Base station, mobile station, communication system, and communication method

A base station communicating with a mobile station that receives downlink data from the base station and that transmits uplink data to a second base station, the base station comprising:

• a data transmitter configured to transmit the downlink data to the mobile station;
• a control information receiver configured to receive from the mobile station through a direct path or a path passing through the second base station, feedback information concerning the downlink data transmitted by the data transmitter;
• a path selector configured to select, as a feedback path, the direct path or the path from the mobile station to the base station via the second base station;
• a measuring unit configured to measure propagation quality of an uplink from the mobile station to the base station;
• and
• a receiver configured to receive from the second base station, quality information indicative of propagation quality of an uplink from the mobile station to the second base station, wherein
• the path selector, based on the propagation quality measured by the measuring unit and the quality information received by the receiver, selects the feedback path, and
• the control information receiver receives the feedback information through the selected feedback path, wherein
• the path selector selects the feedback path according to a type of the feedback information,
• wherein the path selector determines an exploitability of the feedback path passing through the second base station,
• determines that the feedback path passing through the second base station is unexploitable, when an inter-station connection with the second base station is impossible, and
• selects the direct path as the feedback path when the feedback path passing through the second base station is unexploitable.

A communication system comprising:

• a first base station;
• and
• a mobile station that receives downlink data from the first base station and transmits uplink data to a second base station different from the first base station,
• the mobile station comprising:
• a data receiver configured to receive the downlink data from the first base station;
• a data transmitter configured to transmit the uplink data to the second base station;
• a control information transmitter configured to transmit to the first base station through a direct path or a first path passing through the second base station, first feedback information concerning the downlink data received by the data receiver;
• and
• a control information receiver configured to receive from the second base station through a second path passing through the first base station, second feedback information concerning the uplink data transmitted by the data transmitter;
• and
• the first base station comprising:
• a data transmitter configured to transmit the downlink data to the mobile station;
• a control information receiver configured to receive from the mobile station through the direct path or the first path passing through the second base station, the first feedback information concerning the downlink data transmitted by the data transmitter;
• and
• a path selector configured to select, as a feedback path, the direct path or the path from the mobile station through the first path, wherein
• the control information receiver receives the feedback information through the feedback path selected by the path selector and the path selector selects the feedback path according to a type of the feedback information
• wherein the path selector determines an exploitability of the first path passing through the second base station,
• determines that the first path passing through the second base station is unexploitable, when an inter-station connection with the second base station is impossible, and
• selects the direct path as the feedback path when the first path passing through the second base station is unexploitable.

A communication method of a base station communicating with a mobile station that receives downlink data from the base station and that transmits uplink data to a second base station, the communication method comprising:

• transmitting the downlink data to the mobile station;
• receiving from the mobile station through a path, feedback information concerning the transmitted downlink data;
• and
• selecting, as the path, a direct path or a path from the mobile station to the base station via the second base station, according to a type of the feedback information,
• the feedback information is received through the selected path, wherein selecting the path comprises:
• determining an exploitability of the path passing through the second base station,
• determining that the path passing through the second base station is unexploitable, when an inter-station connection with the second base station is impossible, and
• selecting the direct path as the selected path when the path passing through the second base station is unexploitable.

A communication method of a communication system including a mobile station that receives downlink data from a first base station and transmits uplink data to a second base station different from the first base station, the communication method comprising:

• the mobile station,
• receiving the downlink data from the first base station;
• transmitting the uplink data to the second base station;
• transmitting to the first base station through a first path, first feedback information concerning the received downlink data;
• and
• receiving from the second base station through a second path passing through the first base station, second feedback information concerning the transmitted uplink data;
• and
• the first base station,
• transmitting the downlink data to the mobile station;
• receiving from the mobile station through the first path, the first feedback information concerning the transmitted downlink data;
• and
• selecting, as the first path, a direct path or a path from the mobile station to the first base station via the second base station according to a type of the first feedback information,
• the first feedback information is received through the selected path,
• wherein selecting the path comprises:
• determining an exploitability of the path passing through the second base station,
• determining that the path passing through the second base station is unexploitable, when an inter-station connection with the second base station is impossible, and
• selecting the direct path as the path when the path passing through the second base station is unexploitable.