Wireless communication network including an adaptive wireless communication device and a method of operating the same

• US 7,110,715 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2002
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• 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
• Primary Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US10/229,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20040043782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• Field of Search: 455/11.1, 455/15, 455/517, 455/7, 455/9, 455/16, 370/321, 370/316, 370/226, 375/356, 375/213, 375/211
• US Class Current: 455/11.1
• 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 associated with a wireless communication device; and

a relay coordinator configured to establish an adaptive relay path for at least one of said messages as a function of a characteristic thereof, said adaptive relay path established as a function of a capability assigned from said base station and as an adaptive peer-to-peer relay path between said adaptive wireless communication device and another wireless communication device, whereas said one of said messages traverses said adaptive relay path without employing said base station.

2. The adaptive wireless communication device as recited in claim 1 wherein said adaptive relay path is adjustable.

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 characteristic is a voice transmission delay of said at least one of said messages.

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

6. The adaptive wireless communication device as recited in claim 1 wherein said adaptive relay path is adjusted by altering a number of relay coordinators in said path.

7. The adaptive wireless communication device as recited in claim 1 wherein said adaptive wireless communication device is configured to employ multiple relay coordinators to provide said adaptive relay path.

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

transmitting ad receiving messages associated with a wireless communication device with communication circuitry;

establishing an adaptive relay pat as an adaptive peer-to-peer relay pat between said adaptive wireless communication device and another wireless communication device, said establishing based on receiving a capability to establish said adaptive relay path from said base station; and

providing said adaptive relay path for at least one of said messages as a function of a characteristic thereof whereas said one of said messages traverses said adaptive relay path without employing said base station.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said adaptive wireless communication device is a mobile device within said wireless communication network.

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 further comprising adjusting said adaptive relay path by altering number of relay coordinators in said path.

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 8 wherein said characteristic is a voice transmission delay of said at least one of said messages.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said providing employs multiple adaptive wireless communication devices to provide said adaptive relay path.

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 associated with said wireless communication device; and

a relay coordinator configured to establish an adaptive relay path for at least one of said messages as a function of a characteristic thereof, said adaptive relay path established as a function of a capability assigned from one of said base stations and as an adaptive peer-to-peer relay path between said adaptive wireless communication device and said wireless communication device, whereas said one of said messages traverses said adaptive relay path without employing said base stations.

16. The wireless communication network as recited in claim 15 wherein said adaptive relay path is bidirectional.

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 pat in cooperation with said second base station.

18. The wireless communication network as recited in claim 15 wherein said characteristic is a voice transmission delay of said at least one of said messages.

19. The wireless communication network as recited in claim 15 wherein said characteristic is a signal strength of said at least one of said messages.

20. The wireless communication network as recited in claim 15 wherein said base station adjusts said adaptive replay path by reducing a number of relay coordinators in said path.

21. The wireless communication network as recited in claim 15 wherein said adaptive wireless communication device is configured to employ multiple relay coordinators to provide said adaptive relay path.