# US 10,873,920 B2 · Timing and frame structure in an integrated access backhaul (IAB) network > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,920 B2 - Document ID: US10873920B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/154,500 - Filed: 2018-10-08 - Published: 2019-04-11 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-10-09 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Inventors: Navid Abedini; Junyi Li; Karl Georg Hampel; Hong Cheng; Jianghong Luo; Juergen Cezanne; Muhammad Nazmul Islam; Sundar Subramanian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873920B2 ## CPC - H04W 56/0015: {one node acting as a reference for the others} - H04B 7/2606: {Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels} - H04L 5/0048: {Allocation of pilot signals, i.e. of signals known to the receiver (allocation of control signalling H04L5/0053; use of control signalling H04L5/0091)} - H04L 5/0053: {Allocation of signalling, i.e. of overhead other than pilot signals} - H04L 27/2607: {Cyclic extensions} - H04L 45/04: {Interdomain routing, e.g. hierarchical routing} - H04L 45/64: using an overlay routing layer - H04W 56/001: {Synchronization between nodes} - H04W 56/002: {Mutual synchronization} - H04W 56/0045: {compensating for timing error by altering transmission time} - H04W 72/0446: Resources in time domain, e.g. slots or frames - H04W 72/56: based on priority criteria - H04W 56/00: Synchronisation arrangements - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Wireless communications systems and methods related to communicating in an integrated access backhaul (IAB) network are provided. A first wireless communication device receives synchronization information associated with one or more wireless relay devices. The first wireless communication device adjusts one or more synchronization references of the first wireless communication device based on at least a subset of the received synchronization information. The first wireless communication device communicates, with the one or more wireless relay devices, communication signals in synchronization with the one or more adjusted synchronization references, wherein at least one of the communication signals includes backhaul data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of wireless communication, comprising: receiving, by a first wireless communication device, synchronization information associated with one or more wireless relay devices; adjusting, by the first wireless communication device, one or more synchronization references of the first wireless communication device based on at least a subset of the received synchronization information; and communicating, by the first wireless communication device with the one or more wireless relay devices, communication signals in synchronization with the one or more adjusted synchronization references, wherein at least one of the communication signals includes backhaul data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving includes: receiving, by the first wireless communication device from a first wireless relay device of the one or more wireless relay devices, a message including at least one of timing information associated with a synchronization reference of the first wireless relay device or frequency information associated with the synchronization reference of the first wireless relay device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving includes: receiving, by the first wireless communication device from a first wireless relay device of the one or more wireless relay devices, a synchronization reference signal that is based on a synchronization reference of the first wireless relay device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving includes: receiving priority levels associated with sources of the synchronization information, and wherein the adjusting includes: selecting the subset of the received synchronization information based on the priority levels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving includes: receiving priority levels associated with hop counts of the one or more wireless relay devices with respect to an original synchronization reference source, and wherein the adjusting includes: selecting the subset of the received synchronization information based on the priority levels. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving includes: receiving, by the first wireless communication device from a central entity, the synchronization information. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving, by the first wireless communication device from an external synchronization source, at least one of timing information or frequency information of the external synchronization source; and adjusting the one or more synchronization references further based on the at least one of timing information or frequency information of the external synchronization source. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, by the first wireless communication device, a message requesting the synchronization information. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, by the first wireless communication device, synchronization information associated with the one or more synchronization references based on at least one of a schedule, a synchronization information request, a measurement of the one or more synchronization references, or the adjusting of the one or more synchronization references. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: communicating, by the first wireless communication device with a second wireless communication device, a second communication signal including access data. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: transmitting, by the first wireless communication device, a message requesting the one or more wireless relay devices to resynchronize to the one or more adjusted synchronization references. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating includes: communicating, by the first wireless communication device with a first wireless relay device of the one or more wireless relay devices, a first communication signal based on a first synchronization reference of the one or more synchronization references; and communicating, by the first wireless communication device with a second wireless communication device, a second communication signal based on a second synchronization reference of the one or more synchronization references that is different than the first synchronization reference. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the communicating includes communicating the first communication signal concurrent with the second communication signal. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the communicating includes communicating the first communication signal and the second communication signal during different time periods. ### Claim 15 A method of wireless communication, comprising: receiving, by a central entity from one or more wireless relay devices, synchronization information associated with the one or more wireless relay devices; determining, by the central entity, a synchronization reference adjustment for a first wireless relay device of the one or more wireless relay devices based on at least a subset of the received synchronization information; and transmitting, by the central entity, a message instructing the first wireless relay device of the one or more wireless relay devices to synchronize a communication with a second wireless relay device of the one or more wireless relay devices based on the synchronization reference adjustment. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the receiving includes: receiving at least one of frequency information or timing information associated with one or more synchronization references. