Architecture for termination at access device

A donor access node, comprising:

• a processor configured such that the donor access node receives context information from a relay node, the donor access node communicating with a user equipment (UE) via the relay node, and further such that the donor access node uses the context information to identify data packets that belong to the UE,
• wherein the context information includes at least one of:
• a UE logical flow identifier;
• or
• relay node radio bearer configuration information,
• wherein the UE logical flow identifier is mapped to a combination of a UE and a radio bearer through radio resource signaling between the donor access node and the relay node,
• wherein the mapping is encoded in at least one RRC message;
• and
• wherein the donor access node is configured to support handing over the UE to a target access node using at least one of:
• a proxy S1 termination point at the access node;
• or
• an early S1 path switch from a first S1 path to a second Si path, the first S1 path being terminated at the donor access and the second S1 path being terminated at the target access node and wherein the early S1 path switch comprises sending a path switch request before the handover of the UE to the target access node is complete.

A method for handing over a user equipment (UE), comprising:

• a relay node sending context information to a donor access node with which the UE is in communication via the relay node, wherein the donor access node uses the context information to identify data packets that belong to the UE,
• wherein the relay nodes sends the context information in a handover request message to the donor access node,
• wherein the context information includes at least one of:
• a UE logical flow identifier;
• or
• relay node radio bearer configuration information,
• wherein the UE logical flow identifier is mapped to a combination of a UE and a radio bearer through radio resource signaling between the donor access node and the relay node,
• wherein the mapping is encoded in at least one RRC message;
• and
• wherein the donor access node is configured to support handing over the UE to a target access node using at least one of:
• a proxy S1 termination point at the access node;
• or
• an early S1 path switch from a first S1 path to a second S1 path, the first S1 path being terminated at the donor access and the second S1 path being terminated at the target access node and wherein the early S1 path switch comprises sending a path switch request before the handover of the UE to the target access node is complete.

A relay node, comprising:

• a processor configured such that the relay node sends context information to a donor access node that is in communication with a user equipment (UE) via the relay node, the donor access node using the context information to identify data packets that belong to the UE,
• wherein the relay nodes sends the context information in a handover request message to the donor access node,
• wherein the context information includes at least one of:
• a UE logical flow identifier;
• or
• relay node radio bearer configuration information,
• wherein the UE logical flow identifier is mapped to a combination of a UE and a radio bearer through radio resource signaling between the donor access node and the relay node,
• wherein the mapping is encoded in at least one RRC message;
• and
• wherein the donor access node is configured to support handing over the UE to a target access node using at least one of:
• a proxy S1 termination point at the access node;
• or
• an early S1 path switch from a first S1 path to a second S1 path, the first S1 path being terminated at the donor access and the second S1 path being terminated at the target access node and wherein the early S1 path switch comprises sending a path switch request before the handover of the UE to the target access node is complete.