Signaling of timing advance (ta) offsets in iab networks

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to cause an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node of an IAB network, the IAB node operating as a relay between an IAB donor of the IAB network and a User Equipment (UE), to:
• decode, from the IAB donor, first signaling that indicates a first timing offset for uplink timing calculation;
• decode, from the IAB donor, second signaling that indicates a second timing offset;
• based on the first timing offset and the second timing offset, determine a transmit timing of the IAB node;
• encode a downlink frame for transmission to the UE in accordance with the determined transmit timing.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program instructions executable by at least one processor of an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node of an IAB network, wherein the IAB network comprises an IAB donor and a plurality of IAB nodes to operate as relays between the IAB donor and a plurality of User Equipment (UEs), the program instructions executable to configure the at least one processor to:

• decode first signaling that indicates a first timing offset for uplink timing calculation;
• decode, from the IAB donor, second signaling that indicates a second timing offset;
• determine, based on the first timing offset and the second timing offset, a transmit timing of the IAB node;
• encode a downlink frame for transmission to the UE in accordance with the determined transmit timing.

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor configured to cause a user equipment (UE) to:
• decode a downlink frame from an Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) node of an IAB network, wherein the IAB node is configured to operate as a relay between an IAB donor of the IAB network and the TIE;
• encode an uplink frame for transmission to the IAB node;
• decode, from the IAB node, signaling that indicates:
• a difference between a first timing offset between the IAB donor and the IAB node and a second timing offset between the IAB node and the UE, and
• the second timing offset between the IAB node and the UE;
• determine a transmit timing of the UE based on the first and second timing offsets;
• encode another uplink frame for transmission to the IAB node for forwarding to the IAB donor, the other uplink frame encoded for transmission in accordance with the determined transmit timing.