Communication Systems

Abstract

A transmission method for use in a multi-hop wireless communication system is provided. Furthermore, the system has access to a time-frequency format for use in assigning available transmission frequency bandwidth during a discrete transmission interval. The format defines a plurality of transmission windows within such an interval, where each window occupies a different part of that interval and has a frequency bandwidth profile within the available transmission frequency bandwidth over its part of that interval. Furthermore, each window being assignable for such a transmission interval to one of said apparatuses for use in transmission. The transmission method for use in this system includes employing said format for one or more such transmission intervals to transmit data and control information together along at least two consecutive said links as a set of successive transmission signals, link by link. Each said signal is transmitted in an available transmission window of said interval(s) and at least two of said signals are transmitted during the same said transmission interval such that said information is transmitted along said consecutive links in fewer transmission intervals than said number of consecutive links.

1 . A communication method used in a multi-hop radio communication system including a base station apparatus, intermediate apparatuses and a user equipment, said communication method comprising:
 providing a first transmission window and a second transmission window in a radio frame;   transmitting data from an intermediate apparatus which is an odd number of hops from said base station apparatus using said second transmission window and transmitting data from an intermediate apparatus which is an even number of hops from said base station apparatus using said first transmission window.   
   
   
       2 . The communication method according to  claim 1 , wherein said user equipment receives data from an intermediate apparatus corresponding to the last hop. 
   
   
       3 . The communication method according to  claim 1 , wherein said base station apparatus transmits data to an intermediate apparatus in the first hop of a downlink transmission using said first transmission window. 
   
   
       4 . The communication method according to  claim 1 , wherein said user equipment transmits data to an intermediate apparatus in the first hop of an uplink transmission. 
   
   
       5 . The communication method according to  claim 1 , wherein said base station apparatus receives data from an intermediate apparatus using said first transmission window in the last hop of an uplink transmission. 
   
   
       6 . The communication method according to  claim 1 , wherein said base station apparatus and said intermediate apparatuses except for an intermediate apparatus corresponding to the last hop of a downlink transmission transmit preamble, frame structure information or relay amble using corresponding transmission windows. 
   
   
       7 . The communication method according to  claim 1 , wherein an intermediate apparatus which is the furthest intermediate apparatus from the base station apparatus receives a downlink transmission using said first transmission window or said second transmission window but does not use said first transmission window and second transmission window for transmission to said user equipment. 
   
   
       8 . The communication method according to  claim 1 , wherein an intermediate apparatus which is the furthest intermediate apparatus from the base station apparatus does not transmit any relay amble. 
   
   
       9 . A multi-hop radio communication system comprising:
 a base station apparatus;   intermediate apparatuses;   a user equipment,   wherein a first transmission window and a second transmission window are provided in a radio frame and an intermediate apparatus, which is an odd number of hops from said base station apparatus is configured to transmit data using said second transmission window and an intermediate apparatus, which is an even number of hops from said base station apparatus is configured to transmit data using said first transmission window.   
   
   
       10 . A base station apparatus used in a multi-hop radio communication system including intermediate apparatuses, said base station apparatus comprising:
 a transmitting unit configured to transmit data to an intermediate apparatus in a first hop using a first transmission window in a radio frame wherein an intermediate apparatus, which is an odd number of hops from said base station apparatus, transmits data using a second transmission window in said radio frame and an intermediate apparatus, which is an even number of hops from said base station apparatus transmits data using said first transmission window in said radio frame.   
   
   
       11 . An intermediate apparatus used in a multi-hop radio communication system including intermediate apparatuses, said intermediate apparatus comprising:
 a transmitting unit configured to transmit data using either a first transmission window or a second transmission window in a radio frame in accordance with a hop number from a base station apparatus to said intermediate apparatus wherein an intermediate apparatus, which is an odd number of hops from said base station apparatus transmits data using said second transmission window in said radio frame and an intermediate apparatus, which is an even number of hops from said base station apparatus, transmits data using said first transmission window in said radio frame.   
   
   
       12 . A user equipment used in a multi-hop radio communication system including intermediate apparatuses, said user equipment comprising:
 a receiving unit configured to receive data from either an intermediate apparatus which is an odd number of hops from a base station and transmits data to the next intermediate apparatus using a second transmission window in a radio frame or an intermediate apparatus which is an even number of hops from a base station and transmits data to the next intermediate using a first transmission window in said radio frame, the intermediate apparatus transmitting said data to be received by said receiving unit being the furthest intermediate apparatus from the base station and transmitting to the user equipment in a further transmission window of said radio frame.