IMPROVED HANDLING OF RE-TRANSMISSIONS IN A WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORK

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a node (AP2, U11) in a wireless communication system (1), where the node (AP2, U11) is adapted to communicate with at least two other nodes (AP1, AP0) in the wireless communication system (1), and where the other nodes (AP1, AP0) are first type nodes (AP1, AP0) which are adapted to communicate with each other by means of backhaul communication. The node (AP2, U11) is adapted to receive a signal (xA) transmitted from an adjacent first type node (AP1), where the (xA) has been forwarded from at least one farther first type node (AP0). In case of unsuccessful decoding of the signal (xA), the node (AP2, U11) is adapted to request re-transmission (NACK) of the signal (xA), and to receive a re-transmission of the signal (xA) directly from a farther first type node (AP0).

Claims

1. A node in a wireless communication system, wherein the node is adapted to: communicate with at least two other nodes in the wireless communication system, where the other nodes are first type nodes which are adapted to communicate with each other by means of backhaul communication; and to receive a signal transmitted from an adjacent first type node, where the signal has been forwarded from at least one farther first type node; wherein, in case of unsuccessful decoding of the signal, the node is adapted to: request re-transmission, Negative Acknowledgement, NACK, of the signal; and to receive a re-transmission of the signal directly from a farther first type node.

2. The node according to claim 1, wherein the node is adapted to send a request for re-transmission, NACK, of the signal directly to a farther first type node.

3. The node according to claim 1, wherein the node is a first type node that is adapted to communicate with the adjacent first type node over a corresponding backhaul channel, and to communicate with said farther first type node via a direct backhaul channel.

4. The node according to claim 1, wherein the farther first type node is a first type node that is connected to a core network by means of a fiber connection.

5. The node according to claim 1, wherein the node is a second type node that is adapted to communicate with the adjacent first type node over a corresponding access channel, and to communicate with said farther first type node via a via-a direct access channel.

6. The node according to claim 1, wherein the communication between the first type nodes is a backhaul communication via at least one corresponding backhaul channel, and where at least one first type node is adapted to communicate with a corresponding group of second type nodes via a corresponding access channel, each group of second type nodes comprising at least one second type node, where the backhaul communication and the access communication both are performed by means of common equipment at each one of the first type nodes.

7. The node according to claim 1, wherein a re-transmission of the signal is issued in temporarily inactive time periods where the node and the farther node are not engaged in any communication with other nodes.

8. The node according to claim 1, wherein the request for re-transmission, NACK, of the signal is based on Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request, HARQ.

9. A first type node in a wireless communication system, where the first type node is adapted to: communicate with at least two other nodes in the wireless communication system, where at least one of the other nodes is a first type node that is adapted to communicate with other first type nodes by means of backhaul communication; receive a signal transmitted from an adjacent first type node, and to forward the signal to a receiving node; wherein the first type node is adapted to delete the forwarded signal from its buffer after having forwarded the signal, irrespective of if the receiving node is able to decode the signal or not.

10. The first type node according to claim 9, wherein the adjacent first type node is connected to a core network by means of a fiber connection.

11. A method in a node in a wireless communication system, wherein the method comprises: communicating with at least two other nodes in the wireless communication system, where the other nodes are of a first type and constitute first type nodes that use backhaul communication when communicating with each other; and receiving a signal transmitted from an adjacent first type node, where the signal has been forwarded from at least one farther first type node; wherein, in case of unsuccessful decoding of the signal, the method comprises: requesting re-transmission, Negative Acknowledgement, NACK, of the signal; and receiving re-transmission of the signal directly from a farther first type node.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises sending a request for re-transmission, NACK, of the signal directly to a farther first type node.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the node is a first type node that is used for communication with the adjacent first type node over a corresponding backhaul channel, and for communication with said farther first type node via a via-a-direct backhaul channel.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the farther first type node is a first type node that is connected to a core network by means of a fiber connection.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the node is a second type node that is used for communication with the adjacent first type node over a corresponding access channel, and for communication with said farther first type node via a via-a direct access channel.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein the communication between the first type nodes is a backhaul communication via at least one corresponding backhaul channel, and where at least one first type node is used for communication with a corresponding group of second type nodes via a corresponding access channel, each group of second type nodes comprising at least one second type node, where the backhaul communication and the access communication both are performed by means of common equipment at each one of the first type nodes.

17. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method comprises re-transmitting the signal in temporarily inactive time periods where the node and the farther node are not used for communication with other nodes.

18. The method according to claim 11, wherein the request for re-transmission, NACK, of the signal is based on Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request, HARQ.

19. A method in a first type node in a wireless communication system, wherein the method comprises: communicating with at least two other nodes in the wireless communication system, where at least one of the other nodes is a first type node that uses backhaul communication when communicating with other first type nodes; receiving a signal transmitted from an adjacent first type node, and forwarding the signal to a receiving node; wherein the method comprises deleting the forwarded signal from its buffer after having forwarded the signal, irrespective of if the receiving node is able to decode the signal or not.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the adjacent first type node is connected to a core network by means of a fiber connection.

