Abstract: A method (1000) by a first network node (110) implementing Integrated Access and Backhaul, IAB, protocols includes communicating (1002), with a second network node (110), IAB data over a non-radio transport network via a non-radio transport protocol stack.

Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for assist cell selection or reselection in a relay-assisted wireless network. A method is performed by a network node. The method comprises providing, towards a user equipment that has an end-to-end wireless link composed of a wireless access link and at least one wireless backhaul link between itself and a donor node of the relay-assisted wireless network, backhaul link characteristics of the at least one wireless backhaul link. The backhaul link characteristics assist the user equipment to derive an end-to-end wireless link quality metric for the end-to-end wireless link when performing a cell selection or a reselection procedure.

Abstract: A method performed by a first node. The first node operates in a communications network. The first node determines, based on a header of a packet, a first number of hops. The first number of hops are the hops the packet has to traverse in the communications network to reach a second node in the communications network. The header of the packet indicates a second number of hops between the second node and a third node in the communications network in a first path. The first node obtains a wired backhaul connection to a core network of the communications network from the third node. The first node then initiates routing the packet towards the second node based on the determined first number of hops.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a method performed by an integrated access and backhaul (IAB) network node comprises receiving a backhaul channel configuration from a network node. The backhaul channel configuration comprises a mapping of one or more traffic identifiers to one or more wireless backhaul channels. The method further comprises receiving incoming traffic for transmission on a wireless backhaul channel, determining the wireless backhaul channel for transmitting the incoming traffic based on a type of the incoming traffic and the mapping of one or more traffic identifiers to one or more wireless backhaul channels, and transmitting the received incoming traffic on the determined wireless backhaul channel.

Abstract: A method (700) by a first Centralized Unit, CU1, (20) in an Integrated Access and Backhaul, IAB, network includes transmitting (702) a first message to a second CU, CU2, (30) or receiving a first message from the CU2. The first message includes information indicating that a portion of offloaded traffic is to be returned to the CU1, and the offloaded traffic was previously offloaded from the CU1 to the CU2.

Abstract: A method performed by a network node operating as an Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB) node includes determining at least two parent nodes within a multi-hop IAB network. The IAB node receives an uplink routing configuration associated with a cell group configuration that identifies a selected one of the parent nodes. Based on the uplink routing configuration associated with the cell group configuration, packets are sent to at least one of the at least two parent nodes.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides, for example, a method performed by a first network node for handling BSRs in a communications system. The method includes determining a format for a BSR, wherein the determined format indicates that the BSR includes a LCG range; creating the BSR with the determined format; and providing the created BSR with the determined format to a second network node.

Abstract: A method (80) of performing transfer of data packets requiring a specified Quality of Service, QoS, by a User Equipment, UE, in an end-to-end, E2E, multi-hop sidelink radio communication (81). The UE comprises a processor operated protocol stack arranged for providing Physical, PHY, layer functionality, Media Access Control, MAC, layer functionality, Radio Link Control, RLC, layer functionality, and Adaptation, Adapt, layer functionality. The RLC layer functionality providing a plurality of ingress and egress RLC channels for transferring data packets. The method comprising receiving (83), by the RLC layer functionality, data packets a tan ingress RLC channel, mapping (84), by the Adapt layer functionality, data packets received at the ingress RLC channel to an egress RLC channel in accordance with a mapping rule for destining the data packets while maintaining the specified QoS, and transferring (86), by the RLC layer functionality, the mapped data packets at the egress RLC channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for using alternate paths for descendant nodes for backhaul failure link reporting. In one embodiment, a method for a network node that may be a parent node includes receiving information indicating at least one alternate path of at least one child IAB node to an IAB donor node, the at least one child IAB node being a wireless backhaul node; and using the received information to perform at least one of a backhaul wireless link failure recovery and load balancing of traffic. In another embodiment, a method for a network node that may be a child node includes receiving information indicating at least one alternate path of a parent IAB node to an IAB donor node, the parent IAB node being a wireless backhaul node for the child IAB node. The received information is used to perform at least one operational task.

Abstract: A method and network node for backhaul link failure recovery are disclosed. A network node is configured to attempt to find an alternative backhaul link to replace the failed backhaul link. If the attempt to find an alternative backhaul link fails, then the network node communicates a first indication of an existence of the failure to the first child network node one level below the network node affected by the failure and causes the first child network node to find another network node to serve as a new parent network node. If the first child network node finds another node to serve as the new parent network node then the network node is configured to serve as a second child network node of the first child network node so that the first child network node serves as a parent of the network node.