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the receiving includes: receiving priority levels associated with sources of the synchronization information, and wherein the determining includes: selecting the subset of the received synchronization information based on the priority levels. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the receiving includes: receiving priority levels associated with hop counts of the one or more wireless relay devices with respect to an original synchronization reference source, and wherein the determining includes: selecting the subset of the received synchronization information based on the priority levels. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the transmitting includes: transmitting, by the central entity, at least one of a timing adjustment or a frequency adjustment for a synchronization reference of the first wireless relay device. ### Claim 20 An apparatus comprising: a transceiver configured to receive synchronization information associated with one or more wireless relay devices; and a processor configured to adjust one or more synchronization references of the apparatus based on at least a subset of the received synchronization information, wherein the transceiver is further configured to communicate, with the one or more wireless relay devices, communication signals in synchronization with the one or more adjusted synchronization references, wherein at least one of the communication signals includes backhaul data. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive the synchronization information by: receiving, from a first wireless relay device of the one or more wireless relay devices, a message including at least one of timing information associated with a synchronization reference of the first wireless relay device or frequency information associated with the synchronization reference of the first wireless relay device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive the synchronization information by: receiving, from a first wireless relay device of the one or more wireless relay devices, a synchronization reference signal that is based on a synchronization reference of the first wireless relay device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive the synchronization information by: receiving priority levels associated with sources of the synchronization information, and wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the one or more synchronization references by: selecting the subset of the received synchronization information based on the priority levels. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive the synchronization information by: receiving priority levels associated with hop counts of the one or more wireless relay devices with respect to an original synchronization reference source, and wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the one or more synchronization references by: selecting the subset of the received synchronization information based on the priority levels. ### Claim 25 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive the synchronization information by: receiving, from a central entity, the synchronization information. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the transceiver is further configured to: receive, from an external synchronization source, at least one of timing information or frequency information of the external synchronization source, and wherein the processor is further configured to: adjust the one or more synchronization references further based on the at least one of timing information or frequency information of the external synchronization source. ### Claim 27 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the transceiver is further configured to: transmit a message requesting the synchronization information. ### Claim 28 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the transceiver is further configured to: transmit synchronization information associated with the one or more synchronization references based on at least one of a schedule, a synchronization information request, a measurement of the one or more synchronization references, or the adjustment of the one or more synchronization references. ### Claim 29 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the transceiver is further configured to: communicate, with a wireless communication device, a second communication signal including access data. ### Claim 30 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the transceiver is further configured to: transmit a message requesting the one or more wireless relay devices to resynchronize to the one or more adjusted synchronization references. ### Claim 31 (depends on 20) The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the transceiver is further configured to communicate the communication signals by: communicating, with a first wireless relay device of the one or more wireless relay devices, a first communication signal of the communication signals based on a first synchronization reference of the one or more synchronization references; and communicating, with a wireless communication device, a second communication signal of the communication signals based on a second synchronization reference of the one or more synchronization references that is different than the first synchronization reference. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the communicating includes communicating the first communication signal concurrent with the second communication signal. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the communicating includes communicating the first communication signal and the second communication signal during different time periods. ### Claim 34 An apparatus comprising: a transceiver configured to receive, from one or more wireless relay devices, synchronization information associated with the one or more wireless relay devices; and a processor configured to determine a synchronization reference adjustment for a first wireless relay device of the one or more wireless relay devices based on at least a subset of the received synchronization information, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit a message instructing the first wireless relay device of the one or more wireless relay devices to synchronize a communication with a second wireless relay device of the one or more wireless relay devices based on the synchronization reference adjustment. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive the synchronization by: receiving at least one of frequency information or timing information associated with one or more synchronization references. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive the synchronization by: receiving priority levels associated with sources of the synchronization information, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine the synchronization reference adjustment by: selecting the subset of the received synchronization information based on the priority levels. ### Claim 37 (depends on 34) The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the transceiver is further configured to receive the synchronization by: receiving priority levels associated with hop counts of the one or more wireless relay devices with respect to an original synchronization reference source, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine the synchronization reference adjustment by: selecting the subset of the received synchronization information based on the priority levels. ### Claim 38 (depends on 34) The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the transceiver is further configured to transmit the message by: transmitting the message including at least one of a timing adjustment or a frequency adjustment for a synchronization reference of the first wireless relay device.