21. A wireless communication system comprising an integrated access and backhaul, IAB, network which comprises at least a node adapted to: communicate with at least two other nodes in the wireless communication system, where the other nodes are first type nodes which are adapted to communicate with each other by means of backhaul communication; and to receive a signal transmitted from an adjacent first type node, where the signal has been forwarded from at least one farther first type node; wherein, in case of unsuccessful decoding of the signal, the node is adapted to: request re-transmission, Negative Acknowledgement, NACK, of the signal; and to receive a re-transmission of the signal directly from a farther first type node; and a first type node, where the first type node is adapted to: communicate with at least two other nodes in the wireless communication system, where at least one of the other nodes is a first type node that is adapted to communicate with other first type nodes by means of backhaul communication; receive a signal transmitted from an adjacent first type node, and to forward the signal to a receiving node; wherein the first type node is adapted to delete the forwarded signal from its buffer after having forwarded the signal, irrespective of if the receiving node is able to decode the signal or not.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The present disclosure will now be described more in detail with reference to the appended drawings, where:

[0034] FIG. 1 schematically shows a view of a wireless communication system according to a first example at a first time;

[0035] FIG. 2 schematically shows a view of a wireless communication system according to the first example at a second time;

[0036] FIG. 3 schematically shows a view of a wireless communication system according to the first example at a following time slot;

[0037] FIG. 4 schematically shows a timing diagram for the wireless communication system in FIG. 3;

[0038] FIG. 5 schematically shows a view of a wireless communication system according to a first example at a first time;

[0039] FIG. 6 schematically shows a view of a wireless communication system according to the first example at a second time;

[0040] FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of methods according to embodiments;

[0041] FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of methods according to embodiments;

[0042] FIG. 9A schematically shows a first type node;

[0043] FIG. 9B schematically shows a first type node; and

[0044] FIG. 10 schematically shows a graphical representation of accumulated SNR.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] Aspects of the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings. The different devices, systems, computer programs and methods disclosed herein can, however, be realized in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the aspects set forth herein. Like numbers in the drawings refer to like elements throughout.

[0046] The terminology used herein is for describing aspects of the disclosure only and is not intended to limit the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0047] Network densification takes advantage of wireless backhaul; due to a relatively high installation cost of fiber links, as well as traffic jams and infrastructure displacements, the relatively small application points (APs) need to be supported by high-rate LOS wireless backhaul links which motivates so-called integrated access and backhaul (IAB) networks.

[0048] With reference to FIG. 1, there is a wireless communication system 1 comprising an IAB network 7 with four hops. There are first type nodes AP.sub.0, AP.sub.1, AP.sub.2, AP.sub.3 in the wireless communication system 1, here in the form of a first access point AP.sub.0, a second access point AP.sub.1 a third access point AP.sub.2 and a fourth access point AP.sub.3. The access points AP.sub.0, AP.sub.1, AP.sub.2, AP.sub.3 are arranged for communication with each other in the wireless communication system 1 over a corresponding first backhaul channel H.sub.1, second backhaul channel H.sub.2, and third backhaul channel H.sub.3 having a certain channel quality, generally by means of one of at least one type of signal relaying that according to some aspects employs decoding and encoding. According to some aspects, the signal relaying is constituted by decoding-encoding forward, DF, relaying of a signal.

[0049] Each access point AP.sub.0, AP.sub.1, AP.sub.2 AP.sub.3 is adapted for access communication with a corresponding group of second type nodes U.sub.01, U.sub.02; U.sub.11, U.sub.12; U.sub.21, U.sub.22; U.sub.31, U.sub.32 via a corresponding access channel h.sub.01, h.sub.02; h.sub.11, h.sub.12; h.sub.21, h.sub.22; h.sub.31, h.sub.32, providing wireless access. The second type nodes U.sub.01, U.sub.02; U.sub.11, U.sub.12; U.sub.21, U.sub.22; U.sub.31, U.sub.32 are here in the form of customer-premises equipments (CPE:s), and generally each group of CPE:s U.sub.01, U.sub.02; U.sub.11, U.sub.12; U.sub.21, U.sub.22; U.sub.31, U.sub.32 comprises at least one CPE. The number of CPE:s for each access point AP.sub.0, AP.sub.1, AP.sub.2 AP.sub.3 in FIG. 1 is only an example; there can be any number of CPE:s for each access point AP.sub.0, AP.sub.1, AP.sub.2 AP.sub.3. One or more access points can according to some aspects lack CPE:s to serve, only serving as relaying nodes. Generally, a network with N access points and m CPE:s per access point. Also, the CPE:s served by AP.sub.1 are generally denoted by U.sub.ij, j=1, . . . , m.

[0050] The backhaul communication and the access communication are according to some aspects both performed by means of common equipment at the access points AP.sub.0, AP.sub.1, AP.sub.2 AP.sub.3. The second access point AP.sub.1, the third access point AP.sub.2 and the fourth access point AP.sub.3 are wirelessly 5 backhauled by the first access point AP.sub.0 connecting to a core network 2 using a fiber connection 5. An access point AP.sub.0 connected to a core network can be referred to as an IAB donor node.

[0051] In IAB networks, uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) transmission do not follow the common definition, as both endpoints of the backhaul links are access points. However, for simplicity, we refer to data transmission towards (resp. from) the first access point AP.sub.0 as UL (resp. DL) transmission. The present disclosure is applicable for DL transmission from the first access point AP.sub.0 to the other nodes.

