Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for processing uplink signals. A method is performed by a RRU. The method comprises obtaining uplink signals as received from wireless devices at antenna elements of an antenna array of the RRU, each wireless device being associated with its own at least one user layer. The method comprises capturing energy per user layer by combining the received uplink signals from the antenna array for each user layer into combined signals, resulting in one combined signal per user layer. The combining for each individual user layer is based on channel coefficients of the wireless device associated with said each individual user layer. The method comprises providing the combined signals to a BBU.

Abstract: There is provided a method for resource coordination in a first donor Integrated Access Backhaul (IAB) node connected to a first parent IAB node which is connected to an IAB node, the IAB node further being connected to a second parent IAB node which is connected to a second donor IAB node. The method comprises: sending, to the second donor IAB node, an indication of a first resource configuration for the IAB node, the first resource configuration determined by the first donor IAB node; receiving, from the second donor IAB node, a request for a second resource configuration for the IAB node; and determining a resource configuration for the IAB node based at least on one of the first resource configuration and the second resource configuration.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of operating an Integrated Access and Backhaul, IAB, parent node for a wireless communication network. The method includes transmitting, to an Integrated Access and Backhaul, IAB, child node, an indication of the availability of soft frequency resources. The disclosure also pertains to related methods and devices, e.g. pertaining to an Integrated Access and Backhaul child node, or a program product.

Abstract: Systems and methods for configuration of Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) frequency-domain resource utilization are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method performed by a network node that implements a centralized network function unit for frequency-domain resource utilization configuration of an IAB node comprises determining a configurable frequency part size(s) for a frequency-domain resource utilization configuration of an IAB node and determining a mode of frequency-domain resource utilization for each of at least some of a plurality of frequency parts of an available bandwidth of the IAB node, the available bandwidth being divided into the plurality of frequency parts in accordance with the configurable frequency part size(s). The method further comprises sending the frequency-domain resource utilization configuration to the IAB node.

Abstract: A method, performed by a first node (111). The method is for handling access to a communications network (100) in a multi-hop deployment. The first node receives (305), from a fourth node (114), information. The information indicates a recommendation on which node within radio range to connect to, out of a plurality of candidate parent nodes (120). The plurality comprises a first set (121) and a second set (122) of candidate parent nodes. A third node (113) is enabled to be a donor node in the first set (121). A sixth node (116) is enabled to be a donor node in the second set (122). The first node also determines (307), out of the plurality, a second node (112) to establish a connection with. The determining (307) is based on the received information. The first node then initiates (308) establishment of a connection or re-connection to the network via the second node (112), as first-hop.

Abstract: A method performed by a Baseband Unit, BBU, for assisting a Radio Unit, RU, to perform beamforming for a communication between a User Equipment, UE, and a base station in a wireless communications network using a multiple antenna system for is provided. The BBU and the RU are associated with the base station. The BBU obtains (302) channel taps related to a number of subcarriers. The BBU selects (303) a subset of the channel taps. The BBU sends (304) to the RU, the selected subset of the channel taps and information identifying the selected subset of channel taps. The selected subset of channel taps and information identifying the selected subset of channel taps assists the RU to perform beamforming for the communication between the UE and the base station.

Abstract: Systems and methods for reducing signaling overhead between an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node and its parent node when switching between timing alignment cases are disclosed. In some embodiments, the method comprises sending one or more sets of desired numbers of guard symbols for two or more timing switching groups, respectively. The method further comprises receiving one or more sets of provided numbers of guard symbols for the two or more timing switching groups, respectively and determining available time resources for uplink transmission and/or downlink reception in two adjacent time units based on one of the one or more sets of provided numbers of guard symbols for one of the two or more timing switching groups that corresponds to timing alignment cases used in the two adjacent time units.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, an integrated access and backhaul, IAB, network node comprises an IAB distributed unit, DU, and an IAB mobile termination, MT. A method performed by the IAB network node comprises receiving an availability indication at the IAB-MT, determining an IAB-DU soft resource availability based on the received availability indication, and transmitting or receiving according to the determined IAB-DU soft resource availability.

Abstract: A network function unit (e.g., an Integrated Access and Backhaul-donor node Central Unit, IAB-donor-CU 300, an Operations Administration and Maintenance node, OAM node, or a parent node 200) configures space-domain resources in an IAB-node 100 (e.g., an IAB-Distribution Unit DU 110) with different resource sets. Each resource set may restrict certain behavior (e.g., the operation of the access unit) of the IAB-node in terms of transmission and/or reception in a certain spatial radio resource, e.g., the one or more direction units (e.g., a radio beam).

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. According to one or more embodiments, an integrated access and backhaul, IAB, node including an IAB-mobile termination, MT, and an IAB-distributed unit, DU is provided. The IAB node includes processing circuitry configured to determine at least one multiplexing condition associated with a multiplexing capability where the multiplexing capability is associated at least with a capability of performing simultaneous communications by the IAB-MT and IAB-DU, and transmit, to a another IAB node, information associated with the determined at least one dynamic multiplexing condition.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, a network node configured to communicate with a wireless device (WD) is provided. The network node configured to, and/or including a radio interface and/or including processing circuitry configured to: receive information indicating a timing offset (T??), determine transmission timing for downlink transmission based on the timing offset (T??) and at least one estimated timing value, and perform downlink transmission based on the determine transmission timing.

