Communications device, communications apparatus operating as a relay node, infrastructure equipment and methods

A communications device, the communications device comprising:

• a transmitter configured to transmit signals representing data to an infrastructure equipment of a mobile communications network via a first wireless access interface and to transmit signals via a second wireless access interface to one or more communications apparatus which can act as relay nodes;
• a receiver configured to receive signals from the infrastructure equipment of the mobile communications network via the first wireless access interface and to receive signals via the second wireless access interface from the one or more communications apparatus which can act as relay nodes;
• and
• a controller configured to control the transmitter and the receiver, wherein the controller is configured to form a relay assist request message and in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to
• transmit the relay assist request message on the second wireless access interface for reception by the one or more communications apparatus which can act as relay nodes to assist in communicating signals representing data to the infrastructure equipment via the first wireless access interface;
• receive from one of the one or more communications apparatus which can act as relay nodes a down-link access request message via the second wireless access interface, the down-link access request message including an identifier of the communications device
• confirm that the down-link access request message was directed to the communications device using the identifier of the communications device received with the down-link access request message;
• transmit an acknowledgement of receipt of the down-link access request message, to the communications apparatus acting as a relay node via the second wireless access interface and
• receive signals representing data from the communications apparatus acting as a relay node, via the second wireless access interface, the data having been transmitted to the relay node from the infrastructure equipment via the first wireless access interface.

A method of communicating using a communications device in a mobile communications network, the communications device being configured to transmit signals representing data to an infrastructure equipment of a mobile communications network via a first wireless access interface and to receive signals from the infrastructure equipment of the mobile communications network via the first wireless access interface, the method comprising:

• receiving from the infrastructure equipment via the first wireless access interface data representing a list of the one or more communications apparatus which can act as relay nodes for the communications device;
• forming a relay assist request message;
• transmitting the relay assist request message to one or more of the communications apparatus which can act as relay nodes which are identified in the list received from the infrastructure equipment via a second wireless access interface for reception by the one or more communications apparatus which can act as relay nodes to assist in communicating signals representing data to the infrastructure equipment via the first wireless access interface;
• receiving from at the least one of the communications apparatus, via the second wireless access interface, a relay response message providing an indication that the communications apparatus can act as a relay node for the communications device;
• and
• transmitting signals representing the data, for transmission to the infrastructure equipment, to the communications apparatus acting as a relay node via the second wireless access interface.

A communications apparatus configured to operate as a relay node, the communications apparatus comprising

• a receiver configured to receive signals from an infrastructure equipment of a mobile communications network via a first wireless access interface and to receive signals via a second wireless access interface from communications devices;
• a transmitter configured to transmit signals to the infrastructure equipment of the mobile communications network via the first wireless access interface and to transmit signals to the communications devices via the second wireless access interface;
• and
• a controller is configured in combination with the transmitter and the receiver to
• receive a relay assist request message via the second wireless access interface from one of the communications devices, the relay assist request message including an indication of an identifier of a cell of the mobile communications network served by the infrastructure equipment and representing a request to the communications apparatus to act as relay node to assist in communicating signals representing data received from the communications device for transmission to the infrastructure equipment via the first wireless access interface;
• compare the identifier of the cell received with the relay assist request message with an identifier of a cell of the communications network served by the infrastructure equipment acquired by the communications apparatus;
• if the identifier of the cell received with the relay assist request message is the same as the identifier of the cell acquired by the communications apparatus, transmit, via the second wireless access interface, a relay response message providing an indication that the communications apparatus can act as a relay node for the communications device;
• and
• receive signals representing data for transmission to the infrastructure equipment from the communications device via the second wireless access interface;
• and
• transmit to the infrastructure equipment via the first wireless access interface signals representing the data received from the communications device.