Relay systems and methods for wireless networks

A wireless station operable to transmit at a first station-transmission power level during a first time period and a second station-transmission power level during a second time period, the second station-transmission poser level being a reduced station-transmission power level as compared to the first station-transmission power level, the wireless station comprising:

• a memory configured to store program code;
• a communication interface configured to exchange data with external devices;
• and
• a processor communicatively coupled to the memory and the communication interface, the processor configured to execute the program code to:
• determine that a wireless network provides relay service, the wireless network comprising an access point and one or more relay nodes;
• transmit, via the communication interface, a relay-service desirability indication to the access point;
• receive, via the communication interface, a relay-service confirmation from the access point;
• and
• transmit, via the communication interface, an uplink transmission at the second station-transmission power level responsive to the relay-service confirmation from the access point.