OPPORTUNISTIC RELAY SCHEDULING IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

• US 20100002656A1
• Filed: 06/11/2009
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Yazdi, Kambiz Azarian, Chakrabarti, Arnab, Ji, Tingfang, Stamoulis, Anastasios, Lin, Dexu
• Granted Patent: US 9,078,270 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/336
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15542 Selecting at relay station its transmit and receive resources selection of wireless resources by user or terminal H04W72/02; arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path by two-dimensional division of the resources H04L5/0003, or by allocating sub-channels H04L5/003
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/23 in the downlink direction of a wireless link, i.e. towards a terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/541 using the level of interference
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/047 using dedicated repeater stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate providing opportunistic relay node communication based on scheduling of other communications in a wireless network. In particular, a relay node can maintain a backhaul link with an access point and an access link with a mobile device to facilitate communicating information therebetween. Time slots during which the backhaul link is active can be determined and avoided during scheduling access link communications with the mobile device. Furthermore, resource assignments from the access point to the mobile device can be monitored and decoded such that time slots associated therewith can also be determined and avoided. Thus, the relay node can communicate with mobile devices in time slots where the backhaul link is inactive and/or the mobile devices are not occupied communicating directly with the access point.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

maintaining a backhaul link with one or more access points;

determining one or more backhaul link resources over which information is received from the one or more access points over the backhaul link; and

selecting one or more access link resources, based on the one or more backhaul link resources, for communicating with one or more mobile devices over an access link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more access link resources are selected to be different from the one or more backhaul link resources.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising decoding a resource assignment from the one or more access points related to at least one of the one or more mobile devices.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the one or more access link resources are further selected based at least in part on avoiding one or more resources corresponding to the resource assignment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising communicating with the one or more mobile devices over the access link over the one or more access link resources.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting a resource assignment message to the one or more mobile devices based at least in part on the one or more access link resources.

7. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

maintain a backhaul link with an access point;

predict one or more backhaul link resources over which the backhaul link is active; and

select a set of resources different from the one or more backhaul link resources over which to communicate with a mobile device using an access link; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

8. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive a resource assignment from the access point related to the mobile device; and

determine assigned resources related to the resource assignment, wherein the at least one processor selects the set of resources further different from the assigned resources related to the resource assignment.

9. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 7, wherein predicting the one or more backhaul link resources includes analyzing a resource assignment received from the access point.

10. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to communicate with the mobile device over the access link.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

means for communicating with one or more access points over a backhaul link; and

means for scheduling a set of resources for communicating with one or more mobile devices over an access link based at least in part on determining a backhaul link activity in one or more backhaul link resources.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for scheduling the set of resources other than the one or more backhaul link resources.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for analyzing a received resource assignment to determine the one or more backhaul link resources.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for analyzing a received resource assignment further evaluates a mobile device resource assignment received from the one or more access points related to the one or more mobile devices to determine a set of mobile device resources associated therewith.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the means for scheduling schedules the set of resources other than the set of mobile device resources.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising means for communicating with the one or more mobile devices using the set of resources over the access link.

17. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to maintain a backhaul link with one or more access points;

code for causing the at least one computer to determine one or more backhaul link resources during which information is received from the one or more access points over the backhaul link; and

code for causing the at least one computer to select one or more access link resources, based on the one or more backhaul link resources, for communicating with one or more mobile devices over an access link.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the one or more access link resources are selected to be different from the one or more backhaul link resources.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to decode a resource assignment from the one or more access points related to at least one of the one or more mobile devices.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the one or more access link resources are further selected based at least in part on avoiding one or more resources corresponding to the resource assignment.

21. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to communicate with the one or more mobile devices over the access link during the one or more access link resources.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

a backhaul link component that maintains a backhaul link with one or more access points; and

a link scheduling component that allocates a set of resources for communicating with one or more mobile devices over an access link based at least in part on determining a backhaul link activity in one or more backhaul link resources.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the link scheduling component allocates the set of resources over resources other than the one or more backhaul link resources.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising an assignment evaluation component that analyzes a received resource assignment to determine the one or more backhaul link resources.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the assignment evaluation component further analyzes a mobile device resource assignment received from the one or more access points related to the one or more mobile devices to determine a set of mobile device resources associated therewith.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the link scheduling component allocates the set of resources over resources other than the set of mobile device resources.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising an access link component that communicates with the one or more mobile devices using the set of resources over the access link.

28. A method, comprising:

determining a time slot for receiving a backhaul link assignment according to an assignment protocol, wherein the assignment protocol defines an access link latency between an access link resource assignment and an access link communication over the access link resource assignment; and

receiving the backhaul link assignment from one or more access points during the time slot.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the access link latency is a fixed latency, the assignment protocol additionally defines a backhaul link latency as fixed between the backhaul link assignment and a backhaul link communication, and the access link latency is less than the backhaul link latency.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the access link resource assignment is a physical channel that assigns the access link communication over an access link time slot and the backhaul link assignment is a disparate physical channel that assigns the backhaul link communication over a backhaul link time slot.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising transmitting the access link resource assignment to one or more devices over a control channel.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the assignment protocol additionally defines a variable backhaul link latency between the backhaul link assignment and a backhaul link communication, and the backhaul link assignment includes information regarding one or more time slots and a periodicity of the one or more time slots for a duration of time.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein receiving the backhaul link assignment includes receiving the backhaul link assignment in an upper layer message.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the upper layer message is a persistent assignment.

35. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

discern a time slot for receiving a backhaul link assignment according to an assignment protocol, wherein the assignment protocol defines an access link latency between an access link resource assignment and an access link communication over the access link resource assignment; and

receive the backhaul link assignment from one or more access points during the time slot; and

a memory coupled to the at least one processor.

36. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 35, wherein the access link latency is a fixed latency, the assignment protocol additionally defines a fixed backhaul link latency between the backhaul link assignment and a backhaul link communication, and the access link latency is less than the fixed backhaul link latency.

37. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 36, wherein the access link resource assignment is a physical channel that assigns the access link communication over an access link time slot and the backhaul link assignment is a disparate physical channel that assigns the backhaul link communication over a backhaul link time slot.

38. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 37, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit the access link resource assignment to one or more devices over a control channel.

39. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 35, wherein the assignment protocol additionally defines a variable backhaul link latency between the backhaul link assignment and a backhaul link communication, and the backhaul link assignment includes information regarding one or more time slots and a periodicity of the one or more time slots for a duration of time.

40. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 39, wherein receiving the backhaul link assignment includes receiving the backhaul link assignment in an upper layer message.

41. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 40, wherein the upper layer message is a persistent assignment.

42. An apparatus, comprising:

means for determining a time slot for receiving a backhaul link assignment according to an assignment protocol, wherein the assignment protocol defines an access link latency between an access link resource assignment and an access link communication over the access link resource assignment; and

means for receiving the backhaul link assignment from one or more access points during the time slot.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the access link latency is a fixed latency, the assignment protocol additionally defines a fixed backhaul link latency between the backhaul link assignment and a backhaul link communication, and the access link latency is less than the fixed backhaul link latency.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the access link resource assignment is a physical channel that assigns the access link communication over an access link time slot and the backhaul link assignment is a disparate physical channel that assigns the backhaul link communication over a backhaul link time slot.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising means for transmitting the access link resource assignment to one or more devices over a control channel.

46. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the assignment protocol additionally defines a variable backhaul link latency between the backhaul link assignment and a backhaul link communication, and the backhaul link assignment includes information regarding one or more time slots and a periodicity of the one or more time slots for a duration of time.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein receiving the backhaul link assignment includes receiving the backhaul link assignment in an upper layer message.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein the upper layer message is a persistent assignment.

49. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to determine a time slot for receiving a backhaul link assignment according to an assignment protocol, wherein the assignment protocol defines an access link latency between an access link resource assignment and an access link communication over the access link resource assignment; and

code for causing the at least one computer to receive the backhaul link assignment from one or more access points during the time slot.

50. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein the access link latency is a fixed latency, the assignment protocol additionally defines a backhaul link latency as fixed between the backhaul link assignment and a backhaul link communication, and the access link latency is less than the backhaul link latency.

51. The computer program product of claim 50, wherein the access link resource assignment is a physical channel that assigns the access link communication over an access link time slot and the backhaul link assignment is a disparate physical channel that assigns the backhaul link communication over a backhaul link time slot.

52. The computer program product of claim 51, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for causing the at least one computer to transmit the access link resource assignment to one or more devices over a control channel.

53. The computer program product of claim 49, wherein the assignment protocol additionally defines a variable backhaul link latency between the backhaul link assignment and a backhaul link communication, and the backhaul link assignment includes information regarding one or more time slots and a periodicity of the one or more time slots for a duration of time.

54. The computer program product of claim 53, wherein receiving the backhaul link assignment includes receiving the backhaul link assignment in an upper layer message.

55. The computer program product of claim 54, wherein the upper layer message is a persistent assignment.

56. An apparatus, comprising:

a backhaul link component that determines a time slot for receiving a backhaul link assignment according to an assignment protocol and receives the backhaul link assignment during the time slot from one or more access points, wherein the assignment protocol defines an access link latency between an access link resource assignment and an access link communication over the access link resource assignment; and

an access link component that transmits the access link resource assignment to one or more mobile devices according to the access link latency and the backhaul link assignment.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the access link latency is a fixed latency, the assignment protocol additionally defines a fixed backhaul link latency between the backhaul link assignment and a backhaul link communication, and the access link latency is less than the fixed backhaul link latency.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the access link resource assignment is a physical channel that assigns the access link communication over an access link time slot and the backhaul link assignment is a disparate physical channel that assigns the backhaul link communication over a backhaul link time slot.

59. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the assignment protocol additionally defines a variable backhaul link latency between the backhaul link assignment and a backhaul link communication, and the backhaul link assignment includes information regarding one or more time slots and a periodicity of the one or more time slots for a duration of time.

60. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein receiving the backhaul link assignment includes receiving the backhaul link assignment in an upper layer message.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the upper layer message is a persistent assignment.