# US 9,439,195 B1 · Systems and methods for managing communication of an access node and a relay node > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,439,195 B1 - Document ID: US9439195B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/329,252 - Filed: 2014-07-11 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2014-07-11 - Assignees: Sprint Spectrum L.P. - Applicants: Sprint Spectrum LP - Inventors: Daniel Vivanco - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9439195B1 ## CPC - H04W 72/0453: Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA - H04B 7/15: Active relay systems - H04B 7/15542: {Selecting at relay station its transmit and receive resources (selection of wireless resources by user or terminal H04W72/02; arrangements affording multiple use of the transmission path by two-dimensional division of the resources H04L5/0003, or by allocating sub-channels H04L5/003)} - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - H04B: TRANSMISSION ## Abstract Systems and methods are described for managing communications of an access node and a relay node. A utilization of a first frequency band that is used for communication between a relay node and wireless devices may be monitored. The relay node may also communicate with an access node to connect to a network. It may be determined that the monitored utilization meets a utilization criteria. One of a second frequency band and a third frequency band may be selected for the relay node based on the determination that the monitored utilization meets the utilization criteria. The selected frequency band may be allocated for communication between the relay node and wireless devices. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for managing frequency bands at access nodes, the method comprising: monitoring a utilization of a first frequency band that is used for communication between a relay node and wireless devices, wherein the relay node communicates with an access node to connect to a network; determining that the monitored utilization meets a utilization criteria; selecting at least one of a second frequency band and a third frequency band for the relay node based on the determination that the monitored utilization meets the utilization criteria, a capacity of the first frequency band, a capacity of the second frequency band, and a capacity of the third frequency band; and allocating the selected frequency band for communication between the relay node and wireless devices. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: selecting at least one of the second frequency band and the third frequency band for the relay node and at least one of the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band for the access node based on the monitored utilization meeting a utilization criteria, wherein a frequency band that is selected for the relay node is not selected for the access node; allocating at least one frequency band selected for the relay node for communication between the relay node and wireless devices; and allocating at least one frequency band selected for the access node for communication between the access node and wireless devices. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising: allocating one of the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band for communication between the access node and the relay node, wherein the frequency band allocated for communication between the access node and the relay node is not allocated for communication between the relay node and wireless devices. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the second frequency band is allocated for communication between the relay node and wireless devices based on the monitored utilization. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: allocating the third frequency band for communication between the access node and the relay node. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein all of the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band are allocated for at least one of communication between the relay node and wireless devices, communication between the access node and wireless devices, or communication between the relay node and the access node. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein selecting at least one of the second frequency band and the third frequency band for the relay node is based on a determination that a remaining capacity of the unselected frequency bands is sufficient for communicating between the relay node and the access node when the relay node communicates with wireless devices using the selected frequency band. ### Claim 8 A system for managing frequency bands at access nodes, the system comprising: a controller with a process, the controller configured to: monitor a utilization of a first frequency band that is used for communication between a relay node and wireless devices, wherein the relay node communicates with an access node to connect to a network; determine that the monitored utilization meets a utilization criteria; select at least one of a second frequency band and a third frequency band for the relay node based on the determination that the monitored utilization meets the utilization criteria, a capacity of the first frequency band, a capacity of the second frequency band, and a capacity of the third frequency band; and allocate the selected frequency band for communication between the relay node and wireless devices. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to: select at least one of the second frequency band and the third frequency band for the relay node and at least one of the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band for the access node based on the monitored utilization meeting a utilization criteria, wherein a frequency band that is selected for the relay node is not selected for the access node; allocate at least one frequency band selected for the relay node for communication between the relay node and wireless devices; and allocate at least one frequency band selected for the access node for communication between the access node and wireless devices. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the controller is further configured to: allocating one of the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band for communication between the access node and the relay node, wherein the frequency band allocated for communication between the access node and the relay node is not allocated for communication between the relay node and wireless devices. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the second frequency band is allocated for communication between the relay node and wireless devices based on the monitored utilization. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to: allocate the third frequency band for communication between the access node and the relay node. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein all of the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band are allocated for at least one of communication between the relay node and wireless devices, communication between the access node and wireless devices, or communication between the relay node and the access node. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein selecting at least one of the second frequency band and the third frequency band for the relay node is based on a determination that a remaining capacity of the unselected frequency bands is sufficient for communicating between the relay node and the access node when the relay node communicates with wireless devices using the selected frequency band. ### Claim 15 A method for managing frequency bands at access nodes, the method comprising: monitoring a utilization of a first frequency band that is used for communication between a relay node and wireless devices, wherein the relay node communicates with an access node to connect to a network; determining that the monitored utilization meets a utilization criteria; selecting at least one of a second frequency band and a third frequency band for the relay node based on the determination that the monitored utilization meets the utilization criteria; selecting at least one of the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band for the access node based on the monitored utilization meeting a utilization criteria, wherein a frequency band that is selected for the relay node is not selected for the access node; allocating at least one frequency band selected for the relay node for communication between the relay node and wireless devices; and allocating at least one frequency band selected for the access node for communication between the access node and wireless devices. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, further comprising: allocating one of the first frequency band, the second frequency band, and the third frequency band for communication between the access node and the relay node, wherein the frequency band allocated for communication between the access node and the relay node is not allocated for communication between the relay node and wireless devices and is not allocated for communication between the access node and wireless devices.