[0052] Different scheduling protocols can be considered, and in the following example a time slot 6, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is divided into receive (Rx) and transmit (Tx) sub-slots RX.sub.s, TX.sub.s for the first access point AP.sub.0, and in each one there is both backhaul and access connections. this means that the discussions relate to both UL transmission from the CPE:s U.sub.01, U.sub.02; U.sub.11, U.sub.12; U.sub.21, U.sub.22; U.sub.31, U.sub.32 to the first access point AP.sub.0. and DL transmission from the first access point AP.sub.0 to the CPE:s U.sub.01, U.sub.02; U.sub.11, U.sub.12; U.sub.21, U.sub.22; U.sub.31, U.sub.32. Also, the setup is discussed for time-division multiple access (TDMA) setup. However, the same scheme can also be adapted for other resource allocation approaches such as for example frequency-division multiple access (FDMA).

[0053] As the number of hops/CPEs per hop increases, the AP:s need to transfer an aggregated data of multiple CPE:s accumulated from the previous hops. As a result, the AP-AP backhaul links are heavily loaded, which may lead to high decoding complexity/delay and buffering cost for the AP:s as well as large end-to-end transmission delay/low end-to-end throughput for the CPE:s. This becomes more and more pronounced the closer an AP is to an access point AP.sub.0 that is connected to a core network 2.

[0054] More in detail, in a general case with m CPE:s per access point, which can be applied to the present example, for each time slot, the first access point AP.sub.0 needs to send 2 Nm signals for both its m CPEs, m DL and m UL signals, in access and the DL/UL backhaul signals for (N−1)m CPEs of the other access points AP.sub.1, AP.sub.2, AP.sub.3. Then, access point i>0 needs to transfer 2(2 Nm−im) signals in total, both access and backhaul, DL and UL. As a result, the second access point, AP.sub.1 is the busiest node being active during the whole time slot, while the other access points AP.sub.2, AP.sub.3 may be off in some periods and wait for the previous hops to finish their data transmission.

[0055] This is because: [0056] Part of the spectrum is underutilized because different access points need to wait until the data transmission of the more loaded access points are finished, and [0057] The high load of the second access point AP.sub.1 and other highly loaded nodes leads to large scheduling delay for all CPE:s.

[0058] The problem becomes more important if the data transmission in the link between the second access point AP.sub.1 and the third access point AP.sub.2 via the second backhaul channel H.sub.2 fails. This is because IAB networks are mostly designed for, e.g., fixed wireless access (FWA) networks, with stationary CPE:s for which the network diversity is low. Thus, with high probability, multiple retransmissions based on HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request) may be needed, which results in even higher scheduling delay and buffer requirement of the second access point AP.sub.1.

[0059] A first example is illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 only one signal is shown for reasons of clarity, while all signals during a time slot 6 are shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, where FIG. 4 shows a timing diagram that corresponds to FIG. 3.

[0060] In FIG. 1, a first signal x.sub.A is transmitted from the first access point AP.sub.0 to the second access point AP.sub.1. In FIG. 2, the first signal x.sub.A is transmitted from the second access point AP.sub.1 to the third access point AP.sub.2. The third access point AP.sub.2 is, however, unable to successfully decode the first signal x.sub.A.

[0061] According to the present disclosure, with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, for example during a receive sub-slot RX.sub.s, the third access point AP.sub.2 is adapted to send a request for re-transmission, NACK, of the first signal x.sub.A directly to the first access point AP.sub.0 via a direct backhaul channel H.sub.4 between the first access point AP.sub.0 and the third access point AP.sub.2. According to some aspects, the request for re-transmission, NACK, of the first signal x.sub.A is based on HARQ. NACK can be sent in different ways, even in a totally different frequency.

[0062] This means that the third access point AP.sub.2 does not request re-transmission from the second access point AP.sub.1, which will alleviate the working of the second access point AP.sub.1 which normally is heavily loaded.

[0063] During a following transmit sub-slot TX.sub.s, the first access point AP.sub.0 is adapted to re-transmit the first signal x.sub.A directly to the third access point AP.sub.2 via the direct backhaul channel H.sub.4, and the third access point AP.sub.2 is adapted to receive the re-transmitted first signal x.sub.A directly from the first access point AP.sub.0 via the direct backhaul channel H.sub.4.

[0064] In this context, for the third access point AP.sub.2, the second access point AP.sub.1 is an adjacent first type node, and the first access point AP.sub.0 is a farther first type node.

[0065] This means that after having transmitted the first signal x.sub.A to the third access point AP.sub.2, the second access point AP.sub.1 is no longer involved in the further handling of the first signal x.sub.A, which reduces the burden of the third access point AP.sub.2. According to some aspects the first signal x.sub.A is deleted from the buffer memory of the second access point AP.sub.1 after the transmission of the first signal x.sub.A. The first signal x.sub.A is, however, retained in the buffer memory of the first access point AP.sub.0.

[0066] When the first signal x.sub.A has been successfully decoded by the third access point AP.sub.2, it is forwarded to either the CPE:s U.sub.21, U.sub.22 that are served by the third access point AP.sub.2, or to the fourth access point AP.sub.3, depending on the final destination for the first signal x.sub.A.

[0067] According to some aspects, the following re-transmission of the first signal x.sub.A is performed in time periods T.sub.1 where the third access point AP.sub.2 and the first access point AP.sub.0 are not engaged in any communication with other nodes. This will be described in the following with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4.

