information indicating the number of transmission hops to the IAB node configured with the DRB for the RLC channel carrying the DRB.

For example, taking the 1:1 load mapping shown in fig. 3 as an example, the UE1 requests a VoIP service, the IAB donor creates a corresponding data bearer UE1DRB1 for the UE1, and allocates 2 hops for transmission: UE1 to IAB node2, and IAB node2 to IAB node 1. RLC channels are established between UE1 to IAB node2 and between IAB node2 to IAB node1 to carry the VoIP traffic from UE 1. The IAB node sends, to the IAB node1, indication information of transmission hop count of the VoIP service from the UE1 carried by the RLC channel, where the indication information may indicate at least one of:

the number of transmission hops in the uplink direction is 1 (indicating 1 hop from IAB node1 to IAB node);

the number of transmission hops in the downlink direction is 2 (indicating 2 hops from the IAB node1 to the UE 1).

Active triggering mode 2: after the DRB is reconfigured, the IAB node may send the information indicating the number of transmission hops to the IAB node configured with the DRB for the RLC channel carrying the DRB.

For example, taking the 1:1 load map shown in fig. 3 as an example, if UE1DRB1 carried by RLC channel 1 is reconfigured, IAB node sends transmission hop count indication information of the service carried by the RLC channel to IAB node1, where the indication information indicates that the transmission hop count in the uplink direction is 1 (indicating 1 hop from IAB node1 to IAB node) and the transmission hop count in the downlink direction is 2 (indicating 2 hops from IAB node1 to UE 1).

Active trigger mode 3: and the IAB node sends transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node according to the period.

Wherein the length of the period is configurable. The length of the period can be configured according to factors such as network performance and service requirements.

Optionally, the IAB node may send, according to a set period, transmission hop count information of a service carried by each RLC channel to the corresponding IAB node, or may send, according to a set period, transmission hop count information of a service carried by a part of the RLC channels to the corresponding IAB node, for example, after receiving a transmission hop count request sent by a certain IAB node, send, according to a set period, transmission hop count indication information of a service carried by an RLC channel configured by the IAB node to the corresponding IAB node.

Active triggering mode 4: when the IAB node detects that the service transmission delay on the return link is greater than a set threshold value, transmitting transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node; wherein the backhaul link comprises at least one of: the link between the IAB node and the parent node and the link between the IAB node and the child node.

Wherein the set threshold is configurable. The set threshold may be configured according to factors such as service requirements, network performance, etc.

In this embodiment of the present application, the IAB node may actively detect the service transmission delay on the backhaul link of a certain IAB node, or the IAB node may report the service transmission delay on the backhaul link to the IAB node, so that the IAB node can determine that the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than the set threshold.

Optionally, when detecting that the service transmission delay on the backhaul link of a certain IAB node is greater than the set threshold, the IAB node may send transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, so as to indicate the transmission hop count of the service carried by the RLC channel. The transmission hop count indication information may indicate the transmission hop count of the service carried by the corresponding RLC channel, that is, the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB donor, and/or the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the target terminal.

The active triggering methods may be used alone, that is, any one of the active triggering methods may be used to send the indication information of the transmission hop count, for example, the IAB donor sends the indication information of the transmission hop count according to a set period. The active triggering methods may also be used in any combination, for example, the IAB donor sends the indication information of the transmission hop count after configuring the DRB, and if the IAB donor reconfigures the DRB, the IAB donor sends the indication information of the transmission hop count after reconfiguration; for another example, the IAB donor sends the indication information of the transmission hop count according to a set period, and if the IAB donor detects that the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than the set threshold, but the time for sending the indication information of the transmission hop count is not reached currently according to the set period, the indication information of the transmission hop count is also sent to the IAB node.

In the embodiment of the application, through the active triggering mode, the IAB node can send the transmission hop count indication information to the corresponding IAB node in time, so that the IAB node can execute a scheduling decision in time according to the transmission hop count of the service, thereby reducing the time delay of the IAB network system and ensuring the fairness of the system.

In some embodiments of the present application, the IAB node may send the transmission hop count indication information based on a request of the IAB node.

Referring to fig. 6, which is a schematic diagram of a communication method in an IAB network according to an embodiment of the present application, in the method, an IAB node may indicate a service transmission hop count to the IAB node based on a request of the IAB node.

As shown, the method may include:

s601: the IAB node sends a transmission hop count request message to the IAB node.

