Relays in a multihop heterogeneous UMTS wireless communication system

• US 8,964,781 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2009
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hunzinger, Jason F., Hou, Jilel, Kapoor, Rohit, Mohanty, Bibhu P.
• Primary Examiner(s): GREY, CHRISTOPHER P
• Application Number:
  US12/612,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20100202343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,938 Days
• Field of Search: 370/236, 370/252, 370/315, 370/469, 370/536, 370/537, 455/7, 455/14, 455/15
• US Class Current: 370/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/155 Ground-based stations H04B7/204 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/15557 Selecting relay station operation mode, e.g. between amplify and forward mode, decode and forward mode or FDD - and TDD mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/2606 Arrangements for base station coverage control, e.g. by using relays in tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/18 for allowing seamless reselection, e.g. soft reselection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/02 Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/22 using selective relaying for reaching a BTS [Base Transceiver Station] or an access point
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/12 Access point controller devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

Aspects relate to a Remote NodeB Relay that appears similar to a NodeB, a Radio Network Controller (RNC), and served mobile devices. Also provided is a Super-Light Router Relay that can provide better performance and QoS to served mobile devices while mitigating modifications to mobile devices, NodeBs, or interfaces between RNC and intermediary NodeBs. Aspects also relate to an Internet Protocol (IP) Relay that requires few, if any, modifications to mobile devices, NodeBs, or interfaces between RNC and intermediary NodeBs. Further, changes to an RNC and/or a core network can be mitigated though utilization of a strategic Relay Gateway.

Claims

1. A method performed by a relay for routing data in a multihop communication network, comprising:

communicating, via at least one processor, with a radio network controller through an intermediary base station on behalf of a plurality of mobile devices using a same interface protocol level as the interface protocol level used between the radio network controller and the intermediary base station; and

configuring, by the relay, a first set of lower layer air interface protocol instances for a self-backhaul link with the intermediary base station based on a first radio link control and a second set of lower layer air interface protocol instances for a wireless access link with each of the plurality of mobile devices based on a second radio link control, wherein each of the first and second radio link controls is configured to at least manage user data traffic flows independently.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, from the intermediary base station, data for a first served mobile device and a second served mobile device, wherein the data is received as a single flow;

de-multiplexing the data received as the single flow; and

transmitting the data separately to the first served mobile device and the second served mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving data from the first served mobile device and the second served mobile device;

multiplexing the data to create an aggregated data flow; and

transmitting the aggregated data flow to the intermediary base station.

4. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

a memory that retains instructions related to;

communicating on behalf of a plurality of mobile devices with a radio network controller through an intermediary base station using a same interface protocol level as the interface protocol level used between the radio network controller and the intermediary base station, and

configuring a first set of lower layer air interface protocol instances for a self-backhaul link with the intermediary base station based on a first radio link control and a second set of lower layer air interface protocol instances for a wireless access link with each of the plurality of mobile devices based on a second radio link control, wherein each of the first and second radio link controls is configured to at least manage user data traffic flows independently; and

a processor, coupled to the memory, configured to execute the instructions retained in the memory.

5. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 4, wherein the memory retains further instructions related to receiving data as a single flow for a first served flow and second served flow, de-multiplexing the data received as the single flow, and transmitting the data separately to the first served flow and the second served flow.

6. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 4, wherein the memory retains further instructions related to receiving data from at least two user flows, multiplexing the data to create an aggregated data flow, and transmitting the aggregated data flow to the intermediary base station.

7. A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

means for communicating with a radio network controller through an intermediary base station on behalf of a plurality of mobile devices using a same interface protocol level as the interface protocol level used between the radio network controller and the intermediary base station; and

means for configuring a first set of lower layer air interface protocol instances for a self-backhaul link with the intermediary base station based on a first radio link control and a second set of lower layer air interface protocol instances for a wireless access link with each of the plurality of mobile devices based on a second radio link control, wherein each of the first and second radio link controls is configured to at least manage user data traffic flows independently.

8. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

means for receiving, from the intermediary base station, data for a first served mobile device and a second served mobile device, wherein the data is received as a single flow;

means for de-multiplexing the data received as the single flow; and

means for transmitting the data separately to the first served mobile device and the second served mobile device.

9. The wireless communications apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

means for receiving data from the first served mobile device and the second served mobile device;

means for multiplexing the data to create an aggregated data flow; and

means for transmitting the aggregated data to the intermediary base station.

10. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising;

a first set of codes for causing a computer to communicate on behalf of a plurality of mobile devices with a radio network controller through an intermediary base station using a same interface protocol level as the interface protocol level used between the radio network controller and the intermediary base station; and

a second set of codes for causing the computer to configure a first set of lower layer air interface protocol instances for a self-backhaul link with the intermediary base station based on a first radio link control and a second set of lower layer air interface protocol instances for a wireless access link with each of the plurality of mobile devices based on a second radio link control, wherein each of the first and second radio link controls is configured to at least manage user data traffic flows independently.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage medium further comprises:

a third set of codes for causing the computer to receive data as a single flow for a first served flow and a second served flow;

a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to de-multiplex the data received as the single flow; and

a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to transmit the data separately to the first served flow and the second served flow.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the non-transitory computer readable storage medium further comprises:

a third set of codes for causing the computer to receive data from at least two user flows;

a fourth set of codes for causing the computer to multiplex the data to create an aggregated data flow; and

a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to convey the aggregated data flow to the intermediary base station.

13. At least one processor of a relay for routing data in a multihop communication network, comprising:

a first module that communicates with a radio network controller through an intermediary base station on behalf of a plurality of mobile devices using a same interface protocol level as the interface protocol level used between the radio network controller and the intermediary base station; and

a second module that configures a first set of lower layer air interface protocol instances for a self-backhaul link between the relay and the intermediary base station based on a first radio link control and a second set of lower layer air interface protocol instances for a wireless access link with each of the plurality of mobile devices based on a second radio link control, wherein each of the first and second radio link controls is configured to at least manage user data traffic flows independently.