Space time block code communications with co-operative relays

A user terminal for use in a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system comprising a source node and a relay node, the user terminal comprising:

• at least one antenna;
• wireless communication circuitry coupled to the at least one antenna, wherein the wireless communication is configured to use the at least one antenna to perform wireless communication;
• and
• processing hardware coupled to the wireless communication circuitry, wherein the processing hardware is configured to operate with the wireless communication circuitry and at least one antenna to:
• receive first RF signals from the relay node in the second channel, wherein the first RF signals represent a first set of data symbols;
• and
• receive second RF signals from the source node in the second channel, wherein the second RF signals represent a second set of data symbols, wherein the data symbols in the second set of data symbols are functions of the data symbols in the first set of data symbols;
• wherein the relay node transmitted the first RF signals in the second channel in response to receiving third RF signals representing the first set of data symbols in the first channel;
• decode data represented by the first and second sets of data symbols using the first and second RF signals.

A relay node for use in a wireless communications system, the wireless communications system comprising a source node and a destination node, wherein the relay node comprises:

• at least one antenna;
• wireless communication circuitry coupled to the at least one antenna, wherein the wireless communication is configured to use the at least one antenna to perform wireless communication;
• and
• processing hardware coupled to the wireless communication circuitry, wherein the processing hardware is configured to operate with the wireless communication circuitry and at least one antenna to:
• receive, from the source node, a first set of data symbols in a first channel of the wireless communications system;
• transmit, to the destination node, the first set of data symbols in a second channel of the wireless communications system,
• wherein the destination node is further configured to receive a second set of data symbols from the source node in the second channel, wherein the data symbols in the second set of data symbols are functions of the data symbols in the first set of data symbols.