Apparatus and methods for relay-assisted uplink communication

An integrated circuit for a terminal device arranged to communicate with a base station via a relay device in a wireless communications system, the integrated circuit comprising:

• a control processor arranged to:
• transmit an access request message to the base station;
• receive an access request grant response from the base station;
• process the access request grant response and extract therefrom transmit power control information for transmissions to the relay device;
• generate and transmit a message-3 transmission at a first power level based on the transmit power control information;
• transmit subsequently a message to the relay device at a power level based on the first power level of the message-3 transmission on at least one physical uplink channel message.

A method for a terminal device arranged to communicate with a base station via a relay device in a wireless communications system, the method comprising:

• transmitting an access request message to the base station;
• receiving an access request grant response from the base station;
• processing the access request grant response and extract therefrom transmit power control information for transmissions to the relay device;
• generating and transmit a message-3 transmission at a first power level based on the transmit power control information;
• and
• transmitting subsequently a message to the relay device at a power level based on the first power level of the message-3 transmission on at least one physical uplink channel message.

A wireless communication system comprising:

• at least one terminal device;
• at least one base station;
• and
• at least one relay device for supporting communications between the at least one terminal device and the at least one base station, the at least one terminal device comprising:
• a transmitter arranged to transmit an access request message to the base station;
• a receiver arranged to receive an access request grant response from the base station;
• and
• a control processor operably coupled to the receiver and arranged to:
• process the access request grant response;
• extract transmit power control information therefrom for transmissions to the relay device;
• generate and transmit a message-3 transmission at a first power level based on the transmit power control information;
• and
• transmit subsequently a message to the relay device at a power level based on the first power level of the message-3 transmission on at least one physical uplink channel message.

A relay device for supporting communications between a terminal device and a base station in a wireless communications system, the relay device comprising:

• a transceiver;
• and
• a control processor operably coupled to the transceiver and arranged to:
• process a received access request message from the terminal device;
• extract information and determine therefrom a power delta value that is not based on a determination of pathloss between the relay device and the terminal device;
• generate a control element comprising the power delta value;
• and
• relay at least the control element to the base station;
• receive subsequently a message-3 transmission from the terminal device at a received power level based on the relayed control element;
• receive subsequently a message from the terminal device on at least one physical uplink channel message from the terminal device wherein a transmit power level of the at least one physical uplink channel is at substantially the same power as the received message-3 transmission.

An integrated circuit for a relay device supporting communications between a terminal device and a base station in a wireless communications system, the integrated circuit:

• a control processor arranged to:
• process a received access request message from the terminal device;
• extract information and determine therefrom a power delta value that is not based on a determination of pathloss between the relay device and the terminal device;
• generate a control element comprising the power delta value;
• and
• relay at least the control element to the base station;
• receive subsequently a message-3 transmission from the terminal device at a received power level based on the relayed control element;
• receive subsequently a message from the terminal device on at least one physical uplink channel message from the terminal device wherein a transmit power level of the at least one physical uplink channel is at substantially the same power as the received message-3 transmission.

A method of wirelessly communicating data from a terminal device to a base station via a relay device, the method comprising, at the relay device:

• receiving an access request message from the terminal device;
• processing a received access request message from the terminal device;
• extracting information and determine therefrom a power delta value that is not based on a determination of pathloss between the relay device and the terminal device;
• generating a control element comprising the power delta value;
• and
• relaying at least the control element to the base station;
• receiving subsequently a message-3 transmission from the terminal device at a received power level based on the relayed control element;
• receiving subsequently a message from the terminal device on at least one physical uplink channel message from the terminal device wherein a transmit power level of the at least one physical uplink channel is at substantially the same power as the received message-3 transmission.