Communication Network with Relaying of Radio Signals By Relay Terminals

• US 20080311904A1
• Filed: 05/18/2005
• Published: 12/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Courseille, Olivier
• Granted Patent: US 8,213,350 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/427
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18536 Shadowing compensation therefor, e.g. by using an additional terrestrial relay

Abstract

A radiocommunication network includes at least one communication station (GW) adapted to exchange data by radio with radiocommunication terminals (T1-T5). This network is adapted to use a data transmission method wherein, each time a source radiocommunication terminal (T1) wishes to transmit data to its communication station (GW), the identifier of at least one active neighbor relay communication terminal (T2, T3) is determined in the source terminal (T1) in order to transmit signals representing the data to be transmitted by radio to each relay terminal so determined so that it relays them to the communication station (GW).

Claims

1. Data transmission method for a radiocommunication network including at least one communication station (GW) adapted to exchange data by radio with radiocommunication terminals (Ti), characterized in that, when a source radiocommunication terminal (T1) wishes to transmit data to said communication station (GW), it consists in determining in said source terminal (T1) the identifier of at least one active neighbor relay communication terminal (T2, T3, TR), in order to transmit to each relay terminal so determined, by radio, signals representing said data to be transmitted so that it relays said signals to said communication station (GW).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that there are determined in said source terminal (T1) the identifiers of at least two relay terminals (T2, T3), so as to transmit by radio to each of them said signals representing said data to be transmitted, so that each relays said signals to said communication station (GW).

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said source terminal (S1) also transmits said signals representing said data to said communication station (GW).

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that there is determined in at least one of said relay terminals (T2, T3) the identifier of at least one active neighbor relay terminal (T4, T5) so as to transmit by radio to each relay terminal so determined said signals representing said data so that it relays them also to said communication station (GW).

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the received signals representing said data are combined in said communication station (GW) before processing them locally

6. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that in the presence of a satellite communication network comprising at least one communication satellite (SAT) adapted to relay signals between the radio terminals (Ti) and said communication station (GW), received signals representing said data are combined in said satellite (SAT) in order to relay to said communication station (GW) combined signals representing said data and having increased energy.

7. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that on reception of said signals to be relayed said relay terminal (Ti, Tk, TR) is configured as a relay before proceeding to relay the signals.

8. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said source terminals (T1) and/or said relay terminals (Ti, Tk, TR) are mobile communication terminals.

9. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of said relay terminals is a fixed terminal (TR) dedicated to relaying signals representing data to be transmitted.

13. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said signals representing said data are also transmitted to said destination terminal (Tj).

10. Data transmission method for a radiocommunication network including at least one communication station (GW) adapted to exchange data by radio with radiocommunication terminals (Ti), characterized in that in the case of data to be transmitted to a destination radiocommunication terminal (Tj) the identifier of at least one neighbor relay terminal (T2, T3, TR) is determined in said destination terminal (Tj) in order to transmit by radio to each relay terminal so determined said signals representing said data so that it relays them to said destination terminal (Tj).

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that, in the presence of a satellite communication network comprising at least one communication satellite (SAT) adapted to relay signals between the radio terminals (Ti) and said communication station (GW) and in the case of data to be transmitted to a destination radiocommunication terminal (Tj), the identifier of at least one neighbor relay terminal (Ti, TR) of said destination terminal (Tj) is determined in said satellite (SAT) in order to transmit by radio to each relay terminal so determined signals representing said data to be transmitted so that it relays said signals to said destination terminal (Tj).

12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the identifiers of at least two relay terminals are determined in said satellite (SAT) in order to transmit by radio to each of them said signals representing said data to be transmitted so that each relays said signals to said destination terminal (Tj).

14. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the identifier of at least one active neighbor relay terminal (Tk, TR) is determined in at least one of said relay terminals (Ti, TR) in order to transmit by radio to each relay terminal so determined said signals representing said data so that it relays them also to said destination terminal (Tj).

15. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the received signals representing said data are combined in said destination terminal (Tj) before processing them locally.

16. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the received signals representing said data are combined in at least one relay terminal (Ti, TR) in order to relay to said destination terminal (Tj), where applicable via at least one other neighbor relay terminal (Tk, TR), a combined signal representing said data and having increased energy.

17. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that on reception of said signals to be relayed, said relay terminal (Ti, Tk, TR) is configured as a relay before proceeding to relay the signals.

18. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that said destination terminal (Tj) and/or said relay terminals (Ti, Tk, TR) are mobile communication terminals.

19. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that at least one of said relay terminals is a fixed terminal (TR) dedicated to relaying signals representing data to be transmitted.

20. Communication terminal (T1, TR) for a radiocommunication network including at least one communication station (GW) adapted to exchange data by radio with radiocommunication terminals (Ti), characterized in that it comprises management means (MG1;

MG2) adapted in the case of data to be transmitted to said communication station (GW) to determine the identifier of at least one active neighbor relay radiocommunication terminal (T2, T3) and to instruct the transmission by radio to each relay terminal (T2, T3) so determined of signals representing said data so that they are relayed to said communication station (GW).

21. Terminal according to claim 20, characterized in that said management means (MG1;

MG2) are adapted to instruct the transmission by radio of said signals representing said data to the communication station (GW).

22. Terminal according to claim 20, characterized in that it comprises processing means (MT1;

MT2) adapted to combine the received signals representing identical data coming from said communication station (GW) and from other communication terminals before said data is processed locally.

23. Terminal according to claim 20, characterized in that it comprises configuration means (MC1) adapted, on reception of signals to be relayed, to configure in a relay mode of operation local transmission means (MER) so that they relay said received signals to said communication station (GW) and/or to at least one neighbor relay terminal or to a destination terminal (Tj).

24. Terminal according to claim 23, characterized in that said processing means (MT1;

MT2) are adapted, when said transmission means (MER) are configured in relay mode, to combine the receive signals representing identical data to be relayed before authorizing relaying of the combined signal with increased energy.

25. Terminal according to claim 20, characterized in that it is adapted to exchange signals by radio with a communication satellite of the network, responsible for relaying signals between said radio terminals (Ti) and said communication station (GW).

26. Communication satellite (SAT) for a satellite communication network comprising at least one satellite station (GW), said satellite (SAT) being adapted to relay signals representing identical data by radio between said satellite station (GW) and satellite communication terminals (T), characterized in that it comprises processing means (MT3) adapted to combine received signals representing identical data to be relayed to said satellite station (GW) before authorizing their relaying with increased energy.

27. Communication satellite (SAT) for a satellite communication network comprising at least one satellite station (GW), said satellite (SAT) being adapted to relay signals by radio between said satellite station (GW) and satellite communication terminals (T), characterized in that it comprises management means (MG3) adapted in the case of data to be transmitted to a satellite communication terminal (Ti) called the destination terminal (Tj) to determine the identifier of at least one neighbor relay terminal (Tk, TR) of said destination terminal (T) and then to instruct local transmission means (MER) to transmit by radio to each relay terminal so determined signals representing said data so that it relays them to said destination terminal (Tj) and/or to at least one other relay terminal (Tk, TR).

28. Communication station (GW) for a radiocommunication network adapted to exchange data by radio with radiocommunication terminals (Ti), characterized in that it comprises processing means (MT4) adapted to combine received signals representing identical data coming from at least one relay radiocommunication terminal (Tk, TR) and where applicable from a source communication terminal (T1) before said data is processed locally.

29. Station according to claim 28, characterized in that it is adapted to exchange said data with said radio terminals via a communication satellite (SAT).