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Methods and apparatus for operating a wireless communications system

  • US 8,532,016 B2
  • Filed: 08/21/2009
  • Issued: 09/10/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method of operating a wireless communications system comprising at least a base station, a first relay station, a second relay station and one or more subscriber stations;

  • wherein the base station, the first relay station and one or more of the said subscriber stations are operable to communicate with each other using at least a first wireless protocol, and wherein the base station, the second relay station and one or more of the said subscriber stations are operable to communicate with each other using at least a second wireless protocol;

    the method comprisingoperating the system according to an overall frame structure in which a subframe comprises;

    a first-protocol access period for access communications using the first wireless protocol, during which the first relay station and the base station are in one of a transmit mode and a receive mode;

    a first-protocol relay period for relay communications using the first wireless protocol, during which the base station is in one of the transmit mode and the receive mode and the first relay station is in the other of the transmit mode and the receive mode;

    a second-protocol access period for access communications using the second wireless protocol, during which the second relay station and the base station are in one of a transmit mode and a receive mode; and

    a second-protocol relay period for relay communications using the second wireless protocol, during which the base station is in one of the transmit mode and the receive mode and the second relay station is in the other of the transmit mode and the receive mode;

    the subframe further comprising an idle period for the first relay station for substantially the whole of one or both of the second-protocol access period and the second-protocol relay period, to avoid communications using the first wireless protocol interfering with communications using the second wireless protocol; and

    wherein the overall frame structure is arranged to position the idle period for the first relay station between the first-protocol access period and the first-protocol relay period, to accommodate switching of the first relay station between the one of the transmit mode and the receive mode and the other of the transmit mode and the receive mode.

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