Apparatus and methods for extended base station range using staggered uplink frame structures

A method of operating a base station in a time-division multiplexed wireless communications system, the method comprising the steps of:

• transmitting first timing information to a terminal when the terminal is in a first range, the first timing information instructing the terminal to time its transmissions to arrive at the base station synchronized to a first series of frames;
• transmitting second timing information to the terminal when the terminal is in a second range, the second timing information instructing the terminal to time its transmissions to arrive at the base station synchronized with a second series of frames that is time-offset with respect to the first series of frames, wherein the first and second ranges overlap;
• and
• providing hysteresis in instructing the terminal to synchronize its transmissions to one of the first series of frames or the second series of frames when the terminal moves between the first and second ranges.

An apparatus in a time-division multiplexed wireless communications system, the apparatus comprising:

• means for instructing a first group of terminals to time their transmissions to arrive at a base station in synchronism with a first series of frames;
• means for instructing a second group of terminals to time their transmissions to arrive at the base station in synchronism with a second series of frames that is time-offset with respect to the first series of frames;
• and
• means for receiving transmissions from a terminal of the first group and from a terminal of the second group on a common carrier frequency in synchronism with respective ones of the first and second series of frames, wherein the first and second series of frames are multiplexed on the common carrier frequency.

A base station for a time-division multiplexed wireless communications system, the base station comprising:

• means for transmitting first timing information to a terminal when the terminal is in a first range with respect to a base station , the first timing information instructing the terminal to time its transmissions to arrive at the base station synchronized to a first series of frames;
• and
• means for transmitting second timing information to the terminal when the terminal is in a second range, the second timing information instructing the terminal to time its transmissions to arrive at the base station synchronized with a second series of frames that is time-offset with respect to the first series of frames,
• wherein the first and second ranges overlap, and
• wherein said means for transmitting first timing information and said means for transmitting second timing information provide hysteresis in instructing the terminal to synchronize its transmissions to one of the first series of frames or the second series of frames when the terminal moves between the first and second ranges.

A wireless communications apparatus, comprising:

• a base station operative to transmit first timing information that instructs a first group of terminals to time their transmissions to arrive at a base station in synchronism with a first series of frames, to transmit second timing information that instructs a second group of terminals to time their transmissions to arrive at the base station in synchronism with a second series of frames that is time-offset with respect to the first series of frames, and to receive transmissions from the first and second groups of terminals in synchronism with the respective first and second series of frames,
• wherein said base station is operative to transmit first timing information to a terminal when the terminal is in a first range with respect to a base station, the first timing information instructing the terminal to time its transmissions to arrive at the base station synchronized to a first series of frames, and to transmit second timing information to the terminal when the terminal is in a second range, the second timing information instructing the terminal to time its transmissions to arrive at the base station synchronized with a second series of frames that is time-offset with respect to the first series of frames,
• wherein the first and second ranges overlap, and
• wherein said base station provides hysteresis in instructing the terminal to synchronize its transmissions to one of the first series of frames or the second series of frames when the terminal moves between the first and second ranges.