# US 10,122,438 B2 · Systems, methods and devices for modifying relay operation of a wireless device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,438 B2 - Document ID: US10122438B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/527,232 - Filed: 2014-10-29 - Published: 2015-05-07 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-11-01 - Assignees: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Applicants: QUALCOMM Incorporated - Inventors: Amin Jafarian; Luiza Timariu; George Cherian; Ronald Houston Gibson, Jr.; Abhishek Pramod Patil; Santosh Paul Abraham - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122438B2 ## CPC - H04B 7/15557: {Selecting relay station operation mode, e.g. between amplify and forward mode, decode and forward mode or FDD - and TDD mode} - H04W 88/04: adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Systems, methods and devices for modifying relay operation of a wireless device are disclosed. In one aspect an apparatus for modifying relay operation of a wireless node comprises a processing system configured to generate a message requesting the wireless node to enable access point operation of the wireless node or instructing the wireless node to disable the access point operation of the wireless node. The message comprises a relay activation information element. The message comprises one or more of a field indicating a time for the wireless node to enable the access point operation or disable the access point operation and a field indicating whether the message is requesting the wireless node to enable the access point operation or instructing the wireless node to disable the access point operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for modifying relay operation of a wireless node, the apparatus comprising: a processing system configured to generate a message requesting that the wireless node to enable access point operation of the wireless node for one or more stations coupled to the wireless node or instructing the wireless node to disable the access point operation of the wireless node for the one or more stations coupled to the wireless node, wherein wireless communication with the wireless node is enabled if the access point operation is disabled; and a communication circuit configured to transmit the message, via a downlink, to the wireless node via the wireless communication. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication circuit is further configured to receive a response message indicating compliance or non-compliance with the message requesting the wireless node to enable the access point operation. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a relay activation information element, wherein the processing system is further configured to set at least one bit in the relay activation information element to indicate the request or the instruction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication circuit is configured to embed the message in one of the following: a probe request frame, a probe response frame, an association request frame, an association response frame, and an action acknowledge frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a field indicating a time for the wireless node to enable the access point operation or disable the access point operation, wherein the processing system is further configured to set a value of the field to indicate the time. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message comprises a field for indicating a number of the one or more stations for which the wireless node provides the access point operation, wherein the processing system is further configured to set a value of the field to indicate the number. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing system is further configured to process a message from the wireless node announcing disabling the access point operation of the wireless node or requesting permission to enable the access point operation of the wireless node. ### Claim 8 A method for modifying relay operation of a wireless node, the method comprising: generating a message requesting that the wireless node to enable access point operation of the wireless node for one or more stations coupled to the wireless node or instructing the wireless node to disable the access point operation of the wireless node for one or more stations coupled to the wireless node, wherein wireless communication with the wireless node is enabled if the access point operation is disabled; and providing the message for transmission to the wireless node via a downlink on the wireless communication. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving a response message indicating compliance or non-compliance with the message requesting the wireless node to enable the access point operation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the message comprises a relay activation information element comprising at least one bit to indicate the request or the instruction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising embedding the message in one of the following: a probe request frame, a probe response frame, an association request frame, an association response frame, and an action acknowledge frame. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the message comprises a field indicating a time for the wireless node to enable the access point operation or disable the access point operation. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the message comprises a field indicating a number of the one or more stations for which the wireless node provides the access point operation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising processing a message from the wireless node announcing disabling the access point operation of the wireless node or requesting permission to enable the access point operation of the wireless node. ### Claim 15 An apparatus for modifying relay operation, the apparatus comprising: a processing system configured to generate a message requesting permission to enable access point operation of the apparatus for one or more stations coupled to the apparatus or announcing disabling the access point operation of the apparatus for the one or more stations coupled to the apparatus, wherein wireless communication with the apparatus is enabled if the access point operation is disabled; and a communication circuit configured to transmit the message, via an uplink and via the wireless communication. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the communication circuit is further configured to receive a response message granting or denying the permission to enable the access point operation of the apparatus. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the message comprises a relay activation information element, wherein the processing system is further configured to set at least one bit in the relay activation information element to indicate the request or the announcement. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the communication circuit is configured to embed the message in one of the following: a probe request frame, a probe response frame, an association request frame, an association response frame, and an action acknowledge frame. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the message comprises a field indicating a time to disable the access point operation of the apparatus or enable the access point operation of the apparatus, wherein the processing system is further configured to set a value of the field to indicate the time. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the message comprises a field indicating a number of the one or more stations for which the apparatus provides the access point operation, wherein the processing system is further configured to set a value of the field to indicate the number. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing system is further configured to generate at least one dissociation message for dissociating with at least one wireless node for which the apparatus provides the access point operation if the access point operation of the apparatus is disabled. ### Claim 22 A method performed by an apparatus for modifying relay operation of the apparatus, the method comprising: generating a message requesting permission to enable access point operation of the apparatus for one or more stations coupled to the apparatus or announcing disabling the access point operation of the apparatus for one or more stations coupled to the apparatus, wherein wireless communication with the apparatus is enabled if the access point operation is disabled; and providing the message for transmission via an uplink on the wireless communication, wherein wireless communication by the apparatus is enabled if the access point operation is disabled. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving a response message granting or denying the permission to enable the access point operation. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the message comprises a relay activation information element comprising at least one bit to indicate the request or the announcement. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising embedding the message in one of the following: a probe request frame, a probe response frame, an association request frame, an association response frame, and an action acknowledge frame. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the message comprises a field indicating a time to disable the access point operation or enable the access point operation. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the message comprises a field indicating a number of the one or more stations currently associated with the access point operation. ### Claim 28 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, further comprising generating at least one dissociation message for dissociating with at least one wireless node associated with the access point operation if the access point operation is disabled. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, the apparatus is configured as a wireless node. ### Claim 30 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the apparatus is configured as a wireless node.