Load status indicator for multihop relay system using distributed scheduling

Abstract

A method includes receiving at a relay node a load status indicator from a subordinate relay node, determining a load status of the relay node and forwarding the received load status indicator to a super-ordinate node if the determined load status does not indicate an overload condition, otherwise if the determined load status does indicate an overload condition sending a load status indicator of the relay node to the superordinate node. Another method includes, in a multihop relay network having a plurality of relay nodes, receiving over a communication link at a network access node a load status indicator from a relay node, the load status indicator identifying a nearest relay node, if any, at which a current load exceeds a threshold; and using the received load status indicator at least when making a network admission decision for a user equipment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.