Abstract: A repeater having different input and output frequencies converts a signal received with the input frequency to a first intermediate frequency signal based on a local oscillating frequency for intermediate frequency conversion, and converts the first intermediate frequency signal to a second intermediate frequency signal by performing digital processing on the first intermediate frequency signal. Then, the repeater generates a first frequency tone signal that corresponds to a difference between the input and output frequencies, and generates a second frequency tone signal from the local oscillating frequency for intermediate frequency conversion and the first frequency tone signal. The repeater up-converts the second intermediate frequency signal to the output frequency based on the second frequency tone signal, and transmits the signal.

Abstract: A communication apparatus includes an operation module configured for communication with a wireless message repeater, e.g., a rail vehicle distributed power message repeater. The wireless message repeater is of the type having an antenna system, a receiver for receiving an incoming message, and a transmitter for transmitting a repeat message of the incoming message. The operation module is further configured to assess operation of the message repeater by comparing a feedback signal to the incoming message. The feedback signal may comprise part of a signal energy of the transmitted repeat message as received by the receiver.

Abstract: A method for communicating data from a source to a destination using a plurality of relay stations in a wireless communication system is provided. The method comprises grouping the plurality of relay stations into at least one relay station group; receiving in a relay station group a subset of data transmitted from the source; sharing information between relay stations in the relay station group for forwarding to the destination the received subset of data transmitted from the source; determining a forwarding scheme for transmitting the received subset of data; and transmitting the received subset of data to the destination using the forwarding scheme.

Abstract: The Present Invention Provides an Antenna Network for Passively or Actively enhancing signal transmission or reception of one or more portable transceiver devices. The antenna network includes one or more antennas, each having a coupling portion and a radiating portion, the coupling portion being distributed across a coupling area and the radiating portion being located away from the coupling area, whereby signal transmission or reception of the one or more portable transceiver devices can occur through the radiating portion when the one or more portable transceiver devices are located within the coupling area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a resource allocation device for minimizing delay of an uplink retransmission resource allocation process in a wireless communication system having a high data rate, and a method thereof. In the method, user data are received and an ACK/NACK state of the received data is determined, and when the NACK state of the received data is determined, retransmission resource allocation is requested, retransmission resources are allocated, and retransmission resource allocation information is generated to be transmitted.

Abstract: A mobile communication system includes a base station and a relay station. The relay station acquires a donor cell list indicating at least one candidate cell that can be used for a backhaul link. The relay station or the base station determine a donor cell used for the backhaul link from the donor cell list based on both first and second cell management information. The first cell management information relates to the at least one candidate cell and originates from the at least one base station. The second cell management information originates from the relay station.

Abstract: A hub unit is configured to receive wireless analog downlink radio frequency signals from a plurality of base stations from more than one wireless service provider. The hub unit is configured to digitize each analog downlink radio frequency signal in order to generate respective downlink digital data. The hub unit comprises a reconfigurable interconnect to selectively provide, to each of the plurality of radio access nodes using a shared transport medium, the downlink digital data associated with a respective two or more of the analog downlink radio frequency signals. Each of the plurality of radio access nodes is configured to reconstruct, from the downlink digital data provided to that radio access node, an analog radio frequency version of each of the associated two or more analog downlink radio frequency signals and radiate each reconstructed analog radio frequency version in a respective coverage area associated with that radio access node.

Abstract: A method for inter relay interference coordination (IRIC) by a first relay node in a wireless communications system is described. A second relay node is communicated with over a relay interface. A first set of user equipment (UE) communication settings is received over the relay interface that correspond to the second relay node. A second set of UE communication settings is determined that correspond to the first relay node. The second set of UE communication settings are based on the first set of UE communication settings.

Abstract: A method is devoted to synchronizing the transmission of user signals within a single-frequency hybrid network comprising at least one transmission satellite (SAT) and regenerative emitters (E1-E6) tasked with retransmitting received user signals to user terminals (T1, T2), using the same frequency and the same waveform. This method consists of temporally shifting, with respect to a time marker (TM) corresponding to the moment when a chosen element of the user signals arrives at a terrestrial reference arc (RA) from said satellite (SAT), the moment when the user signals received by each emitter (E1-E6) are retransmitted, by a local duration which is a function of the respective positions of the emitter and the satellite (SAT) with respect to a chosen reference position (RP) on said arc (RA), so that the same user signals retransmitted by the satellite (SAT) and the emitter (Ei) reach a user terminal (T1, T2) at roughly the same time.

