Adaptive wireless communication device and method of operating the same

• US 20040043782A1
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Gupta, Piyush
• Granted Patent: US 7,110,715 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An adaptive wireless communication device employable in a wireless communication network having a base station and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the adaptive wireless communication device includes communication circuitry configured to transmit and receive messages. The adaptive wireless communication device also includes a relay coordinator configured to provide an adaptive relay path in cooperation with the base station for a message associated with a wireless communication device as a function of a characteristic of the message.

Claims

1. An adaptive wireless communication device employable in a wireless communication network having a base station, comprising:

communication circuitry configured to transmit and receive messages; and

a relay coordinator configured to provide an adaptive relay path in cooperation with said base station for a message associated with a wireless communication device as a function of a characteristic of said message.

2. The adaptive wireless communication device as recited in claim 1 wherein said relay coordinator is configured to provide said adaptive relay path under direct control of said base station.

3. The adaptive wireless communication device as recited in claim 1 wherein said wireless communication device is located in a first cell of said wireless communication network and said base station is located in a second cell of said wireless communication network.

4. The adaptive wireless communication device as recited in claim 1 wherein said adaptive relay path is an adaptive peer-to-peer relay path for said message between said wireless communication device and another wireless communication device.

5. The adaptive wireless communication device as recited in claim 1 wherein said characteristic is a signal strength of said message.

6. The adaptive wireless communication device as recited in claim 5 wherein said relay coordinator is configured to provide another adaptive relay path when said signal strength of said message associated with said adaptive relay path is inadequate.

7. The adaptive wireless communication device as recited in claim 1 wherein said adaptive wireless communication device is configured to employ another relay coordinator to provide another adaptive relay path for said message as a function of said characteristic of said message.

8. A method of operating an adaptive wireless communication device employable in a wireless communication network having a base station, comprising:

transmitting and receiving messages with communication circuitry; and

providing an adaptive relay path in cooperation with said base station for a message associated with a wireless communication device as a function of a characteristic of said message.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said providing is performed under direct control of said base station.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said wireless communication device is located in a first cell of said wireless communication network and said base station is located in a second cell of said wireless communication network.

11. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said adaptive relay path is an adaptive peer-to-peer relay path for said message between said wireless communication device and another wireless communication device.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said characteristic is a signal strength of said message.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said providing comprises providing another adaptive relay path when said signal strength of said message associated with said adaptive relay path is inadequate.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said providing employs another adaptive wireless communication device to provide another adaptive relay path for said message as a function of said characteristic of said message.

15. A wireless communication network, comprising:

a first cell having a first base station;

a second cell having a second base station;

a wireless communication device capable of roaming between said first and second cells; and

an adaptive wireless communication device, including;

communication circuitry configured to transmit and receive messages; and

a relay coordinator configured to provide an adaptive relay path in cooperation with one of said first and second base stations for a message associated with said wireless communication device as a function of a characteristic of said message.

16. The wireless communication network as recited in claim 15 wherein said relay coordinator is configured to provide said adaptive relay path under direct control of one of said first and second base stations.

17. The wireless communication network as recited in claim 15 wherein said wireless communication device is located in said first cell and said relay coordinator is configured to provide said adaptive relay path in cooperation with said second base station.

18. The wireless communication network as recited in claim 15 wherein said adaptive relay path is an adaptive peer-to-peer relay path for said message between said wireless communication device and another wireless communication device.

19. The wireless communication network as recited in claim 15 wherein said characteristic is a signal strength of said message.

20. The wireless communication network as recited in claim 19 wherein said relay coordinator is configured to provide another adaptive relay path when said signal strength of said message associated with said adaptive relay path is inadequate.

21. The wireless communication network as recited in claim 15 wherein said adaptive wireless communication device is configured to employ another relay coordinator to provide another adaptive relay path for said message as a function of said characteristic of said message.