Radioterminals and operating methods that receive multiple measures of information from multiple sources

Abstract

A radioterminal includes a receiver that is configured to receive information from a base station by receiving a first measure of the information from the base station and a second measure of the information from a second device. The second device receives a measure of the information from the base station, responsively generates the second measure of the information and transmits the second measure of the information to the radioterminal over a short-range wireless link. Related methods are also described.

1 . A radioterminal comprising:
 a receiver that is configured to receive information from a base station by receiving a first measure of the information from the base station and a second measure of the information from a second device;   wherein the second device receives a measure of the information from the base station, responsively generates the second measure of the information and transmits the second measure of the information to the radioterminal over a short-range wireless link.   
     
     
         2 . A radioterminal according to  claim 1  wherein the second device is a radioterminal. 
     
     
         3 . A radioterminal according to  claim 1  wherein the base station transmits the information to the radioterminal co-channel with second information that the base station transmits to a second radioterminal, and wherein the radioterminal is configured to receive and decode the information that is co-channel with the second information. 
     
     
         4 . A radioterminal according to  claim 1  further comprising a transmitter that is configured to transmit return-link information to the base station co-channel with second return-link information that a second radioterminal transmits to the base station, and wherein the base station is configured to receive and decode the return-link information that is co-channel with the second return-link information. 
     
     
         5 . A radioterminal according to  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of antenna elements. 
     
     
         6 . A radioterminal operating method comprising:
 receiving information from a base station by receiving a first measure of the information from the base station and a second measure of the information from a second device over a short-range wireless link;   wherein the second device receives a measure of the information from the base station, responsively generates the second measure of the information and transmits the second measure of the information to the radioterminal over the short-range wireless link.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the second device is a radioterminal. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6  further comprising:
 transmitting the information from the base station to the radioterminal co-channel with second information that the base station transmits to a second radioterminal; and   receiving and decoding the information that is co-channel with the second information at the radioterminal.   
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 6  further comprising:
 transmitting return-link information to the base station co-channel with second return-link information that a second radioterminal transmits to the base station, wherein the base station is configured to receive and decode the return-link information that is co-channel with the second return-link information.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 6  wherein the radioterminal comprises a plurality of antenna elements.