[0068] In the receive sub-slot RX.sub.s, the first access point AP.sub.0 is receiving information x.sub.2, x.sub.4 from its served CPE:s U.sub.01, U.sub.02, and information x.sub.18 from the second access point AP.sub.1. The second access point AP.sub.1 transmits information x.sub.20 to the third access point AP.sub.2, the information x.sub.18 to the first access point AP.sub.0 and information x.sub.5, x.sub.7 to its served CPE:s U.sub.11, U.sub.12. The third access point AP.sub.2 receives the information x.sub.20 from the second access point AP.sub.1, information x.sub.22 from the fourth access point AP.sub.3 and information x.sub.10, x.sub.12 from its served CPE:s U.sub.21, U.sub.22. The fourth access point AP.sub.3 transmits the information x.sub.22 to the third access point AP.sub.2, and information x.sub.14, x.sub.16 to its served CPE:s U.sub.31, U.sub.32.

[0069] In the transmit sub-slot TX.sub.s, the first access point AP.sub.0 is transmitting information x.sub.1, x.sub.3 to its served CPE:s U.sub.01, U.sub.02, and information x.sub.17 to the second access point AP.sub.1. The second access point AP.sub.1 receives information x.sub.19 from the third access point AP.sub.2, the information x.sub.17 from the first access point AP.sub.0 and information x.sub.6, x.sub.8 from its served CPE:s U.sub.1, U.sub.12. The third access point AP.sub.2 transmits the information x.sub.19 to the second access point AP.sub.1, information x.sub.21 to the fourth access point AP.sub.3 and information x.sub.9, x.sub.11 to its served CPE:s U.sub.21, U.sub.22. The fourth access point AP.sub.3 receives the information x.sub.21 from the third access point AP.sub.2, and information x.sub.13, x.sub.15 from its served CPE:s U.sub.31, U.sub.32.

[0070] Furthermore, in accordance with the present disclosure, the first access point AP.sub.0 can take advantage of a first time period T.sub.1 in the transmit sub-slot TX.sub.s, when the first access point AP.sub.0 and the third access point AP.sub.2 are temporarily inactive, to re-transmit the first signal x.sub.A to the third access point AP.sub.2. The re-transmission takes place via the direct backhaul channel H.sub.4 between the first access point AP.sub.0 and the third access point AP.sub.2.

[0071] Temporarily inactive time periods T.sub.1 of different hops can thus be used to reduce network end-to-end transmission delay as well as buffer requirement.

[0072] The present disclosure will now be discussed more in detail for the present example.

[0073] By means of the present disclosure, to reduce the buffer requirement of the second access point AP.sub.1 and reduce the scheduling delay, the second access point AP.sub.1 is only responsible for the initial transmission of the first signal x.sub.A to the third access point AP.sub.2. Then, immediately after initial transmission, the second access point AP.sub.1 drops the first signal x.sub.A and does not wait for the acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement (ACK/NACK) from the third access point AP.sub.2. That is, in terms of HARQ-based retransmissions, the second access point AP.sub.1 is only responsible for the retransmissions to its own CPEs, i.e., U.sub.1j, j=1, . . . , m and not for the signals of the third access point AP.sub.2 or the fourth access point AP.sub.3.

[0074] Receiving the initial first signal x.sub.A from the second access point AP.sub.1, the third access point AP.sub.2, tries to decode the received first signal x.sub.A. If the first signal x.sub.A is correctly decoded, the third access point AP.sub.2 sends an ACK to the first access point AP.sub.0, and then the first access point AP.sub.0 drops the associated buffered first signal x.sub.A. Otherwise, the third access point AP.sub.2 sends an NACK to the first access point AP.sub.0. Then, the HARQ-based retransmission starts where the first access point AP.sub.0 uses temporarily inactive time periods, e.g., the time period T.sub.1 in FIG. 4, to retransmit the signal directly to the third access point AP.sub.2. The retransmissions continues until the signal is correctly decoded or a maximum number of retransmissions, suitably considered by the network designer, is reached. Note that the second access point AP.sub.1 is completely bypassed during the retransmission rounds and the first access point AP.sub.0 connects to the third access point AP.sub.2 directly.

[0075] When and how to send the ACK/NACK to the first access point AP.sub.0 can differ. In this example, once second access point AP.sub.1 has transmitted the initial first signal x.sub.A, it is removed from its buffer and the second access point AP.sub.1 does not care anymore if the third access point AP.sub.2 can decode first signal x.sub.A or not. Then, for possible retransmissions, the third access point AP.sub.2 communicates directly with the first access point AP.sub.0, both for retransmissions and ACK/NACK feedbacks via the direct backhaul channel H.sub.4. Preferably the retransmission of signal from AP.sub.0 to AP.sub.2 are according to some aspects performed in temporarily inactive time periods T.sub.1 because they often are costly and relatively long signals. The ACK/NACK is normally relatively short and not costly and can be transmitted in the same or a different frequency band.

[0076] When sending the first signal x.sub.A to the third access point AP.sub.2 via the second access point AP.sub.1, the first access point AP.sub.0 buffers the first signal x.sub.A. Then, the first access point AP.sub.0 waits for ACK/NACK feedbacks from the third access point AP.sub.2, and if the third access point AP.sub.2 fails to decode the first signal x.sub.A from the initial data transmission of the second access point AP.sub.1, the first access point AP.sub.0 will take care of the retransmissions to the third access point AP.sub.2 in the temporarily inactive time periods. Compared to data transmission in the AP.sub.0-AP.sub.1 link, the first access point AP.sub.0 may adapt the transmission power/rate and use a different beamforming scheme when retransmitting the failed first signal x.sub.A directly to the third access point AP.sub.2 in the temporarily inactive time periods. Also, the timings are adapted depending on if the second access point AP.sub.1 or the third access point AP.sub.2 are receiving signals from the first access point AP.sub.0.

