Insertion of signals by an intermediate device

Abstract

A method is performed by an intermediate device in a multi-hop wireless network. The method includes receiving a transmission to forward to another device and synchronizing with the transmission based on a format of the transmission. The method further includes selecting a resource portion of the transmission based on information included in the transmission or information previously received, and inserting a signal in the selected resource portion of the transmission. The method also includes forwarding the transmission that includes the signal to the other device.

1 .- 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method performed by an intermediate device in a multi-hop wireless network, comprising:
 receiving a transmission to forward to a device;   synchronizing with the transmission based on a format of the transmission;   selecting a resource portion of the transmission based on information included in the transmission or information previously received;   inserting a signal in the selected resource portion of the transmission; and   forwarding the transmission that includes the signal to the device.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising identifying the format of the transmission. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the signal includes a reference signal or a control signal. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the reference signal includes at least one of a cell-specific reference signal, a dedicated reference signal, a sounding reference signal, and a multimedia/multicast single frequency network reference signal. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the control signal includes information relating to beamforming. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the signal includes information relating to at least one of channel estimation, demodulation, power control, mobility measurement, handover, and timing control. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the intermediate device includes a repeater. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the intermediate device operates according to a long term evolution standard. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the information previously received includes a resource grant to the intermediate device. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the information previously received includes a coordination with another device, the coordination including information that the intermediate device uses for selecting the resource portion of the transmission. 
     
     
         32 . An intermediate device in a multi-hop wireless network, comprising:
 at least one antenna; and   a processing system configured to:
 receive a transmission to forward to a device; 
 synchronize with the transmission; 
 select a portion of the transmission based on a transmission coordination that provides at least one of a format of the transmission or resources available in the transmission; 
 insert a signal in the selected portion of the transmission; and 
 forward the transmission that includes the signal to the device. 
   
     
     
         33 . The intermediate device of  claim 32 , wherein the transmission includes an uplink transmission or a downlink transmission. 
     
     
         34 . The intermediate device of  claim 32 , wherein the transmission coordination includes a grant by the device. 
     
     
         35 . The intermediate device of  claim 32 , wherein the device includes at least one of a base station, a base station controller, a gateway, a bridge, a router, a relay, and a switch. 
     
     
         36 . The intermediate device of  claim 32 , wherein the device includes a user equipment. 
     
     
         37 . The intermediate device of  claim 32 , wherein the intermediate device includes a repeater or a relay. 
     
     
         38 . The intermediate device of  claim 32 , wherein the processing system is further configured to receive the transmission coordination from another device, and the transmission is received from the other device. 
     
     
         39 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a stored computer program including instructions to:
 receive a transmission to forward to a communication device;   synchronize with at least one of a frequency and a time of the transmission;   select a resource portion of the transmission based on a format of the transmission or a transmission coordination that includes information indicating the resource portion of the transmission that is unused;   insert a control signal or a reference signal in the selected resource portion of the transmission; and   initiate forwarding of the transmission that includes the control signal or the reference signal to the communication device.   
     
     
         40 . The computer program of  claim 39 , where the computer program is stored on a computer-readable medium. 
     
     
         41 . The computer program of  claim 39 , wherein the computer program is executed by a repeater in a wireless communication system. 
     
     
         42 . The computer program of  claim 39 , wherein the format of the transmission corresponds to a long term evolution format, and the transmission is received from another communication device and includes at least one reference signal or at least one control signal.