Programmable smart repeater with in-band control

A method of wireless communication at a repeater, comprising:

• establishing, by a mobile termination (MT) component of the repeater, a control link with a control node;
• receiving, via the control link, a configuration of one or more parameters of a repeating unit (RU) component of the repeater to forward communication between a first wireless device and a second wireless device on an access link;
• transitioning the MT component to a power saving mode for at least a period of time after receiving the configuration, wherein the MT component is configured to perform reduced monitoring of the control link during the power saving mode;
• and
• forwarding, via the RU component, the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device on the access link based on the one or more parameters in the configuration while the MT component of the repeater is in the power saving mode.

An apparatus for wireless communication at a control node, comprising:

• memory;
• and
• at least one processor coupled to the memory, the at least one processor configured to:
• establish a control link with a repeater, the repeater comprising a mobile termination (MT) component and a repeating unit (RU);
• transmit, via the control link, a configuration of one or more parameters for the RU of the repeater to forward communication between a first wireless device and a second wireless device on an access link;
• and
• transmit, to the repeater, an indication for the MT component of the repeater to enter a power saving mode while the RU forwards the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on the configuration, wherein the MT component is configured to perform reduced monitoring of the control link during the power saving mode.

A method of wireless communication at a control node, comprising:

• establishing a control link with a repeater, the repeater comprising a mobile termination (MT) component and a repeating unit (RU);
• transmitting, via the control link, a configuration of one or more parameters of the repeater for the RU of the repeater to forward communication between a first wireless device and a second wireless device on an access link;
• and
• transmitting, to the repeater, an indication for the MT component of the repeater to enter a power saving mode while the RU forwards the communication between the first wireless device and the second wireless device based on the configuration, wherein the MT component is configured to perform reduced monitoring of the control link during the power saving mode.