In some embodiments, the transmission hop count request message is sent by the IAB node when detecting that the service carried by the RLC channel changes, for example, when the IAB node configures a certain DRB or reconfigures a certain DRB, the service carried by the RLC channel may be changed (for example, the transmission hop count of the service carried by the RLC channel from the IAB node to the IAB node and/or the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the target terminal changes), and the change may be detected by the corresponding IAB node, and when the IAB node detects that the service carried by the RLC channel changes, the transmission hop count request message is sent to the IAB node.

In other embodiments, the transmission hop count request message is sent by the IAB node when detecting that the traffic transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than a set threshold. Wherein the backhaul link comprises at least one of: the link between the IAB node to the parent node and the link between the IAB node to the child node.

Alternatively, the transmission hop count request message may be an FI interface application part F1AP (FI interface application part) message or an RRC message.

S602: and the IAB node sends transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node.

For a description of the transmission hop count indication information, reference may be made to the foregoing embodiments, and the description is not repeated here.

In this step, the IAB node may send transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node that sends the transmission hop count request message, and further, may send the transmission hop count indication information to the parent node or child node of the IAB node.

For example, taking the load mapping of N:1 shown in fig. 4a as an example, if the IAB node1 detects that the traffic transmission delay on the link between the IAB node and the parent node is greater than a set threshold, the IAB node sends a transmission hop count request message, so that the IAB node sends transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node.

For another example, still taking the load mapping of N:1 shown in fig. 4a as an example, if the IAB node1 detects that the service transmission delay on the link between the IAB node and the child node is greater than the set threshold, the IAB node sends the hop count request message, so that the IAB node sends the hop count indication information to the IAB node and the child node of the IAB node respectively.

Optionally, the transmission hop count indication information may be carried in an F1AP reconfiguration message or an RRC message.

In the embodiment of the application, through the request based on the IAB node, the IAB node sends the transmission hop count indication information to the corresponding IAB node, so that the IAB node can execute scheduling decision in time according to the transmission hop count of the service, thereby reducing the time delay of the IAB network system and ensuring the fairness of the system.

In some embodiments of the present application, the mode that the IAB node actively sends the transmission hop count indication information and sends the transmission hop count indication information based on the request of the IAB node may be used in combination, for example, after receiving the transmission hop count request message sent by the IAB node, the IAB node sends the transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, and then sends the transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node according to a set period.

The following describes the transmission hop count indication information sent by the IAB node to the IAB node with respect to the load mapping of 1:1 and the load mapping of N:1, respectively.

(1) Load mapping for 1:1

The transmission hop count indication information may indicate only the transmission hop count in the uplink direction, may indicate only the transmission hop count in the downlink direction, and may indicate the transmission hop count in the uplink direction and the transmission hop count in the downlink direction.

In the uplink direction, for a service carried by an RLC channel, the IAB node sends transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, which is used to indicate the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB node in the transmission hop count that the service carried by the RLC channel needs to experience. For the IAB donor, the transmission hop count indication information may be determined according to the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB donor of the DRB carried by the RLC channel.

Taking the responsible mapping of 1:1 shown in fig. 3 as an example, for UE1DRB1 carried by RLC channel 1, the transmission hop count indication information sent by IAB donor to IAB node1 is used to indicate that, in the uplink direction, the transmission hop count of the service carried by RLC channel 1 from IAB node1 to IAB donor is equal to 1; the transmission hop count indication information sent by the IAB node to the IAB node2 is used to indicate that the transmission hop count of the service carried by the RLC channel 1 from the IAB node2 to the IAB node is equal to 2 in the uplink direction.

In some embodiments, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB donor according to a period, the transmission hop count indication information is used to indicate a statistical average value of transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the IAB donor in a latest period among transmission hop counts required by a service carried on the RLC channel.

For example, the IAB node may count transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB node according to a first period for each DRB, and send the transmission hop count indication information according to a second period, where the first period is smaller than the second period, so that when the time at which the transmission hop count indication information is sent arrives, the average value of the transmission hop counts obtained in the latest second period based on the first period may be sent to the IAB node by the transmission hop count indication information.

In other embodiments, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent when the IAB donor detects that the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than the set threshold, the transmission hop count indication information is used to indicate a statistical average value of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the latest time period among the transmission hop counts required by the service carried on the RLC channel. The latest time period is a time period from the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold to the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold last time, or a time period within the time period, which is the latest time from the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold and has a length equal to the set time length.

