Method and system for a wireless multi-hop relay network

#The invention relates to wireless signalling protocols and systems.

#WiMAX is described in the IEEE 802.16 Wireless Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) standard. WiMAX allows for high-speed wireless data transmissions over long distances.

#The core components of an 802.16 network are base stations (BS) and subscriber stations ((SS), sometimes referred to as mobile stations (MS)). The IEEE 802.16-2005 standard (formerly named but still known as IEEE 802.16e or Mobile WiMAX) is designed to support Point-to-Multipoint (PMP).

#Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings in which:

#FIG. 1A is a pictorial diagram of a point-to-multi-point (PMP) network;

#FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of a very simple PMP network;

#A wireless multi-hop relay access network is described herein. In a multi-hop relay access network, relay stations (RS's) are introduced for fixed, nomadic and mobile relay usage. The functional scope of a relay station can scale from being very simple such as an analog signal repeater, to a base station compliant fully functional device capable of radio resource scheduling, security authentication and connection management for mobile stations, in case a base station fails.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a very simple two-tier PMP relay network in which RS 62 and RS 63 supports PMP transmission to the attached SS and conducts relay functions between BS and SS. At the tree trunk level, BS 60 communicates with RS 62 and RS 63. RS 62 in turn communicates with SS 65 and SS 66. Similarly, RS 63 communicates with SS 67 and RS 68. RS 68 communicates with SS 69.

#Through the use of a PMP multi-hop relay protocol, a payload can, for example, be delivered from BS 60 to SS 69 through RS 63 and RS 68. FIG. 2 is only one example of a PMP multi-hop relay network which can be used with the present invention. It is to be understood that the number of RS's and SS's in the network can vary from that shown in FIG. 2. The example of FIG. 2 is a tree topology, and this is assumed for the details that follow.