Telecommunications system and method

A method for communicating data from and to a mobile device via a plurality of repeater nodes, the method comprising the steps of

• transmitting data in a downstream direction from a control node to the mobile device via one of more of the repeater nodes, and
• receiving data from the mobile device transmitted in an upstream direction from the mobile device to the control node via one or more of the repeater nodes, wherein the transmitting of the data in the downstream direction from the control node to the mobile device via one or more of the repeater nodes includes transmitting in accordance with a time frame divided into a plurality of time slots, and the receiving of the data in the upstream direction at the control node from the mobile device via one or more of the repeater nodes includes transmitting in the slots of the time frame, and the method includes
• allocating a control time slot in the time frame to the control node in order that the control node can communicate control data to the plurality of repeater nodes,
• communicating a node identity from each of the plurality repeater nodes to the control node,
• allocating each of the repeater nodes a time slot of the time frame in accordance with an order of the repeater nodes determined by the control node on the basis that one of the repeater node that transmits to one of the other repeater nodes in one of the upstream or the downstream directions is allocated a time slot which is a minimal time from the time slot in which the other repeater node transmits in the upstream or downstream direction,
• controlling the repeater nodes to transmit data in the allocated time slot, and
• reversing, with the control node, the repeater nodes and the mobile device, the order of time slots in one time frame with respect to the order of time slots in another time frame.

A repeater node for communicating data, the repeater node comprising

• a transceiver unit operable to transmit and receive data to or from one or more other repeater nodes or a control node or a mobile device within a predetermined range, and
• a processor operable to control the transceiver unit, wherein
• the transceiver unit is operable to transmit data in a downstream direction the downstream direction being from the control node to the mobile device and to receive data transmitted in an upstream direction, the upstream direction being from the mobile device, and
• to transmit the data in the downstream direction using a time frame divided into a plurality of time slots, and to communicate the data in the upstream direction using the time frame, and the processor is operable to control the transceiver unit to receive control data allocating one of the time slots in the frame to the repeater node, the times slots being allocated by the control node in accordance with an order of the repeater nodes determined by the control node on the basis that another repeater node that transmits to the repeater node in one of the upstream or the downstream directions is allocated a time slot which is a minimal time from the time slot allocated to the repeater node, and to change the other repeater node to which the repeater node transmits in one of the upstream or downstream directions in accordance with a reverse of the order.

A control node for communicating data to and from a mobile device, wherein

• the control node is operable to transmit data in a downstream direction from the control node to a mobile device or to a repeater node for transmission on to the mobile device and to receive data from the mobile device transmitted in an upstream direction from the mobile device or received from a repeater node to which the data has been transmitted from another repeater node or mobile device, and
• the control node is arranged to communicate the data in the downstream direction from the control node to the mobile device via one or more repeater nodes using a time frame divided into a plurality of time slots, and to receive data communicated in the upstream direction from the mobile device to the control node via one or more of the repeater nodes using the time frame, and
• the control node is operable to allocate time slots of the time frame to the repeater nodes in accordance with an order of the repeater nodes determined by the control node to the effect that each repeater nodes transmits to another repeater node in one of the upstream or the downstream directions in a time slot which is a minimal time from the time slot in which the other repeater node transmits in the upstream or downstream direction, and
• the control node, with the repeater nodes and the mobile device, is operable to reverse the order of the time slots in the time frame with respect to the order of the time slots in another time frame.

An apparatus for communicating data from and to a mobile device via a plurality of repeater nodes, the apparatus comprising

• means for transmitting data in a downstream direction from a control node to the mobile device via the repeater nodes, and
• means for receiving data from the mobile device transmitted in an upstream direction from the mobile device to the control node via the repeater nodes, wherein
• the means for transmitting the data in the downstream direction from the control node to the mobile device via one or more of the repeater nodes includes transmitting in accordance with a time frame divided into a plurality of time slots, and the receiving of the data in the upstream direction at the control node from the mobile device via one or more of the repeater nodes includes transmitting in the slots of the time frame, and the apparatus includes
• means for allocating a control time slot in the time frame to the control node in order that the control node can communicate control data to the plurality of repeater nodes,
• means for communicating a node identity from each of the plurality repeater nodes to the control node,
• means for allocating each of the repeater nodes a time slot of the time frame in accordance with an order of the repeater nodes determined by the control node on the basis that each repeater node that transmits to one of the other repeater nodes in one of the upstream or the downstream directions is allocated a time slot which is a minimal time from the time slot in which the other repeater node transmits in the upstream or downstream direction,
• means for arranging control of the repeater nodes to transmit data in the allocated time slot, and
• means for the control node, the repeater nodes and the mobile device to reverse the order of time slots in one time frame with respect to the order of time slots in another time frame.