For example, the time when the traffic transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold at this time is t1, and the time when the traffic transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold at the last time is t0, the latest time period may be a time period from the time t0 to the time t1, or may be a time period from the time t2 to the time t1, where the time t2 is between the time t0 and the time t1, and the duration from the time t2 to the time t1 is equal to the set duration.

In the downlink direction, for a service carried by an RLC channel, the IAB node sends transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, which is used to indicate the transmission hop count from the IAB node to a target terminal in the transmission hop counts that the service needs to experience. For the IAB donor, the transmission hop count indication information may be determined according to the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the target terminal by the DRB carried by the RLC channel.

Taking the responsible mapping of 1:1 shown in fig. 3 as an example, for UE1DRB1 carried by RLC channel 1, the transmission hop count indication information sent by the IAB donor to the IAB node1 is used to indicate that, in the downlink direction, the transmission hop count of the service carried by RLC channel 1 from the IAB node1 to UE1 is equal to 2; the transmission hop count indication information sent by the IAB node to the IAB node2 is used to indicate that the transmission hop count of the service carried by the RLC channel 1 in the downlink direction from the IAB node2 to the UE1 is equal to 1.

In some embodiments, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB donor according to a period, the transmission hop count indication information is used to indicate a statistical average value of transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal in the transmission hop counts required by the service carried on the RLC channel in the latest period.

In some embodiments, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent when the IAB donor detects that the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than a set threshold, the transmission hop count indication information is used to indicate a statistical average value of transmission hops from the IAB node to the target terminal in the transmission hops required by the service carried on the RLC channel in the latest time period. The latest time period is a time period from the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold to the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold at the previous time, or a time period within the time period, which is the latest time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold and has a length equal to the set time.

(2) Load mapping for N:1

In the uplink direction, for a service carried by an RLC channel, the transmission hop count indication information sent by the IAB node to the IAB node may be any one of the following four ways:

mode 1: the IAB donor determines the transmission hop count indication information, that is, the transmission hop count in the uplink direction indicated by the transmission hop count indication information is equal to the maximum value, according to the maximum one (that is, the maximum value) of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the DRBs carried on the RLC channel among all the transmission hop counts required by the DRBs.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB donor according to a cycle, a maximum one of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the IAB donor among the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs is: the largest statistical average value in the latest period among the transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB donor among the transmission hops required by all DRBs.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent when the IAB donor detects that the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than a set threshold, a maximum one of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the IAB donor among the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs is: and the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the latest time period is the largest one of the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs. The latest time period is a time period from the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold to the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold at the previous time, or a time period within the time period, which is the latest time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold and has a length equal to the set time.

Mode 2: the IAB donor determines the transmission hop count indication information, that is, the transmission hop count in the uplink direction indicated by the transmission hop count indication information is equal to the minimum value, according to the minimum one (that is, the minimum value) of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the DRBs carried on the RLC channel among all the transmission hop counts required by the DRBs.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB donor according to a cycle, a minimum one of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the IAB donor among the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs is: the one with the smallest statistical average value in the latest period among the transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB donor among the transmission hops required by all DRBs.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent when the IAB donor detects that the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than a set threshold, a minimum one of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the IAB donor among the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs is: and the statistical average value of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the latest time period is the smallest one of the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs. The latest time period is a time period from the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold to the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold at the previous time, or a time period within the time period, which is the latest time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold and has a length equal to the set time.

Mode 3: the IAB donor determines the transmission hop count indication information according to the average hop count of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs in the DRBs carried on the RLC channel, that is, the transmission hop count in the uplink direction indicated by the transmission hop count indication information is equal to the average hop count.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB donor periodically, an average hop count of transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs is: the statistical average of the transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the most recent period among the transmission hops required for all DRBs.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent when the IAB donor detects that the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than the set threshold, an average hop count of transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the IAB donor among transmission hop counts required by all DRBs is: the statistical average of the transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the latest time period among the transmission hops required for all DRBs. The latest time period is a time period from the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold to the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold at the previous time, or a time period within the time period, which is the latest time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold and has a length equal to the set time.

