IAB donor, control method, computer-readable storage medium, and control apparatus

A control method of controlling an IAB donor in a wireless communication system using an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) technique defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), the wireless communication system including at least one IAB node configured to relay communication between a core network and equipment, and an IAB donor configured to relay communication between at least one IAB node under the IAB donor and the core network, the method comprising:

• specifying, based at least on communication with each of the IAB nodes under the IAB donor, a respective number of equipments that are connected to each of the IAB nodes under the IAB donor;
• determining, based on a number of equipments connected on a first communication path including the IAB donor, a first IAB node connected on a downstream side of the IAB donor, and a second IAB node connected to the first IAB node on a downstream side of the first IAB node, whether to change a communication path, wherein an allowable accommodation number of equipments is set for each IAB node under the IAB donor, and wherein in a case where a sum of the number of equipments connected to the first IAB node and the number of equipments connected to at least one IAB node connected on a downstream side of the first IAB node on the first communication path exceeds the allowable accommodation number set for the first IAB node, the IAB donor determines to change the connection destination of the second IAB node to a third LAB node constituting a communication path different from the first communication path;
• changing, based on a determination to change the communication path, a connection destination of the second IAB node to the third IAB node;
• and
• setting a second communication path for relaying communication between the second IAB node and equipment under the second IAB node, and the IAB donor via the third IAB node.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that stores a program for causing a computer included in an IAB donor in a wireless communication system that uses an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) technique defined by the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) and includes at least one IAB node configured to relay communication between a core network and equipment, and an IAB donor configured to relay communication between at least one IAB node under the IAB donor and the core network, to:

• specify, based at least on communication with each of the IAB nodes under the IAB donor, a respective number of equipments that are connected to each of the IAB nodes under the IAB donor;
• determine, based on a number of equipments connected on a first communication path including the IAB donor, a first IAB node connected on a downstream side of the LAB donor, and a second IAB node connected to the first IAB node on a downstream side of the first IAB node, whether to change a communication path, wherein an allowable accommodation number of equipments is set for each IAB node under the IAB donor, and wherein in a case where a sum of the number of equipments connected to the first IAB node and the number of equipments connected to at least one IAB node connected on a downstream side of the first IAB node on the first communication path exceeds the allowable accommodation number set for the first IAB node, the IAB donor determines to change the connection destination of the second IAB node to a third IAB node constituting a communication path different from the first communication path;
• change, based on a determination to change the communication path, a connection destination of the second IAB node to the third IAB node;
• and
• set a second communication path for relaying communication between the second IAB node and equipment under the second IAB node, and the LAB donor via the third IAB node.

A control apparatus in a wireless communication system including a relay device configured to relay communication between a base station and equipment, the control apparatus comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more memories that store computer-readable instructions for causing, when executed by the one or more processors, the one or more processors to execute operations including:
• specifying, based at least on communication with relay devices under the control apparatus, a respective number of equipments that are connected to each of the relay device under the control apparatus;
• determining, based on a number of equipments connected on a first communication path including the base station, a first relay device connected on a downstream side of the base station, and a second relay device connected to the first relay device on a downstream side of the first relay device, whether to change a communication path, wherein an allowable accommodation number of equipments is set for each relay device under the control apparatus, and wherein in a case where a sum of the number of equipments connected to the first relay device and the number of equipments connected to at least one relay device connected on a downstream side of the first relay device on the first communication path exceeds the allowable accommodation number set for the first relay device, the control apparatus determines to change the connection destination of the second relay device to a third relay device constituting a communication path different from the first communication path;
• changing, based on a determination to change the communication path, a connection destination of the second relay device to the third relay device;
• and
• setting a second communication path for relaying communication between the second relay device and equipment under the second relay device, and the control apparatus via the third relay device.