Communication Systems

A wireless communication system, comprising:

• a source apparatus, a destination apparatus and at least one intermediate apparatus, said source apparatus being operable to transmit information in a communication direction towards the destination apparatus either directly along a single communication link or indirectly along a communication path via the or each intermediate apparatus, and the or each intermediate apparatus being operable to receive information from a previous communication apparatus along said path in said communication direction and to transmit the received information to a subsequent apparatus along said path in said communication direction;
• establishing means operable, for a potential communication link between a particular said intermediate apparatus and another apparatus of the communication system, to establish whether said other apparatus is of a first type or of a second type different from said first type;
• determining means operable to determine whether said link is suitable for communication in a first mode or in a second mode in dependence upon the established type of said other apparatus;
• and
• concluding means operable, if it is determined that said potential link is suitable for communication in said first mode, to conclude a link initiation process in order to enable communication in said first mode along that link.

A computer program which, when executed on a computing device of a wireless communication system, causes the system to carry out a method of assessing a potential communication link, the system comprising a source apparatus, a destination apparatus and at least one intermediate apparatus, said source apparatus being operable to transmit information in a communication direction towards the destination apparatus either directly along a single communication link or indirectly along a communication path via the or each intermediate apparatus, and the or each intermediate apparatus being operable to receive information from a previous communication apparatus along said path in said communication direction and to transmit the received information to a subsequent apparatus along said path in said communication direction, the method comprising:

• for a potential communication link between a particular said intermediate apparatus and another apparatus of the communication system, establishing whether said other apparatus is of a first type or of a second type different from said first type;
• determining that said link is suitable for communication in a first mode or in a second mode in dependence upon the established type of said other apparatus;
• and
• if it is determined that said potential link is suitable for communication in said first mode, commencing a link initiation process in order to enable communication in said first mode along that link.

An intermediate apparatus for use in a wireless communication system, the system further comprising:

• a source apparatus and a destination apparatus, said source apparatus being operable to transmit information in a communication direction towards the destination apparatus either directly along a single communication link or indirectly along a communication path via the intermediate apparatus, and the intermediate apparatus being operable to receive information from a previous communication apparatus along said path in said communication direction and to transmit the received information to a subsequent apparatus along said path in said communication direction, the intermediate apparatus comprising:
• establishing means operable, for a potential communication link between the intermediate apparatus and another apparatus of the communication system, to establish whether said other apparatus is of a first type or of a second type different from said first type;
• determining means operable to determine whether said link is suitable for communication in a first mode or in a second mode in dependence upon the established type of said other apparatus;
• and
• concluding means operable, if it is determined that said potential link is suitable for communication in said first mode, to conclude a link initiation process in order to enable communication in said first mode along that link.