Mode 4: the IAB donor determines the transmission hop count indication information according to the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the transmission hop count required by each DRB in the DRBs carried on the RLC channel, that is, the transmission hop count in the uplink direction indicated by the transmission hop count indication information includes the transmission hop count corresponding to each DRB. For the IAB node, after receiving the transmission hop count indication information, the transmission hop count of the service carried by the RLC channel may be determined according to the transmission hop count corresponding to each DRB, for example, a maximum value, a minimum value, or an average value of the transmission hop counts corresponding to each DRB may be determined as the transmission hop count of the service carried by the RLC channel.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB donor according to a cycle, the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the transmission hop count required by each DRB is: and (3) the statistical average value of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the latest period in the transmission hop counts required by each DRB.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent when the IAB donor detects that the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than a set threshold, the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the transmission hop count required by each DRB is: the statistical average of the transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the latest time period among the transmission hops required for each DRB. The latest time period is a time period from the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold to the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold at the previous time, or a time period within the time period, which is the latest time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold and has a length equal to the set time.

In the downlink direction, for a service carried by an RLC channel, the transmission hop count indication information sent by the IAB node to the IAB node may adopt any one of the following four ways:

mode 1: the IAB donor determines the transmission hop count indication information, that is, the transmission hop count in the downlink direction indicated by the transmission hop count indication information is equal to the maximum value, according to the maximum one (that is, the maximum value) of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the corresponding target terminal among the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs in the DRBs carried on the RLC channel.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB node according to a cycle, a maximum one of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal among the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs is: and the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the target terminal in all the DRB required transmission hop counts is the largest one of the transmission hop counts in the latest period.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent when the IAB donor detects that the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than a set threshold, a maximum one of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal among the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs is: and the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the target terminal in all the DRB required transmission hop counts is the largest one in the statistical average value in the latest time period. The latest time period is a time period from the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold to the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold at the previous time, or a time period within the time period, which is the closest to the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold and has a length equal to the set time length.

Mode 2: the IAB donor determines the transmission hop count indication information, that is, the transmission hop count in the downlink direction indicated by the transmission hop count indication information is equal to the minimum value, according to the minimum one (that is, the minimum value) of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the corresponding target terminal in the DRBs carried on the RLC channel and required by all DRBs.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB node according to a cycle, a minimum one of the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs from the IAB node to the target terminal is: and the statistical average value of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal in the latest period is the smallest one of the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent when the IAB donor detects that the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than the set threshold, a minimum one of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal among the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs is: and the statistical average value of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal in the latest time period is the smallest one of the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs. The latest time period is a time period from the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold to the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold at the previous time, or a time period within the time period, which is the latest time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold and has a length equal to the set time.

Mode 3: the IAB donor determines the transmission hop count indication information according to the average hop count of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the corresponding target terminal in the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs in the DRBs carried on the RLC channel, that is, the transmission hop count in the uplink direction indicated by the transmission hop count indication information is equal to the average hop count.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB node according to a cycle, an average hop count of transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal among transmission hop counts required by all DRBs is: the statistical average of the transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB donor in the most recent period among the transmission hops required for all DRBs.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent when the IAB donor detects that the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than the set threshold, an average hop count of transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal among transmission hop counts required by all DRBs is: and the statistical average value of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal in the latest time period in the transmission hop counts required by all DRBs. The latest time period is a time period from the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold to the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold at the previous time, or a time period within the time period, which is the latest time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold and has a length equal to the set time.

Mode 4: the IAB donor determines the transmission hop count indication information according to the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the corresponding target terminal in the transmission hop count required by each DRB in the DRBs carried on the RLC channel, namely the transmission hop count in the downlink direction indicated by the transmission hop count indication information comprises the transmission hop count corresponding to each DRB. For the IAB node, after receiving the transmission hop count indication information, the transmission hop count of the service carried by the RLC channel may be determined according to the transmission hop count corresponding to each DRB, for example, a maximum value, a minimum value, or an average value of the transmission hop counts corresponding to each DRB may be determined as the transmission hop count of the service carried by the RLC channel.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB node according to a cycle, the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the target terminal in the transmission hop count required by each DRB is: and (3) the statistical average value of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal in the latest period in the transmission hop counts required by each DRB.

Optionally, if the transmission hop count indication information is sent when the IAB donor detects that the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than the set threshold, the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the target terminal in the transmission hop count required by each DRB is: and the statistical average value of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal in the latest time period in the transmission hop counts required by each DRB. The latest time period is a time period from the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold to the time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold at the previous time, or a time period within the time period, which is the latest time when the service transmission delay on the backhaul link is detected to be greater than the set threshold and has a length equal to the set time.

