In-band backhaul with layered division multiplexing

A relay transmitter station (RTS) for a wireless multicast communication system comprising a plurality of transmitter stations configured to transmit service data to users over a same carrier frequency, the RTS comprising:

• a receive (Rx) antenna configured to receive a relay signal comprising a first transmission (Tx) signal, the first Tx signal comprising a first (L1) signal layer and a second (L2) signal layer, wherein the L2 signal layer is superimposed over the L1 signal layer using layered division multiplexing (LDM), wherein the L1 signal layer comprises L1 service signals carrying first service data, wherein the first Tx signal further includes in-band backhaul (IBBH) signals comprising backhaul service data;
• a relay signal processor configured to extract the backhaul service data from the received relay signal;
• and
• a Tx antenna configured to transmit a second Tx signal comprising the backhaul service data.

A method for operating a wireless multicast communication system (MCS) comprising a plurality of transmitter stations (TSs) configured to transmit services to end-users, the method comprising:

• at a first TS from the plurality of TSs,
• generating a first transmission (Tx) signal carrying service signals to end users using layered division multiplexing (LDM), the first Tx signal including in-band backhaul (IBBH) signals carrying backhaul service data, and
• wirelessly transmitting the first Tx signal;
• at a second TS from the plurality of TSs,
• wirelessly receiving a relay signal comprising the first Tx signal;
• performing channel estimation to detect the IBBH signals in the first Tx signal;
• retrieving the backhaul service data contained in the IBBH signals;
• and,
• wirelessly transmitting a second Tx signal comprising the backhaul service data.