Simulcast controller, relay station, and communication method operated on simulcasting

A relay station of a wireless communication system for wireless communication according to a simulcast scheme, adapted to transmit an upstream signal received from a terminal device as a downstream signal from a plurality of relay stations, wherein

• the relay station comprising:
• a time server that supplies time-synchronized pulse data generated every second;
• a symbol counter that counts symbol periods used in communication, based on the pulse data;
• a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with the terminal device;
• a network communication unit that transfers the upstream signal to the simulcast controller, including in the upstream signal a first count value of the symbol counter that indicates a timing when synchronization with the upstream signal is established, and that receives, from the simulcast controller, a downstream signal for transmission from the relay station to the terminal device, with a second count value, calculated based on the first count value to indicate a timing of transmission of the downstream signal from the relay station to the terminal device, being included in the downstream signal, wherein
• the wireless communication unit starts transmitting the downstream signal based on the second count value.

A communication method whereby a plurality of relay stations relay communication between terminal devices according to a simulcast scheme, comprising:

• counting, using the plurality of relay stations, symbol periods used in communication, based on a timing of time-synchronized pulse data generated every second;
• receiving, using one of the relay stations, an upstream signal from a terminal device;
• determining a first count value, which is a count value of symbol periods, indicating a timing of synchronization with the upstream signal;
• transferring the upstream signal to the simulcast controller, by including the first count value in the upstream signal;
• calculating a second count value, which is a count value of symbol periods, indicating a timing of a downstream signal for transmission from the relay stations to the terminal device, based on the first count value included in the upstream signal;
• transferring, using the simulcast controller, the downstream signal to the plurality of relay stations, by including the second count value in the downstream signal;
• and
• starting, by using the relay stations, transmitting the downstream signal at a timing based on the second count value.