The communication method in the IAB network provided in the embodiment of the present application can facilitate considering the transmission hop count of the service when the IAB network performs scheduling, and the method is suitable for both uplink transmission and downlink transmission. The embodiment of the application defines the transmission hop counts under N:1 and 1:1 load mapping and the trigger condition of the hop count indication of the IAB network, and the hop counts required to be experienced by the transmission of different services can be considered when the IAB network is scheduled so as to reduce the network outgoing delay.

Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the application also provides the IAB donor equipment.

Referring to fig. 7, a schematic structural diagram of an IAB donor apparatus provided in an embodiment of the present application is shown, where the IAB donor apparatus can implement the functions implemented by the IAB donor apparatus in fig. 5 or fig. 6. As shown, the IAB donor apparatus may include: a processing module 701 and a transceiver module 702, wherein:

a processing module 701, configured to determine transmission hop count indication information;

a transceiver module 702, configured to send transmission hop count indication information to an IAB node, where the transmission hop count indication information is used to indicate at least one of the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB node and the transmission hop count from the IAB node to a target terminal for a service carried on an RLC channel.

In some embodiments, transceiver module 702 sends transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, including at least one of:

after the at least one DRB is configured, sending transmission hop count indication information to an IAB node configured with the RLC channel;

after the at least one DRB is reconfigured, transmitting transmission hop count indication information to an IAB node configured with the RLC channel;

transmitting transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node according to the period;

when detecting that the service transmission delay on the return link is greater than a set threshold, sending transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node; wherein the backhaul link comprises at least one of: the link from the IAB node to the parent node and the link from the IAB node to the child node.

In some embodiments, transceiver module 702 sends transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, including: and receiving a transmission hop count request message sent by the IAB node, and sending transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node according to the transmission hop count request message.

In some embodiments, the transmission hop count request message is sent by the IAB node when detecting that the DRB is changed or detecting that the traffic transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than a set threshold; wherein the backhaul link comprises at least one of: the link from the IAB node to the parent node and the link from the IAB node to the child node.

In some embodiments, the transmission hop count request message comprises an F1AP message or an RRC message.

In some embodiments, the transmission hop count indication information is carried in an F1AP reconfiguration message or an RRC message.

The related content of the transmission hop count indication information (such as the determination manner of the transmission hop count indication information) is the same as that of the foregoing embodiment, and is not repeated here.

It should be noted that, the IAB donor apparatus provided in this embodiment of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented by the method embodiment and achieve the same technical effects, and details of the same parts and beneficial effects as those of the method embodiment in this embodiment are not described herein again.

Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the application also provides an IAB node device.

Referring to fig. 8, a schematic structural diagram of an IAB node device provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown, where the IAB node device can implement the functions implemented by the IAB node in fig. 5 and 6. As shown, the IAB node apparatus may include: a processing module 801 and a transceiver module 802, wherein:

a transceiver module 802, configured to receive transmission hop count indication information sent by an IAB node, where the transmission hop count indication information is used to indicate at least one of a transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB node and a transmission hop count from the IAB node to a target terminal for a service carried on an RLC channel.

In some embodiments, the transceiver module 802 is further configured to: and before receiving transmission hop count indication information sent by the IAB donor, sending a transmission hop count request message to the IAB donor.

In some embodiments, the transceiver module 802 sends a transmission hop count request message to the IAB donor, including:

when detecting that the DRB changes or detecting that the service transmission delay on the return link is greater than a set threshold value, sending the transmission hop count request message to the IAB donor; wherein the backhaul link comprises at least one of: the link from the IAB node to the parent node and the link from the IAB node to the child node.

It should be noted that, the IAB node provided in the embodiment of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented by the method embodiment and achieve the same technical effect, and details of the same parts and beneficial effects as those of the method embodiment in this embodiment are not described herein again.

It should be noted that the upper IAB node device provided in the embodiment of the present application can implement all the method steps implemented by the above method embodiment, and can achieve the same technical effect, and details of the same parts and beneficial effects as those of the method embodiment in this embodiment are not described herein again.

Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the application also provides the IAB donor equipment. The IAB donor device may implement the functions of the IAB donor device side in the foregoing embodiments.

