Architecture and method of relay node RF for carrier aggregation

A relay node supporting carrier aggregation (CA) comprising multiple component carriers (CCs), the relay node comprising:

• a first antenna for performing communication with a base station through a backhaul link;
• a plurality of backhaul link radio frequency (RF) chains connected with the first antenna, for transmitting and receiving a radio signal for backhaul link transmission;
• a second antenna for performing communication with a user equipment through an access link;
• a plurality of access link RF chains connected with the second antenna, for transmitting and receiving a radio signal for access link transmission;
• and
• a control unit controlling the plurality of backhaul link RF chains and the plurality of access link RF chains to share at least a part of RF components between the backhaul link RF chains and the access link RF chains,
• wherein RF chains for the multiple CCs are configured for each of the CCs, and a carrier frequency for the backhaul link and a carrier frequency for the access link are selectively applied to each of the RF chains for the multiple CCs depending on time, and
• wherein RF receive chains among the RF chains configured for each of the CCs share a single low noise amplifier (LNA).