Mobile Assisted Relay Selection in a Telecommunications System

Abstract

A mobile station is operated in a telecommunications system that includes a base station and one or more relay stations. The mobile station communicates directly with the base station via a first channel. To facilitate selection of a suitable relay station, the mobile station broadcasts a burst for receipt by a plurality of relay stations. Relay stations each measure a quality of the received burst and communicate this information to the base station, which uses the information to select a most suitable one of the relay stations for use in carrying on indirect communications between the base station and the mobile station.

1 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of operating a relay station in a telecommunications system, the method comprising:
 scanning for a random access burst that was broadcast by a mobile station;   receiving the random access burst;   measuring one or more characteristics of the received random access burst that are indicative of a quality of reception; and   using a direct link with a base station in the telecommunications system to communicate information indicative of the quality of reception.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , comprising:
 after communicating information indicative of the quality of reception to the base station, receiving instructions from the base station, wherein the instructions instruct the relay station to establish a direct connection with the mobile station,   wherein the relay station uses the direct connection with the mobile station to relay communications exchanged between the mobile station and the base station.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein scanning for the random access burst comprises:
 scanning continuously on a random access channel for random access bursts from the mobile station.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein scanning for the random access burst comprises:
 receiving one or more instructions from the base station; and   in response to the one or more instructions, scanning on a random access channel for random access bursts from the mobile station.   
     
     
         14 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . An apparatus for operating a relay station in a telecommunications system, the apparatus comprising:
 logic that scans for a random access burst that was broadcast by a mobile station;   logic that receives the random access burst;   logic that measures one or more characteristics of the received random access burst that are indicative of a quality of reception; and   logic that uses a direct link with a base station in the telecommunications system to communicate information indicative of the quality of reception.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , comprising:
 logic that, after information indicative of the quality of reception to the base station has been communicated, receives instructions from the base station, wherein the instructions instruct the relay station to establish a direct connection with the mobile station,   wherein the relay station uses the direct connection with the mobile station to relay communications exchanged between the mobile station and the base station.   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the logic that scans for the random access burst comprises:
 logic that scans continuously on a random access channel for random access bursts from the mobile station.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the logic that scans for the random access burst comprises:
 logic that receives one or more instructions from the base station; and   logic that, in response to the one or more instructions, scans on a random access channel for random access bursts from the mobile station.   
     
     
         37 - 46 . (canceled)