Network-relay signaling for downlink transparent relay

Abstract

In a method of providing downlink retransmissions to a mobile station in a wireless communication network, the wireless communication network comprising a base station communicatively linked to a transparent relay station, the base station receives a request for a retransmission from the mobile station; schedules resources for the retransmission; signals scheduling information for the retransmission to the transparent relay station via a control link; and the transparent relay station receives the scheduling information for the retransmission on the control link; and sends the retransmission to the mobile station in a retransmit subframe on a retransmit frequency band.

1 . A method of providing DL retransmissions to a mobile station in a wireless communication network, said wireless communication network comprising a base station communicatively linked to a transparent relay station, said method comprising:
 at said base station:
 receiving a request for a retransmission from said mobile station; 
 scheduling resources for said retransmission; 
 signalling scheduling information for said retransmission to said transparent relay station via a control link; 
   at said transparent relay station:
 receiving said scheduling information for said retransmission on said control link; and 
 sending said retransmission to said mobile station in a retransmit subframe on a retransmit frequency band. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, at said base station, sending said retransmission to said mobile station in said retransmit subframe on said retransmit frequency band. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said control link occupies said retransmit frequency band. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said control link occupies a designated frequency band, said designated frequency band being different than said retransmit frequency band. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  or  claim 4 , wherein said signalling said scheduling information for said retransmission occurs in a scheduling subframe, and said retransmit subframe is consecutive to said scheduling subframe. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said signalling said scheduling information for said retransmission occurs in said retransmit subframe. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said designated frequency band is the 2.5 GHz band. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising, at said base station, identifying said mobile station as requiring relay assistance prior to said scheduling said resources for said retransmission. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said identifying said mobile station as requiring relay assistance comprises identifying said mobile station as being near a cell edge. 
     
     
         10 . A base station in a wireless communication network, said base station comprising a controller operable to:
 receive a request for a retransmission from a mobile station;   schedule resources for said retransmission;   signal scheduling information for said retransmission to a transparent relay station via a control link; and   wherein said signalling of said scheduling information enables said transparent relay station to send said retransmission to said mobile station in a retransmit subframe on a retransmit frequency band.   
     
     
         11 . The base station of  claim 11 , wherein said controller is further operable to send said retransmission to said mobile station in said retransmit subframe on said retransmit frequency band. 
     
     
         12 . The base station of  claim 12 , wherein said control link occupies said retransmit frequency band. 
     
     
         13 . The base station of  claim 12 , wherein said control link occupies a designated frequency band, said designated frequency band being different than said retransmit frequency band. 
     
     
         14 . The base station of  claim 13  or  14 , wherein said signalling said scheduling information for said retransmission occurs in a scheduling subframe, and said retransmit subframe is consecutive to said scheduling subframe. 
     
     
         15 . The base station of  claim 14 , wherein said signalling said scheduling information for said retransmission occurs in said retransmit subframe. 
     
     
         16 . The base station of  claim 14 , wherein said designated frequency band is the 2.5 GHz band. 
     
     
         17 . The base station of  claim 12 , wherein said controller is further operable to identify said mobile station as requiring relay assistance prior to said scheduling said resources for said retransmission. 
     
     
         18 . The base station of  claim 19 , wherein said identifying said mobile station as requiring relay assistance comprises identify said mobile station as being near a cell edge. 
     
     
         19 . A transparent relay station in a wireless communication network, said transparent relay station comprising a controller operable to:
 receive, on a control link from a base station, scheduling information for a retransmission to a mobile station; and   send said retransmission to said mobile station in said retransmit subframe on said retransmit frequency band.   
     
     
         20 . The transparent relay station of  claim 19 , wherein said control link occupies said retransmit frequency band. 
     
     
         21 . The transparent relay station of  claim 19 , wherein said control link occupies a designated frequency band, said designated frequency band being different than said retransmit frequency band. 
     
     
         22 . The transparent relay station of  claim 20  or  21 , wherein said receiving said scheduling information occurs in a scheduling subframe, and said retransmit subframe is consecutive to said scheduling subframe. 
     
     
         23 . The transparent relay station of  claim 21 , wherein said receiving said scheduling information occurs in said retransmit subframe. 
     
     
         24 . The transparent relay station of  claim 12 , wherein said designated frequency band is the 2.5 GHz band.