Enhanced uplink scheduling in integrated access backhaul (iab) networks

An integrated access backhaul (IAB) node configured for operation in a radio access network (RAN) the IAB node comprising:

• communication interface circuitry configured to communicate with one or more downstream nodes and one or more upstream nodes in the RAN;
• and
• processing circuitry operably coupled with the communication interface circuitry, whereby the communication interface circuitry and the processing circuitry are configured to perform operations comprising:
• receiving, from a first downstream node in the IAB network, a first buffer status report (BSR) indicating a first amount of uplink (UL) data, wherein the first amount includes one or more of the following:
• an amount of UL data buffered at the first downstream node, and
• an amount of UL data expected to be received by the first downstream node;
• and
• sending, to the first downstream node, a first UL resource grant indicating a time schedule of resources available for the first downstream node to transmit at least a portion of the first amount of data.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing program instructions that, when executed by processing circuitry of an integrated access backhaul (IAB) node in a radio access network (RAN), configure the IAB node to perform operations comprising:

• receiving, from a first downstream node in the IAB network, a first buffer status report (BSR) indicating a first amount of uplink (UL) data, wherein the first amount includes one or more of the following:
• an amount of UL data buffered at the first downstream node, and
• an amount of UL data expected to be received by the first downstream node;
• and
• sending, to the first downstream node, a first UL resource grant indicating a time schedule of resources available for the first downstream node to transmit at least a portion of the first amount of data.