Abstract: There is provided a digital repeater module and method for relaying digital data. The digital repeater module comprises a data reception unit configured to receive digital data from several broadcast devices concurrently, a data transmission unit configured to transmit digital data using a multiple transmission protocols concurrently, and a routing application. The routing application can receive digital data through the data reception unit, identify available data paths for relaying the digital data to desired destinations, and determine transmission metrics for each of the available data paths for relaying the digital data to the desired destinations. The routing application can also select data paths for transmission based on the determined transmission metrics, and transmit the digital data using the selected data paths through the data transmission unit. There is also provided a method for resolving assignment of limited broadcast frequencies using the digital repeater module.

Abstract: A method includes sending to a receiving device from a transmitting device a Radio Link Control (RLC) re-transmission scheme selected from a plurality of RLC re-transmission schemes, and using the selected and sent scheme at least at one of the receiving device and the transmitting device. In another exemplary non-limiting embodiment the method includes detecting, at the receiver, a gap in RLC Protocol Data Unit (PDU) sequence numbers, associating a timer with the gap, and starting the timer when the gap is detected. In still another exemplary non-limiting embodiment, the method includes detecting a gap in a RLC PDU sequence, monitoring a HARQ channel for a period of time to determine if a predetermined bit has changed, and determining if a transmission is lost.

Abstract: A relayed communication system including a supervising station and a plurality of communication stations, transmits data from the supervising station to the communication stations by relay transmission. Each of the plurality of communication stations determines the quality of communication with the supervising station, and notifies the determined communication quality to the supervising station. If the communication quality is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the supervising station allocates one or more communication stations as relay stations to respective time slots in descending order of the communication quality, and transmits the allocation result to the plurality of communication stations. As a result, each communication station can perform relayed communication using the time slot that is allocated thereto.

Abstract: A system and method for communicating through a host repeater. Data is received from a remote repeater communicating with a wireless device. The host repeater registers as the wireless device on a wireless network. The data is reformatted for transmission between the wireless devices and the wireless network.

Abstract: The invention relates to wireless repeater systems and methods. In embodiments, such systems and methods involve receiving a wireless transmission signal; and processing the wireless transmission signal using a digital signal processing facility (DSP); wherein the DSP is adapted to filter at least one sub-band of the wireless transmission signal using a digital bandpass filter.

Abstract: A method for reporting a channel status in a mobile communication system including a relay station (RS) is provided. When a mobile terminal in the coverage of a base station (BS) receives a service through an RS, the RS reports a channel status between the RS and the terminal to the BS to allow the BS to decide whether or not to communicate with the terminal through the RS. In the method, a first RS in communication with a BS and at least one terminal measures a channel quality with a first terminal and compares the measured channel quality with a threshold and transmits a report message to the BS according to the comparison. The report message is to request the BS to measure a channel quality of at least one of a second RS and the first terminal in communication with the BS.

Abstract: A wireless repeater having a receiving antenna for receiving an input signal and a transmitting antenna for transmitting an amplified signal includes first and second front-end circuits and a repeater baseband block coupled between the first and second front-end circuits. The repeater baseband block includes a channel estimation block, an echo canceller implementing time domain echo cancellation, a variable gain stage controlled by a gain control block implementing digital gain control, a first variable delay element introducing a first delay before or after the echo canceller, a second variable delay element introducing a second delay to the output signal. The delayed output signal is coupled to the channel estimation block as a reference signal for estimating the feedback channel, to the echo canceller as a reference signal for estimating the feedback signal, and to the gain control block for monitoring the stability of the repeater.

Abstract: A printing client management method and a wireless LAN printer in a wireless network is provided. According to the printing client management method for a wireless Local Area Network (LAN), information is extracted from Media Access Control (MAC) frames of the printing clients that associate with a Basic Service Set (BSS) including the wireless LAN printer. A list of the printing clients is formed using MAC addresses of the MAC frames as indexes, and management of printing operations of the printing clients is completed according to the list.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided that include handing over relays in wireless networks. Handover request messages for a relay and related user equipment (UE) can be grouped to lessen signaling requirements for handover. Moreover, identifiers can be communicated in the messages to optimize bearer establishment at a target base station to which the relay and related devices are handed over. Also, handover exception cases can occur, which can be handled by the relay and source and target base stations, such as bearer rejection at the target base station, handover failure for one or more devices or the relay, and/or the like. Further, handover of a relay can occur between base stations that house one or more network gateways for the relay, or where the gateways are centralized and accessible by the source and target base stations, where each scenario can include different exception handling.

Abstract: A management device includes a management table generation section that generates a management table in which location information showing the present location of a relay device is held in each relay device that relays the connection to a first network, a first receiving section that receives a location information showing the present location of a communication device from the communication device via a second network different from the first network, the communication device being connected to the first network via a relay device, a list generation section that generates a candidate list showing relay device candidates that relay a connection to the first network by communicating with the communication device with reference to the management table based on the location information of the communication device, and a transmission section that transmits the candidate list to the communication device via a second network.