[0077] The AP-AP links are stationary and the second access point AP.sub.1 can determine the appropriate transmission rate/power with high accuracy such that the third access point AP.sub.2 can decode a received signal correctly with high probability. Therefore, the retransmission may be required rarely. Thus, considering the high load of the second access point AP.sub.1, it is mostly not necessary that the second access point AP.sub.1 buffers all signals to the third access point AP.sub.2 for the rare cases of requiring retransmissions. On the other hand, due to accurate parameter adaptation, if the third access point AP.sub.2 fails to decode a received signal, a successfully decoded signal is normally almost obtained and the third access point AP.sub.2 only needs a small boost to decode the failed signal. This small boost can be well provided by the first access point AP.sub.0 via the direct backhaul channel H.sub.4 even if the link via the direct backhaul channel H.sub.4 may be weak.

[0078] This is illustrated in FIG. 10, where it is shown that a large part of the SNR required by the third access point AP.sub.2 for successful message decoding is provided by the initial transmission of the first signal x.sub.A from the second access point AP.sub.1. The third access point AP.sub.2 fails to decode the first signal x.sub.A in a first transmission 10, since the SNR falls below a threshold y for successful decoding. A re-transmission 11 results in that the SNR exceeds the threshold v for successful decoding. Since the first signal x.sub.A in the first transmission 10 is relatively close to the threshold y for successful decoding, in the re-transmission only a relatively small boost of the SNR is needed to exceed the threshold y for successful decoding.

[0079] In this way, the load and buffer requirement of the second access point AP.sub.1 is reduced, and consequently the scheduling delay is reduced as well because part of the data is transferred without using the second access point AP.sub.1.

[0080] Re-transmission, for example using HARQ, is performed without any system cost in terms of spectrum and scheduling delay where spectrum utilization is improved by using the temporarily inactive time periods T.sub.1. Performing the initial transmission via the second backhaul channel H.sub.2 and retransmissions via the direct backhaul channel H.sub.4 increases the network diversity and, consequently, reduces the probability of requiring multiple HARQ-based retransmission rounds.

[0081] Moreover, the spectrum utilization is improved by using the temporarily inactive time periods T.sub.1, which leads to lower end-to-end transmission delay and higher throughput for the CPE:s U.sub.21, U.sub.22; U.sub.31, U.sub.32 that are served by the third access point AP.sub.2 and the fourth access point AP.sub.3.

[0082] According to some aspects, the third access point AP.sub.2 sends an ACK/NACK, in dependence of if the decoding has been successful or not, to the to the first access point AP.sub.0 via the first access point AP.sub.1, via the second backhaul channel H.sub.2 and the first backhaul channel H.sub.1, not via the direct backhaul channel H.sub.4. The re-transmitted signal x.sub.A is always transmitted via the direct backhaul channel H.sub.4. This is a possible aspect, since the ACK/NACK signal contains relatively little information and contributes relatively little to the load of an AP compared to a normal data message. This can be applicable for all examples and other possible signal routes.

[0083] With reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a second example is provided. Here, only one signal is shown for reasons of clarity.

[0084] In FIG. 5, two instances in time are shown. First, a first signal x.sub.A is transmitted from the first access point AP.sub.0 to second access point AP.sub.1, and then from the second access point AP.sub.1 to a first CPE U.sub.11 that is served by the second access point AP.sub.1. The first CPE U.sub.11 is, however, unable to successfully decode the first signal x.sub.A.

[0085] According to the present disclosure, with reference to FIG. 6, the first CPE U.sub.11 is adapted to send a request for re-transmission, NACK, of the first signal x.sub.A directly to the first access point AP.sub.0 via a direct access channel h.sub.13 between the first access point AP.sub.0 and first CPE U.sub.11.

[0086] According to some aspects, the request for re-transmission, NACK, of the signal x.sub.A is based on HARQ.

[0087] This means that the first CPE U.sub.11 does not request re-transmission from the second access point AP.sub.1, which will alleviate the working of the second access point AP.sub.1 which normally is heavily loaded.

[0088] The first access point AP.sub.0 is adapted to re-transmit the first signal x.sub.A directly to the first CPE U.sub.11 via the direct access channel h.sub.13, and the first CPE U.sub.11 is adapted to receive the re-transmitted first signal x.sub.A directly from the first access point AP.sub.0 via the direct access channel h.sub.13.

[0089] In this context, for the first CPE U.sub.11, the second access point AP.sub.1 is an adjacent first type node, and the first access point AP.sub.0 is a farther first type node.

[0090] The present disclosure can thus be implemented for both backhaul communication and access communication.

[0091] By means of the present disclosure, scheduling and end-to-end data transmission delays are reduced, network diversity is increased, buffer requirement of the AP nodes is reduced, and different AP nodes of the network will have an equalized load which leads to better balance of the load in different AP nodes. Particularly, the load/buffer requirement of the most loaded AP nodes, in the examples above the second application point AP.sub.1, is reduced and spectrum utilization of low-loaded nodes as well as the network diversity are increased, such that spectrum underutilization of low-loaded nodes is avoided.

