System and method for distributed coordination of duplex directions in a NR system

A first network node scheduling time-division-duplexing, TDD, transmissions for a first cell, the first network comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to:
• receive transmission direction planning information from a plurality of other network nodes scheduling TDD transmissions for other cells, wherein the transmission direction planning information received from the plurality of network nodes indicate a respective buffer state per direction for each of the plurality of network nodes and wherein the respective buffer state of each of the plurality of network nodes is indicated using two bits or less;
• and
• adapt at least one transmission direction plan of the first network node based on the transmission direction planning information received from the plurality of other network nodes, wherein processing circuitry configured to adapt the at least one transmission direction plan of the first network node comprises processing circuitry configured to switch between a first mode and a second mode, wherein the first mode comprises a static duplex mode and the second mode comprises a flexible duplex mode,
• wherein the transmission direction planning information received from the plurality of network nodes further indicates a first number of network nodes from which an activation indication of static duplex mode is received and a second number of network nodes from which a deactivation indication of the static duplex mode is received, and
• wherein processing circuitry configured to switch between the first mode and the second mode comprises processing circuitry configured to switch based at least on the first number of network nodes and the second number of network nodes.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, the instructions executable by a processor scheduling time-division-duplexing, TDD, transmissions for a first cell to cause the processor to:

• receive transmission direction planning information from a plurality of other network nodes scheduling TDD transmissions for other cells, wherein the transmission direction planning information received from the plurality of network nodes indicate a respective buffer state per direction for each of the plurality of network nodes and wherein the respective buffer state of each of the plurality of network nodes is indicated using two bits or less;
• and
• adapt at least one transmission direction plan of the processor based on the transmission direction planning information received from the plurality of other network nodes, wherein instructions to cause the processor to adapt the at least one transmission direction plan of the first network node comprises instructions to cause the processor to switch between a first mode and a second mode, wherein the first mode comprises a static duplex mode and the second mode comprises a flexible duplex mode,
• wherein the transmission direction planning information received from the plurality of network nodes further indicates a first number of network nodes from which an activation indication of static duplex mode is received and a second number of network nodes from which a deactivation indication of the static duplex mode is received, and
• wherein instructions to cause the processor to switch between the first mode and the second mode comprises instructions to cause the processor to switch based at least on the first number of network nodes and the second number of network nodes.

A method in a first network node comprises:

• obtaining transmission direction planning information from a plurality of network nodes which could include the first network node, each of the plurality of network nodes scheduling time-division-duplexing, TDD, transmissions for a respective cell, wherein the transmission direction planning information received from the plurality of network nodes indicate a respective buffer state per direction for each of the plurality of network nodes and wherein the respective buffer state of each of the plurality of network nodes is indicated using two bits or less;
• and
• adapting at least one transmission direction plan of at least one of said plurality of network nodes based on the transmission direction planning information received from the plurality of other network nodes, wherein adapting the at least one transmission direction plan of the first network node comprises switching between a first mode and a second mode, wherein the first mode comprises a static duplex mode and the second mode comprises a flexible duplex mode,
• wherein the transmission direction planning information received from the plurality of network nodes further indicates a first number of network nodes from which an activation indication of static duplex mode is received and a second number of network nodes from which a deactivation indication of the static duplex mode is received, and
• wherein switching between the first mode and the second mode is based at least on the first number of network nodes and the second number of network nodes.

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions, the instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to:

• obtain transmission direction planning information from a plurality of network nodes, each of the plurality of network nodes scheduling time-division-duplexing, TDD, transmissions for a respective cell, wherein the transmission direction planning information received from the plurality of network nodes indicate a respective buffer state per direction for each of the plurality of network nodes and wherein the respective buffer state of each of the plurality of network nodes is indicated using two bits or less;
• and
• adapt at least one transmission direction plan of at least one of said plurality of network nodes based on the transmission direction planning information received from the plurality of network nodes, wherein instructions to cause the processor to adapt the at least one transmission direction plan of the first network node comprises instructions to cause the processor to switch between a first mode and a second mode, wherein the first mode comprises a static duplex mode and the second mode comprises a flexible duplex mode,
• wherein the transmission direction planning information received from the plurality of network nodes further indicates a first number of network nodes from which an activation indication of static duplex mode is received and a second number of network nodes from which a deactivation indication of the static duplex mode is received, and
• wherein instructions to cause the processor to switch between the first mode and the second mode comprises instructions to cause the processor to switch based at least on the first number of network nodes and the second number of network nodes.