Communication Units and Methods for Relay-Assisted Uplink Communication

An integrated circuit for a relay device for supporting uplink communication between a terminal device and a base station, the integrated circuit comprising a control processor arranged to:

• monitor a downlink communication from the base station to the terminal device;
• determine therefrom at least one uplink resource to be used by the terminal device;
• configure the at least one receiver to receive the at least one uplink resource;
• receive an uplink message on the at least one uplink resource;
• determine therefrom uplink control information used by the terminal device;
• modify the uplink message on the at least one uplink resource;
• and
• relay the uplink message to the base station.

A method for supporting wirelessly communication from a terminal device to a base station via a relay device, the method comprising, at the relay device:

• monitoring a downlink communication from the base station to the terminal device;
• determining therefrom at least one uplink resource to be used by the terminal device;
• configuring at least one receiver of the relay device to receive the at least one uplink resource;
• receiving an uplink message on the at least one uplink resource;
• determining therefrom uplink control information used by the terminal device;
• modifying the uplink message on the at least one uplink resource;
• and
• relaying the uplink message to the base station.