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 for establishing a BH RLC channel between a node and a DU. The method includes a CU detecting (s402) a need to establish the BH RLC channel between the node and the DU; and in response to detecting the need to establish the BH RLC channel, the CU sending (s404) to the DU an AP message requesting the DU to setup the BH RLC channel. The AP message comprises: i) a list identifying one or more BH RLC channels to be setup, wherein the list comprises at least one item containing a BH RLC Channel identifier, ID, information element, IE, containing a BH RLC Channel ID identifying the BH RLC channel, or ii) a DRB ID IE containing the BH RLC Channel ID identifying the BH RLC channel.

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 for enabling operations for a relay node comprises receiving, at a first network node, a system information block including a first indication and a second indication, wherein the first indication indicates that a first cell is a non-standalone cell and is barred for standalone user equipments (UEs), and the second indication indicates that the first network node is able to access the first cell. The method further comprises identifying, at the first network node, whether the first network node is able to access the first cell based on the second indication in the system information block. The method may improve a performance in the network by enabling a relay node to operate in a non-standalone cell, such that both access and backhaul in E-UTRAN New Radio Dual Connectivity (EN-DC) are supported.

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: Systems and methods for releasing context(s) and/or connection(s) associated with a network node are provided herein. An Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB)-donor central unit (CU) receives an indication of a mobile termination context release associated with an IAB-node and coordinates the release of any user equipment/nodes served by the IAB-node and the release of F1 interface resource(s) and/or RRC connection(s) associated with the IAB-node.

Abstract: A method performed by a Central Unit (CU) for assist in routing a data packet towards a UE is provided. The CU and the UE are operating in an Integrated Access 5Backhaul (IAB) communications network. Based on topology information for the IAB communications network, the CU determines (801) routes, between one or more IAB nodes and/or one or more Distributed Units (DUs) operating in the IAB communications network. The CU transmits (802) route information of the determined routes to the one or more IAB nodes and/or the one or more DUs. Each respective route information 10comprises a route identity and a respective node identity of the one or more IAB nodes and/or DUs comprised in the respective route.

Abstract: A method for establishing a BH RLC channel between a node and a DU is provided. The method includes the DU receiving an F1AP message from a CU; the DU determining that the DU is capable to establish the BH RLC channel between the node and the DU in response to receiving the F1AP message; and the DU generating an RRC configuration for the BH RLC channel. The RRC configuration includes: i) a BH-RLC-Identity value which indicates an identifier for the BH RLC channel, the BH-RLC-Identity field being part of a served BHChannel Information Element (IE), or ii) a drb-Identity value that is associated with the BH RLC channel, or iii) a logical channel identity (LCID) value that is associated with the BH RLC channel, or iv) a RLC-ChannelConfig IE that includes an identifier for the BH RLC channel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates in general to cellular radio network communication. In one of its aspects, the technology presented herein concerns a method performed by a network node in a wireless communication system for handling resource configurations for network nodes in an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) network. The network node is connected to a core network of the wireless communications system and to at least one radio network node. The method includes providing, to a first radio network node and to at least one second radio network node, a message indicating a resource configuration for the first radio network node. The at least one second radio network node is a parent node to the first radio network node and the first radio network node is a child node to the at least one second radio network node.

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: 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 for establishing a BH RLC channel between a node and a DU. The method includes a CU detecting (s402) a need to establish the BH RLC channel between the node and the DU; and in response to detecting the need to establish the BH RLC channel, the CU sending (s404) to the DU an AP message requesting the DU to setup the BH RLC channel. The AP message comprises: i) a list identifying one or more BH RLC channels to be setup, wherein the list comprises at least one item containing a BH RLC Channel identifier, ID, information element, IE, containing a BH RLC Channel ID identifying the BH RLC channel, or ii) a DRB ID IE containing the BH RLC Channel ID identifying the BH RLC channel.

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 LCD field. A presence of the second LCID field is indicated by an indicator that is included in the MAC subheader.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, performed by first node in an integrated access backhaul (IAB) network, for scheduling uplink (UL) transmissions in the IAB network. Such methods include receiving, from a first downstream node in the IAB network, a first buffer status report (BSR) indicating a first amount of UL data, with the first amount including UL data buffered at the first downstream node, and/or UL data expected to be received by the first downstream node. Such methods also include sending, to the first downstream node, a first UL resource grant indicating a time schedule of resources available for the first downstream node to transmit at least a portion of the first amount of UL data. In some embodiments, the first UL resource grant is sent after receiving the first BSR and without receiving a second UL resource grant from an upstream node in response to a second BSR.

Abstract: A relay node, configured for mapping end-user bearers to backhaul bearers for communications with a distributed unit, DU, of a donor base station, maps (2062) first end-user bearers to a first set of backhaul bearers for communications with the DU via a first mobile termination, MT, entity in the relay node, maps (2604) second end-user bearers to a second set of backhaul bearers for communications with the DU via a second MT entity in the relay node and exchanges (2606) data with the DU over the first and second sets of backhaul bearers, via the first and second MT entities, respectively.

Abstract: Configuring an adaptation layer in a relay node communicates with a central unit of a donor base station through a distributed unit of the donor base station comprises connecting to the donor base station, after establishing the connection, configuring an adaptation layer in a protocol stack for an MT part of the relay node, the adaptation layer providing for routing of incoming packets to one or more further relay nodes or to one or more user equipments, UEs, connected to the relay node and for mapping of those incoming packets to bearers, and, after configuring the adaptation layer for the MT part of the relay node, configuring an adaptation layer for the distributed unit part of the relay node for forwarding packets exchanged between the central unit of the donor base station and the first further relay node downstream of the relay node.

Abstract: According to some embodiments of the invention, a number of hops from a donor node to an integrated access backhaul relay node, IAB node, is determined (3402). The number of hops is stored (3404) for subsequent use in mapping packets to a backhaul bearer between the donor node and the IAB node.

Abstract: A node maps end-user bearers to backhaul bearers in an adaptation layer. The node maps a plurality of end-user bearers to backhaul bearers in consideration of QoS classes for the end-user bearers and a distance from the node to a destination relay node for each of the plurality of end-user bearers, such that at least one of the backhaul bearers carries end-user bearers with different QoS classes and different distances to the destination relay node. The distance from the node to the destination relay node for at least one of the end-user bearers may be considered in terms of a number of remaining hops from the node to the destination relay node and/or in terms of an estimated end-to-end delay from the node to the destination relay node.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods, performed by a first node in an integrated access backhaul (IAB) network, for flow control of data transmission from a base station to a plurality of user equipment (UEs) via the IAB network. Such embodiments can include detecting a reduction in data transmission throughput in the first node, and determining that the reduction in data transmission throughput is due to congestion in one or more particular downstream nodes in the IAB network. Such embodiments can also include sending a flow-control message to an upstream node in the IAB network, wherein the flow-control message identifies one or more nodes, in the IAB network, for which a flow-control operation is requested in relation to data transmitted from the upstream node. Other embodiments include complementary methods performed by a second node (e.g., upstream from the first node) and IAB nodes configured to perform such methods.