Referring to fig. 9, a schematic structural diagram of an IAB donor apparatus provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown. As shown, the IAB donor apparatus may include: a processor 901, a memory 902, a communication interface 903, and a bus interface 904.

The processor 901 is responsible for managing a bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 902 may store data used by the processor 901 in performing operations. The communication interface 903 is used for receiving and transmitting data under the control of the processor 901.

The bus architecture may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, with one or more processors, represented by processor 901, and various circuits, represented by memory 902, being linked together. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripherals, voltage regulators, power management circuits, and the like, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The processor 901 is responsible for managing a bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 902 may store data used by the processor 901 in performing operations.

The process disclosed in the embodiment of the present application may be applied to the processor 901, or implemented by the processor 901. In implementation, the steps of the signal processing flow may be implemented by integrated logic circuits of hardware or instructions in the form of software in the processor 901. The processor 901 may be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof that may implement or perform the methods, steps, and logic blocks disclosed in embodiments of the present application. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor or the like. The steps of a method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented by a hardware processor, or may be implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in a processor. The software module may be located in ram, flash memory, rom, prom, or eprom, registers, etc. storage media as is well known in the art. The storage medium is located in the memory 902, and the processor 901 reads the information in the memory 902, and completes the steps of the signal processing flow in combination with the hardware thereof.

Specifically, the processor 901 is configured to read the computer instructions in the memory 902 and execute the functions implemented by the IAB donor in the embodiment of the present application.

It should be noted that, the IAB donor provided in the embodiment of the present invention can implement all the method steps implemented by the IAB donor in the method embodiment, and can achieve the same technical effect, and detailed descriptions of the same parts and beneficial effects as those of the method embodiment in this embodiment are omitted here.

Based on the same technical concept, the embodiment of the application also provides an IAB node device. The IAB node device may implement the functions of the IAB node device side in the foregoing embodiments.

Referring to fig. 10, a schematic structural diagram of an IAB node apparatus provided in the embodiment of the present application is shown. As shown, the IAB node apparatus may include: a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a transceiver 1003, and a bus interface 1004.

The processor 1001 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 1002 may store data used by the processor 1001 in performing operations. The transceiver 1003 is used for receiving and transmitting data under the control of the processor 1001.

The bus architecture may include any number of interconnected buses and bridges, with one or more processors, represented by the processor 1001, and various circuits, represented by the memory 1002, being linked together. The bus architecture may also link together various other circuits such as peripherals, voltage regulators, power management circuits, and the like, which are well known in the art, and therefore, will not be described any further herein. The bus interface provides an interface. The processor 1001 is responsible for managing the bus architecture and general processing, and the memory 1002 may store data used by the processor 1001 in performing operations.

The processes disclosed in the embodiments of the present application may be applied to the processor 1001, or implemented by the processor 1001. In implementation, the steps of the signal processing flow may be implemented by integrated logic circuits of hardware or instructions in the form of software in the processor 1001. The processor 1001 may be a general purpose processor, a digital signal processor, an application specific integrated circuit, a field programmable gate array or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, may implement or perform the methods, steps, and logic blocks disclosed in the embodiments of the present application. A general purpose processor may be a microprocessor or any conventional processor or the like. The steps of a method disclosed in connection with the embodiments of the present application may be directly implemented by a hardware processor, or may be implemented by a combination of hardware and software modules in a processor. The software module may be located in ram, flash memory, rom, prom, or eprom, registers, etc. storage media as is well known in the art. The storage medium is located in the memory 1002, and the processor 1001 reads the information in the memory 1002 and completes the steps of the signal processing flow in combination with the hardware thereof.

Specifically, the processor 1001 is configured to read the computer instructions in the memory 1002 and execute the functions implemented by the IAB node device in the embodiment of the present application.

It should be noted that, the IAB node device provided in the embodiment of the present invention can implement all the method steps implemented by the IAB node device in the above method embodiment, and can achieve the same technical effect, and detailed descriptions of the same parts and beneficial effects as those of the method embodiment in this embodiment are omitted here.

The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where computer-executable instructions are stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and the computer-executable instructions are used to enable a computer to execute the method performed by the IAB donor in the foregoing embodiment.