Abstract: There is provided mechanisms for processing uplink signals. A method is performed by a RRU (200). The method comprises obtaining uplink signals (S102) as received from wireless devices at antenna elements of an antenna array of the RRU (200), each wireless device being associated with its own at least one user layer. The method comprises capturing (S104) energy per user layer by combining the received uplink signals from the antenna array for each user layer into combined signals, resulting in one combined signal per user layer. The combining for each individual user layer is based on channel coefficients of the wireless device associated with said each individual user layer. The method comprises providing (S106) the combined signals to a BBU (300).

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) hierarchical Distributed Unit (DU) resource configuration. In one embodiment, a method performed by an IAB node comprises determining a first multiplexing capability of the IAB node at a first time, sending information that is indicative of the first multiplexing capability of the IAB node to an IAB donor node, and receiving a first resource configuration profile from the IAB donor node. The method further comprises determining a second actual multiplexing capability of the IAB node at a second time that is subsequent to the first time and determining a valid resource configuration for the IAB node based on the second actual multiplexing capability of the IAB node. The method further comprises scheduling transmission on one or more child backhaul links and/or one or more access links of the IAB node based on the valid resource configuration.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus are disclosed for power control between integrated access and backhaul (IAB) nodes. In one embodiment, a first node is provided. The first node includes processing circuitry configured to transmit a power control request to a parent, integrated access and backhaul, IAB, node where the power control request is configured to request an adjustment of a transmission power of the parent IAB node, receive a power control response from the parent IAB node, and perform at least one action associated with a second node based at least in part on the power control response.

Abstract: A method and network node having integrated access and backhaul (IAB) functionality are disclosed. According to one aspect, a network node determines information concerning at least one of: (i) an impairment of a first signal from a first integrated access backhaul node that is caused by a second signal from a second IAB node and (ii) an impairment of the second signal that is caused by the first signal. The network node further selects a multiplexing capability for the network node based at least in part on the determined information concerning at least one of the impairments and further multiplexes signals for the first and second IAB nodes using the selected multiplexing capability.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods for an integrated access backhaul (IAB) node configured to communicate with first and second parent nodes in a wireless network. Such methods include determining the IAB node's multiplexing capability between a first parent link with the first parent node and a second parent link with the second parent node, and sending an indication of the multiplexing capability to one or more ancestor nodes in the wireless network. Other embodiments include complementary methods for the first parent node and an IAB donor centralized unit (CU) configured to communicate with the IAB node via at least the first parent node. Other embodiments include IAB nodes and IAB donor CUs configured to perform such methods.

Abstract: A method performed by a distributed base station system of a wireless communication network. The distributed base station system comprises a base band unit (BBU) and a remote radio unit (RRU) connected to each other over a fronthaul link. The method comprises receiving uplink signals at N antennas of the RRU from a number of user equipment (UEs) connected to the RRU. The BBU determines first beamforming weights based on a first reference signal that is has received from the UEs and sends the first beamforming weights to the RRU. The RRU then determines intermediate signals from the first beamforming weights and the uplink signals and sends the intermediate signals to the BBU. The BBU then determines second beamforming weights from a second reference signal it has received from the RRU. Then, the BBU determines an output signal based on the intermediate signal and the second beamforming weights.

Abstract: A method in a first network node in an IAB network is provided. The method comprises: receiving capability information associated with a second network node, which has a first transceiver and a second transceiver, the capability information being related to an operation of the first transceiver at a first frequency and the second transceiver at a second frequency; configuring one or more resources associated with the first transceiver of the second network node based on the received capability information; and sending an indication of the configured resources to the second network node.

Abstract: A method performed by a distributed base station system of a wireless communication network. The distributed base station system comprises a base band unit (BBU) and a remote radio unit (RRU) connected to each other over a fronthaul link. The method comprises receiving uplink signals at N antennas of the RRU from a number of user equipment (UEs) connected to the RRU. The BBU determines first beamforming weights based on a first reference signal that is has received from the UEs and sends the first beamforming weights to the RRU. The RRU then determines intermediate signals from the first beamforming weights and the uplink signals and sends the intermediate signals to the BBU. The BBU then determines second beamforming weights from a second reference signal it has received from the RRU. Then, the BBU determines an output signal based on the intermediate signal and the second beamforming weights.

Abstract: A distributed base station system comprises a remote radio unit, RRU, and a base band unit, BBU, connected to the RRU over a fronthaul link, the RRU being connected to N antennas. The method comprising by the RRU: obtaining uplink signals as received at the N antennas from a number of User Equipment, UEs, wirelessly connected to the RRU; obtaining a channel estimation matrix of the wireless communication channels; determining an interference covariance estimation matrix based on the obtained channel estimation matrix and on other channel information different from the channel estimation matrix; sending information on the channel estimation matrix and on the interference covariance estimation matrix to the BBU; determining intermediate signals based on the uplink signals, the channel estimation matrix and the interference covariance estimation matrix, and sending the intermediate signals to the BBU.