[0092] The temporarily inactive time periods of the AP nodes with low spectrum utilization are used for HARQ-based retransmissions, in case the data transmission in the heavily-loaded links fails, which increases the network diversity and reduces the probability of requiring multiple HARQ-based retransmissions. As a further result, the heavily-loaded nodes are not responsible for HARQ-based retransmissions, and can drop the message from their buffer after the first transmission. Also, depending on the data transmission method in different time slots, the timing, the beamforming and the buffering methods of the IAB nodes are updated. In this way, this leads to improved end-to-end throughput of the CPE:s, better energy efficiency, and decreased buffer requirement for the AP nodes.

[0093] As a result of this, the number of hops and/or the number of CPE:s per hop can be increased.

[0094] With reference to FIG. 7, the present disclosure also relates to a method in a node AP.sub.2, U.sub.11 in a wireless communication system 1, wherein the method comprises communicating S1 with at least two other nodes AP.sub.1, AP.sub.0 in the wireless communication system 1, where the other nodes AP.sub.1, AP.sub.0 are of a first type and constitute first type nodes AP.sub.1, AP.sub.0 that use backhaul communication when communicating with each other. The method further comprises receiving S2 a signal x.sub.A transmitted from an adjacent first type node AP.sub.1, where the signal x.sub.A has been forwarded from at least one farther first type node AP.sub.0. In case of unsuccessful decoding S3 of the signal x.sub.A, the method comprises requesting S4 re-transmission NACK of the signal x.sub.A and receiving S5 re-transmission of the signal x.sub.A directly from a farther first type node AP.sub.0.

[0095] According to some aspects, the method comprises sending S41 a request for re-transmission NACK of the signal x.sub.A directly to a farther first type node AP.sub.0.

[0096] According to some aspects, the node is a first type node AP.sub.2 that is used for communication with the adjacent first type node AP.sub.1 over a corresponding backhaul channel H.sub.1, and for communication with said farther first type node AP.sub.0 via a via a direct backhaul channel H.sub.4.

[0097] According to some aspects, the farther first type node is a first type node AP.sub.0 that is connected to a core network 2 by means of a fiber connection 5.

[0098] According to some aspects, the node is a second type node U.sub.11 that is used for communication with the adjacent first type node AP.sub.1 over a corresponding access channel h.sub.11, and for communication with said farther first type node AP.sub.0 via a via a direct access channel h.sub.13.

[0099] According to some aspects, the communication between the first type nodes AP.sub.0, AP.sub.1, AP.sub.2, AP.sub.3 is a backhaul communication via at least one corresponding backhaul channel H.sub.1, H.sub.2, H.sub.3, H.sub.4, and where at least one first type node AP.sub.0, AP.sub.1, AP.sub.2, AP.sub.3 is used for communication with a corresponding group of second type nodes U.sub.11, U.sub.12; U.sub.21, U.sub.22; U.sub.31, U.sub.32 via a corresponding access channel h.sub.11, h.sub.12; h.sub.21, h.sub.22; h.sub.31, h.sub.32. Each group of second type nodes U.sub.11, U.sub.12; U.sub.21, U.sub.22; U.sub.31, U.sub.32 comprises at least one second type node U.sub.11, U.sub.12; U.sub.21, U.sub.22; U.sub.31, U.sub.32, where the backhaul communication and the access communication both are performed by means of common equipment at each one of the first type nodes AP.sub.0, AP.sub.1, AP.sub.2, AP.sub.3.

[0100] According to some aspects, the method comprises re-transmission of the signal x.sub.A in temporarily inactive time periods T.sub.1 where the node AP.sub.2 and the farther node AP.sub.0 are not used for communication with other nodes.

[0101] According to some aspects, the request for re-transmission NACK of the signal x.sub.A is based on Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ).

[0102] With reference to FIG. 8, the present disclosure also relates to a method in a first type node AP.sub.1 in a wireless communication system 1, wherein the method comprises communicating T1 with at least two other nodes AP.sub.2, U.sub.11, AP.sub.0 in the wireless communication system 1, where at least one of the other nodes AP.sub.2, AP.sub.0 is a first type node that uses backhaul communication when communicating with other first type nodes, and receiving T2 a signal x.sub.A transmitted from an adjacent first type node AP.sub.0. The method further comprises forwarding T3 the signal x.sub.A to a receiving node AP.sub.2, U.sub.11, and deleting T4 the forwarded signal x.sub.A from its buffer after having forwarded the signal x.sub.A, irrespective of if the receiving node AP.sub.2, U.sub.11 is able to decode the signal x.sub.A or not.

[0103] According to some aspects, the adjacent first type node AP.sub.0 is connected to a core network 2 by means of a fiber connection 5.

[0104] As shown in FIG. 9A, according to some aspects, a node AP.sub.2, U.sub.11, in a wireless communication system 1 comprises a processor unit 3 that is adapted to control communication with at least two other first type nodes AP.sub.1, AP.sub.0 in the wireless communication system 1. The processor unit 3 is further adapted to control reception of a signal x.sub.A transmitted from an adjacent first type node AP.sub.1, where the signal x.sub.A has been forwarded from at least one farther first type node AP.sub.0. In case of unsuccessful decoding of the signal x.sub.A, the processor unit 3 is further adapted to request re-transmission (NACK) of the signal x.sub.A; and to control reception of a re-transmission of the signal x.sub.A directly from a farther first type node AP.sub.0.