Abstract: Methods, a transmitter device and a receiver device are provided for communication of media access control (MAC) protocol data unit (PDU). According to an embodiment, the transmitter device determines an MAC PDU including an MAC subheader and transmits the MAC PDU to a receiver device. The MAC subheader includes a second logical channel identity (LCID) field which is an extension of a first LCID field. A presence of the second LCID field is indicated by an indicator that is included in the MAC subheader.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method performed by a first node (111). The first node (111) operates in a communications network (100). The first node (111) obtains (501), from another node (112, 113) operating in the communications network (100), a respective indication. The respective indication is of a respective efficiency measure of power use of a plurality of nodes (110) operating in the communications network (100) along at least two paths (151, 152). The first node (111) then selects (502) a path for a first packet in the communications network (100), among the at least two paths (151, 152), based on the obtained respective indication.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for a source donor centralized unit (CU) in an integrated access backhaul (IAB) wireless network. Such methods include determining that traffic between the source donor CU and a top-level IAB node in the wireless network needs to be offloaded to a target donor CU in the wireless network. Such methods include sending, to one or more descendant nodes of the source donor CU, a first indication that at least one configuration for traffic between the source donor CU and at least one IAB node is suspended, in association with migration of the top-level IAB node from the source donor CU to the target donor CU. Other embodiments include complementary methods for a target donor CU and for an IAB node, as well as CUs and IAB nodes configured to perform such methods.

Abstract: A method performed by a first node (1811), for handling transmission of one or more packets from a sending node (1801) to a receiving node (1802) in a communications network (1800). The communications network (1800) comprises at least one intermediate node (1803) between the sending node (1801) and the receiving node (1802). The first node (1811) sends (1902) an indication to a second node (1812) in the communications network (1800). The indication explicitly indicates whether or not at least one of: a) to duplicate the one or more packets, and b) duplication of the one or more packets is supported and/or activated, over at least one of: i) a GTP layer, ii) one or more GTP tunnels, iii) a BAP layer and iv) over one or more Backhaul Radio Link Channels, between the first node (1811), and/or the second node (1812), and one or more next hop nodes (1804, 1805).

Abstract: A computer-implemented method performed by a first node (111). The first node (111) operates in a communications network (100). The first node (111) obtains (501), from another node (112, 113) operating in the communications network (100), a respective indication. The respective indication is of a respective efficiency measure of power use of a plurality of nodes (110) operating in the communications network (100) along at least two paths (151, 152). The first node (111) then selects (502) a path for a first packet in the communications network (100), among the at least two paths (151, 152), based on the obtained respective indication.

Abstract: A method performed by a first network node for handling communication in a wireless communications network. The first network node receives a data packet with a header including an indicated destination, with a BAP address, and one or more values interpreted by the first network node as reserved or unknown. The first network node checks whether the first network node is an intended destination of the data packet based on the indicated destination in the header. With the proviso that the first network node is not the intended destination of the data packet and the BAP address is not included in the configured backhaul, BH, routing configuration, the first network node discards the data packet; and else, processes the data packet.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. According to one or more embodiments, a child IAB node is configured to communicate with a first parent IAB node and a descendant IAB node over a backhaul network. The child IAB node includes processing circuitry configured to: detect a backhaul link failure between the child IAB node and the first parent IAB node; in response to the detected backhaul link failure, cause transmission of a radio link failure indication to the descendant IAB node; receive signaling indicating for the child IAB node to connect to a second parent IAB node; and modify network topology at least in part by connecting to the second parent IAB node.

Abstract: A method performed by a first donor distributed unit (DU) in an integrated access backhaul (IAB) network is provided. The method includes obtaining for each IAB node under the domain of each donor DU in the IAB network, a respective assigned IP address of the respective IAB node, receiving a rerouted packet, checking whether a source IP address of the rerouted packet matches an assigned IP address of an IAB node under the domain of the first donor DU, if the source IP address does not match an assigned IP address of an IAB node under the domain of the first donor DU, checking whether the source IP address of the rerouted packet matches an assigned IP address obtained by the donor DU, and if the source IP address matches an assigned IP address obtained the donor DU, forwarding the rerouted packet to an upper layer.

Abstract: A method is performed by a source Central Unit (CU) in an Integrated Access and Wireless Access Backhaul (IAB) network. The method includes transmitting, by the source CU, a message requesting a handover of a plurality of migrating devices associated with a first IAB node migrating from the source CU to a target CU. The message comprises at least one globally unique identifier of at least one management function serving the plurality of migrating devices.

Abstract: According to certain embodiments, a method in a network node for performing a group handover comprises receiving an indication to perform a bearer context operation on a plurality of bearer contexts and performing the indicated bearer operation on the plurality of bearer contexts.