The embodiment of the present application further provides a computer-readable storage medium, where computer-executable instructions are stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and the computer-executable instructions are used to enable a computer to execute the method executed by the IAB node in the foregoing embodiment.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, embodiments of the present application may be provided as a method, system, or computer program product. Accordingly, the present application may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Furthermore, the present application 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 application is described with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to 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.

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

Claims

1. A communication method in an integrated access backhaul, IAB, network, comprising:

an IAB host node IAB node sends transmission hop count indication information to an IAB node, wherein the transmission hop count indication information is used for indicating at least one of the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB node and the transmission hop count from the IAB node to a target terminal of a service carried on a radio link control RLC channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the IAB donor sends transmission hop count indication information to an IAB node, comprising at least one of:

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the IAB node sending transmission hop count indication information to an IAB node, comprising:

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmission hop count request message is sent by the IAB node when a DRB change is detected or when a traffic transmission delay on a backhaul link is detected to be greater than a set threshold; wherein the backhaul link comprises at least one of: the link from the IAB node to the parent node and the link from the IAB node to the child node.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the transmit hop count request message comprises a FI interface application part F1AP message or a Radio Resource Control (RRC) message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmission hop count indication information is carried in an F1AP reconfiguration message or an RRC message.

7. The method of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB donor periodically, before the IAB donor sends the transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, the method further comprises:

8. The method according to any of claims 1-6, wherein if the transmission hop count indication information is sent when the IAB node detects that the traffic transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than a set threshold, before the IAB node sends the transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, the method further comprises:

9. The method of any of claims 1-6, wherein prior to sending transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, the IAB node further comprises:

10. The method of claim 9, wherein if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB donor periodically, then:

11. The method of claim 9, wherein if the transmission hop count indication message is sent when the IAB donor detects that the traffic transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than a set threshold, then:

12. The method of any of claims 1-6, wherein prior to sending transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, the IAB node further comprises:

13. The method of claim 12, wherein if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB donor periodically, then:

14. The method of claim 12, wherein if the transmission hop count indication message is sent when the IAB donor detects that the traffic transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than a set threshold, then:

15. The method of any of claims 1-6, wherein prior to sending transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, the IAB node further comprises:

16. The method of claim 15, wherein if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB donor periodically, then:

the average hop count of the transmission hop counts of all DRBs from the IAB node to the IAB donor is: a statistical average value in the latest period among the transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB donor among the transmission hops required by all DRBs; or

The average hop count of the transmission hop counts from the IAB node to the target terminal of all DRBs is: a statistical average value in the latest period among the transmission hops from the IAB node to the IAB donor among the transmission hops required by all DRBs.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein if the transmission hop count indication message is sent when the IAB donor detects that the traffic transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than a set threshold, then:

18. The method of any of claims 1-6, wherein prior to sending transmission hop count indication information to the IAB node, the IAB node further comprises:

19. The method of claim 18, wherein if the transmission hop count indication information is sent by the IAB donor periodically, then:

20. The method of claim 18, wherein if the transmission hop count indication message is sent when the IAB donor detects that the traffic transmission delay on the backhaul link is greater than a set threshold, then:

21. A communication method in an integrated access backhaul, IAB, network, comprising:

an IAB node (IAB node) receives transmission hop count indication information sent by an IAB host node (IAB donor), wherein the transmission hop count indication information is used for indicating at least one of the transmission hop count from the IAB node to the IAB donor and the transmission hop count from the IAB node to a target terminal of a service carried on a Radio Link Control (RLC) channel.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein before the IAB node receives the information indicating the number of transmission hops sent by the IAB node, the method further comprises:

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said IAB node sending a transport hop count request message to said IAB node, comprising:

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the transmit hop count request message comprises a FI interface application part F1AP message or a radio resource control, RRC, message.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the transmission hop count indication information is carried in an F1AP reconfiguration message or an RRC message.

26. An IAB donor node, IAB donor device, comprising:

27. An IAB node, apparatus, comprising:

28. An IAB donor node, IAB donor device, comprising: a processor, memory, transceiver;

the transceiver receives and transmits data under the control of the processor;

the memory storing computer instructions;

the processor, configured to read the computer instructions, to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 20.

29. An IAB node, apparatus, comprising: a processor, memory, transceiver;

the transceiver receives and transmits data under the control of the processor;

the memory storing computer instructions;

the processor, configured to read the computer instructions, to perform the method according to any one of claims 21-25.

30. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions for causing a computer to perform the method of any one of claims 1-25.