[0105] According to some aspects, the processor unit 3 is adapted to control a sending of a request for re-transmission (NACK) of the signal x.sub.A directly to a farther first type node AP.sub.0.

[0106] According to some aspects, the node is a first type node AP.sub.2 that is adapted to communicate with the adjacent first type node AP.sub.1 over a corresponding backhaul channel H.sub.1, and to communicate with said farther first type node AP.sub.0 via a via a direct backhaul channel H.sub.4.

[0107] According to some aspects, the farther first type node is a first type node AP.sub.0 that is connected to a core network 2 by means of a fiber connection 5.

[0108] According to some aspects, the node is a second type node U.sub.11 that is adapted to communicate with the adjacent first type node AP.sub.1 over a corresponding access channel h.sub.11, and to communicate with said farther first type node AP.sub.0 via a via a direct access channel h.sub.13.

[0109] As shown in FIG. 9B, according to some aspects, a first type node AP.sub.1 in a wireless communication system 1 comprises a processor unit 4 that is adapted to control communication with at least two other first type nodes AP.sub.2, U.sub.11, AP.sub.0 in the wireless communication system, where at least one of the other nodes AP.sub.2, AP.sub.0 is a first type node that is adapted to communicate with other first type nodes by means of backhaul communication. The processor unit 4 is further adapted to control reception of a signal x.sub.A transmitted from an adjacent first type node AP.sub.0, and to forward the signal x.sub.A to a receiving node AP.sub.2, U.sub.11. The processor unit 3 is further adapted to delete the forwarded signal x.sub.A from a buffer memory after transmission of the signal x.sub.A, irrespective of if the receiving node is able to decode the signal x.sub.A or not.

[0110] According to some aspects, the adjacent first type node is a first type node AP.sub.0 that is connected to a core network 2 by means of a fiber connection 5.

[0111] The present disclosure also relates to a wireless communication system 1 comprising an integrated access and backhaul, IAB, network 7 which in turn comprises the nodes AP.sub.2, U.sub.11; AP.sub.1 discussed above with reference to FIG. 9A and FIG. 9B.

[0112] The present disclosure is not limited to the above, but may vary freely within the scope of the appended claims. For example, in the examples discussed above, the first access point AP.sub.0 connects to the third access point AP.sub.2 directly to provide it with the signals of the served CPE:s U.sub.21, U.sub.22; U.sub.31, U.sub.32 of both the third access point AP.sub.2 and the fourth access point AP.sub.3. However, according to some aspects, the first access point AP.sub.0 is adapted to directly receive a NACK for a certain signal from any access point that is not closest to the first access point AP.sub.0, for example directly from the fourth access point AP.sub.3. The first access point AP.sub.0 is then adapted to directly re-transmit said certain signal to any access point that is not closest to the first access point AP.sub.0, for example directly to the fourth access point AP.sub.3 in a second time period T.sub.2 where the first access point AP.sub.0 and the fourth access point AP.sub.3 are temporarily inactive.

[0113] In the examples discussed above, a time slot 6 is divided into sub-slots RX.sub.s, TX.sub.s, each one having access and backhaul connections. In another approach, a time slot is divided into access and backhaul sub-slots where each one has DL and UL transmission. Generally, the present disclosure is applicable for different schemes of time allocation.

[0114] According to some aspects, the efficiency of the present disclosure depends on the amount of interference added to the access links between the second access point AP.sub.1 and its served CPE:s U.sub.11, U.sub.12 by means of the direct transmission from, for example, the first access point AP.sub.0 to the third access point AP.sub.2. However, because the AP:s normally are equipped with many antennas and advanced beamforming methods, and also because the direct communication via the direct channel H.sub.4 does not need to have high rate and, consequently, possibly relatively low transmission power, the interference to the access links between the second access point AP.sub.1 and its served CPE:s U.sub.11, U.sub.12 will be negligible. This is especially because an IAB network normally is used for stationary networks where the channel measurements and parameter settings can be done before the data transmission.

[0115] According to some aspects, examples of important parts of the present disclosure are: [0116] 1) As discussed previously, present disclosure is applicable for setting up a direct channel between two nodes such that one node is bypassed and relieved. For example, the fourth access point AP.sub.3 can communicate directly with the first access point AP.sub.0 via a corresponding direct backhaul channel. [0117] 2) In the examples described, a time slot is divided into RX/TX sub-slots RX.sub.s, TX.sub.s, each one having access and backhaul connections. In another approach, the time slot is divided into access and backhaul sub-slots each one having DL and UL transmission. The present disclosure is applicable for different schemes of time allocation. [0118] 3) The efficiency of the proposed method depends on if a fairly good direct backhaul channel H.sub.4 can be found. However, because a large part of the minimum SNR required for successfully decoding has been provided by the initial transmission of the signal x.sub.A as shown in FIG. 10, lower data rates can be used for the direct backhaul channel H.sub.4 without affecting end-to-end data transmission delay.

[0119] According to some aspects, the present disclosure can easily extended to the cases with arbitrary number of hops, different relaying approaches or star-like network configuration.

[0120] According to some aspects, in the present context, the term signal corresponds to a data signal or a data message. According to some aspects, in the present context, the terms relay and relaying correspond to the terms forward and forwarding.

[0121] According to some aspects, the node AP.sub.2, U.sub.11 that sends a request for re-transmission, NACK, of the signal x.sub.A, can either send directly to the first access point AP.sub.0, or to the second access point AP.sub.1 that forwards the NACK to the first access point AP.sub.0.

