Method and system for assigning antenna configurations for relay based hetnets

A method for assigning configurations of wireless devices within a communications network, the method comprising:

• prioritizing a wireless device;
• receiving, at an access node, a first signal corresponding to a relay-capable wireless device and a second signal corresponding to the prioritized wireless device;
• in response to a first signal strength of the first signal meeting a first criteria and a second signal strength of the second signal meeting a second criteria, assigning the relay-capable wireless device to a carrier aggregation configuration or an antenna diversity configuration;
• and
• in response to the second signal strength of the second signal strength meeting the second criteria, assigning the prioritized wireless device to the antenna diversity configuration or the carrier aggregation configuration.

A system for assigning configurations of wireless devices within a communications network, the system comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• prioritize a wireless device;
• receive, at an access node, a first signal corresponding to a relay-capable wireless device and a second signal corresponding to the prioritized wireless device;
• in response to a first signal strength of the first signal meeting a first criteria and a second signal strength of the second signal meeting a second criteria, assign the relay-capable wireless device to a carrier aggregation configuration or an antenna diversity configuration;
• and
• in response to the second signal strength of the second signal meeting the second criteria assign the prioritized wireless device to the antenna diversity configuration or the carrier aggregation configuration.