Publicação
5G integrated access and backhaul (IAB)
| Resumo: | Cellular networks are constantly evolving, with each new generation providing new functionalities and higher performance. Currently, in the 5th Generation (5G), the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has introduced several new functionalities, like the Sidelink and IAB, which have not yet been fully explored. In 2020, the NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) expressed special interest in the Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) for applications in military scenarios. In a base 5G deployment, each base station (gNB) requires a dedicated backhaul link to the Core Network (CN), that is typically supported by fiber-optic cables or microwave technology. However, IAB is a new functionality that allows a gNB to route traffic from other gNBs that are connected, wirelessly, through the same radio frequency technology used for communicating with a User Equipment (UE). Since IAB allows gNBs to reach the Radio Access Network (RAN) through radio frequency technology and route each other’s traffic, it significantly reduces the number of needed dedicated backhaul links. This is useful, since it enables network deployments to be more flexible, cost-efficient and easier to deploy. This dissertation first offers an in-depth study on the IAB architectural requirements, emphasizing the need of a new dedicated protocol called Backhaul Adaptation Protocol (BAP). Some other requirements include modifications to the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer and the addition of new parameters on the F1 Application Protocol (F1AP) layer and Radio Resource Control (RRC) procedures. Further on, this dissertation explores an immediate practical solution that offers an emulated IAB with currently available technology and OpenAirInterface (OAI) software. In this implementation, instead of using the 3GPP defined BAP layer, the traffic is forwarded through a UE, and routed by using the User Plane (UP) functions over the GPRS Tunnelling Protocol (GTP). The results from this deployment show that it is possible to have a system that works similarly to an IAB with the currently available technology, however, it also shows that this emulated IAB solution is not optimal, thus revealing the importance of following the architecture proposed by 3GPP. Taking into account this conclusion, the development of a 3GPP compliant IAB was initialized, resulting in new developed functionalities that pave the way towards this solution. Each of these newly developed functionalities is tested and analyzed. Finally, this dissertation concludes by outlining the ongoing developments and future directions for implementing this 5G feature. |
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| Autores principais: | Souza, Victor Teixeira de Mello e |
| Assunto: | 5G IAB OpenAirInterface OAI BAP 3GPP RAN |
| Ano: | 2024 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso embargado |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade de Aveiro |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | RIA - Repositório Institucional da Universidade de Aveiro |
| Resumo: | Cellular networks are constantly evolving, with each new generation providing new functionalities and higher performance. Currently, in the 5th Generation (5G), the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has introduced several new functionalities, like the Sidelink and IAB, which have not yet been fully explored. In 2020, the NATO Communication and Information Agency (NCIA) expressed special interest in the Integrated Access and Backhaul (IAB) for applications in military scenarios. In a base 5G deployment, each base station (gNB) requires a dedicated backhaul link to the Core Network (CN), that is typically supported by fiber-optic cables or microwave technology. However, IAB is a new functionality that allows a gNB to route traffic from other gNBs that are connected, wirelessly, through the same radio frequency technology used for communicating with a User Equipment (UE). Since IAB allows gNBs to reach the Radio Access Network (RAN) through radio frequency technology and route each other’s traffic, it significantly reduces the number of needed dedicated backhaul links. This is useful, since it enables network deployments to be more flexible, cost-efficient and easier to deploy. This dissertation first offers an in-depth study on the IAB architectural requirements, emphasizing the need of a new dedicated protocol called Backhaul Adaptation Protocol (BAP). Some other requirements include modifications to the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer and the addition of new parameters on the F1 Application Protocol (F1AP) layer and Radio Resource Control (RRC) procedures. Further on, this dissertation explores an immediate practical solution that offers an emulated IAB with currently available technology and OpenAirInterface (OAI) software. In this implementation, instead of using the 3GPP defined BAP layer, the traffic is forwarded through a UE, and routed by using the User Plane (UP) functions over the GPRS Tunnelling Protocol (GTP). The results from this deployment show that it is possible to have a system that works similarly to an IAB with the currently available technology, however, it also shows that this emulated IAB solution is not optimal, thus revealing the importance of following the architecture proposed by 3GPP. Taking into account this conclusion, the development of a 3GPP compliant IAB was initialized, resulting in new developed functionalities that pave the way towards this solution. Each of these newly developed functionalities is tested and analyzed. Finally, this dissertation concludes by outlining the ongoing developments and future directions for implementing this 5G feature. |
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