[0122] The present disclosure has been described for an uncomplicated case with relatively few hops, although the present disclosure can be applied to the cases with arbitrary number of hops and CPE:s.

[0123] In the examples, the third access point AP.sub.2 has been adapted to communicate directly with the first access point AP.sub.0 via the direct backhaul channel H.sub.4, but not the fourth access point AP.sub.3 that has to depend on relaying via the third access point AP.sub.2 for both uplink and downlink. According to some aspects, the fourth access point AP.sub.3 and possibly one or more other (not shown) access points can also be adapted to communicate directly with the first access point AP.sub.0, or other suitable access points, via corresponding direct backhaul channels.

[0124] According to some aspects, the wireless communication system 1 can be any suitable communication system that comprises any suitable wireless network. According to some aspects, the wireless communication system 1 comprises one or more IAB networks 7.

[0125] The present disclosure is applicable for both uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) transmissions as well as for different types of HARQ.

[0126] Generally, the present disclosure relates to a node AP.sub.2, U.sub.11 in a wireless communication system 1, wherein the node AP.sub.2, U.sub.11 is adapted to communicate with at least two other nodes AP.sub.1, AP.sub.0 in the wireless communication system 1, where the other nodes AP.sub.1, AP.sub.0 are first type nodes AP.sub.1, AP.sub.0 which are adapted to communicate with each other by means of backhaul communication. The node AP.sub.2, U.sub.11 is further adapted to receive a signal x.sub.A transmitted from an adjacent first type node AP.sub.1, where the signal x.sub.A has been forwarded from at least one farther first type node AP.sub.0. In case of unsuccessful decoding of the signal x.sub.A, the node AP.sub.2, U.sub.11 is adapted to request re-transmission (NACK) of the signal x.sub.A, and to receive a re-transmission of the signal x.sub.A directly from a farther first type node AP.sub.0.

[0127] According to some aspects, the node AP.sub.2, U.sub.11 is adapted to send a request for re-transmission NACK of the signal x.sub.A directly to a farther first type node AP.sub.0.

[0128] According to some aspects, the node is a first type node AP.sub.2 that is adapted to communicate with the adjacent first type node AP.sub.1 over a corresponding backhaul channel H.sub.1, and to communicate with said farther first type node AP.sub.0 via a direct backhaul channel H.sub.4.

[0129] According to some aspects, the farther first type node is a first type node AP.sub.0 that is connected to a core network 2 by means of a fiber connection 5.

[0130] According to some aspects, the node is a second type node U.sub.11 that is adapted to communicate with the adjacent first type node AP.sub.1 over a corresponding access channel h.sub.11, and to communicate with said farther first type node AP.sub.0 via a via a direct access channel h.sub.13.

[0131] According to some aspects, the communication between the first type nodes AP.sub.0, AP.sub.1, AP.sub.2, AP.sub.3 is a backhaul communication via at least one corresponding backhaul channel H.sub.1, H.sub.2, H.sub.3, H.sub.4, and where at least one first type node AP.sub.0, AP.sub.1, AP.sub.2, AP.sub.3 is adapted to communicate with a corresponding group of second type nodes U.sub.11, U.sub.12; U.sub.21, U.sub.22; U.sub.31, U.sub.32 via a corresponding access channel h.sub.11, h.sub.12; h.sub.21, h.sub.22; h.sub.31, h.sub.32, each group of second type nodes U.sub.11, U.sub.12; U.sub.21, U.sub.22; U.sub.31, U.sub.32 comprising at least one second type node U.sub.11, U.sub.12; U.sub.21, U.sub.22; U.sub.31, U.sub.32, where the backhaul communication and the access communication both are performed by means of common equipment at each one of the first type nodes AP.sub.0, AP.sub.1, AP.sub.2, AP.sub.3.

[0132] According to some aspects, a re-transmission of the signal x.sub.A are issued in temporarily inactive time periods T.sub.1 where the node AP.sub.2 and the farther node AP.sub.0 are not engaged in any communication with other nodes.

[0133] According to some aspects, the request for re-transmission (NACK) of the signal x.sub.A is based on Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (HARQ).

[0134] Generally, the present disclosure also relates to first type node AP.sub.1 in a wireless communication system 1, where the first type node AP.sub.1 is adapted to communicate with at least two other nodes AP.sub.2, U.sub.11, AP.sub.0 in the wireless communication system 1, where at least one of the other nodes AP.sub.2, AP.sub.0 is a first type node that is adapted to communicate with other first type nodes by means of backhaul communication. The first type node AP.sub.1 is adapted to receive a signal x.sub.A transmitted from an adjacent first type node AP.sub.0, and to forward the signal x.sub.A to a receiving node AP.sub.2, U.sub.11. The first type node AP.sub.1 is adapted to delete the forwarded signal x.sub.A from its buffer after having forwarded the signal x.sub.A, irrespective of if the receiving node is able to decode the signal x.sub.A or not.

[0135] According to some aspects, the adjacent first type node AP.sub.0 is connected to a core network 2 by means of a fiber connection 5.

[0136] Generally, the present disclosure also relates to wireless communication system 1 comprising an integrated access and backhaul, IAB, network 7 which in turn comprises at least the node AP.sub.2, U.sub.11 according to the above and the first type node AP.sub.1 according to the above.