Abstract: Measured are received power of a first signal received from a first entity, and received power of a second signal received from a second entity. A gain factor (or a matrix of gain factors if multiple antennas are used) is determined using the measured received powers of the first signal and of the second signal. If transmit power from the apparatus to the second entity is considered as the benchmark, the second signal is forwarded from the apparatus to the first entity using a second signal transmit power that is determined using the gain factor. Or, if transmit power from the apparatus to the first entity is considered as the benchmark, the first signal is forwarded from the apparatus to the second entity using a first signal transmit power that is determined using the gain factor. Method, apparatus, and memory storing computer program are detailed.

Abstract: Disclosed are a base station, a relay station, and a terminal according to a method for designing a cellular system for improving resource usage efficiency by reducing interference between relay stations and interference between the base station and the relay station. The relay station gets control signals that terminals served by the base station transmit, and registers terminals, levels of the control signals of which are bigger than a predetermined value, to a list of the interference terminals. The relay station checks an interference resource through resource allocation information of the base station, checks an available resource corresponding to a resource except the interference resource among a resource allocated by the base station, and allocates some of the available resource to the terminal.

Abstract: A base station is connected to a relay station that relays wireless signals from a mobile station. The base station includes a resource block assigning unit configured to generate first resource block assignment information of a first wireless section based on a first propagation quality of the first wireless section between the base station and the relay station; a ratio determining unit configured to calculate a ratio of a number of first resource blocks assigned to the first wireless section and a number of second resource blocks to be assigned to a second wireless section for transmitting the number of first resource blocks in the second wireless section between the relay station and the mobile station; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the first resource block assignment information and the ratio to the relay station.

Abstract: An interference relay channel (IRC) utilizes a single relay to assist communications between multiple source-destination links under the half-duplex (HD) constraint. It is assumed that each source has an independent message and its transmitted signal may cause interference at the other destinations. It is also assumed that each node only estimates its backward channels and has no knowledge of its forward channels as well as the other links. The role of the relay is to generate signals to cooperate with the intended signal and mitigate the interference at all destinations.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wireless access control method, relay station and base station. The wireless access control method according to the present invention is characterized in that under the control of said base station, information of said subscriber station and said base station is received and forwarded via a wireless channel by using the relay station. Said method further comprises the steps of: uplink bearer data and control information from said subscriber station being first received by said relay station and then forwarded to said base station; downlink bearer data from said base station being first received by said relay station and then forwarded to said subscriber station. Said base station sends control information directly to the subscriber station. The present invention further comprises a relay station for implementing the above method and an improved base station.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cooperative relay station that relays between a base station and a mobile station when retransmitting a signal. Also, disclosed is a base station that receives a signal from a mobile station in mutual cooperation with the cooperative relay station. After the cooperative relay station receives and decodes a signal that the mobile station transmits to the base station or a service relay station, if an error of the decoded signal does not exist, it stores the received signal. If an error occurs when the base station decodes the signal that the mobile station transmits, the base station requests retransmission for the signal with the error to the cooperative relay station. If the cooperative relay station gets a request of retransmission, it transmits the signal that the base station requests to the base station.

Abstract: An irrigation system includes an irrigation controller, at least one environmental sensor and a vandal resistant data relay. The irrigation controller includes a two conductor hard wired communications link for accepting an actual value of at least one parameter of interest from an environmental sensor in the form of data encoded on the conductors via current modulation. The environmental sensor is mounted in a location remote from the irrigation controller. A circuit is connected to the environmental sensor for transmitting an RF signal representing an actual value of a parameter of interest detected by the environmental sensor. The vandal resistant data relay is connected to the two conductor hard wired communication link of the irrigation controller.

Abstract: A method of a relay node transmitting data is provided. The method includes receiving scheduling information about a backhaul link and data from a base station; receiving channel information about an access link from relay node user equipment; performing scheduling on the access link based on the scheduling information about the backhaul link and the channel information about the access link; and relaying the data to the relay node user equipment according to a result of the scheduling. The backhaul link means a link between the base station and the relay node, and the access link means a link between the relay node and the relay node user equipment.

Abstract: Spectrum sensing in wireless communications is provided to identify utilized and/or unutilized frequency bands reserved for primary users using a cyclostationary beamforming approach. An adaptive cross self-coherent restoral (ACS) algorithm can be utilized to extract signals of interest (SOI) at unique cycle frequencies related to primary and/or secondary users from an antenna array measurement. Based on the SOI, one or more users of the spectrum can be identified or the spectrum can be regarded as vacant; this can be based on lobe identification in the frequency spectrum of the SOI, in one example. This mechanism is less complex than traditional cyclic spectrum analysis methods. The cyclostationary beamforming based approach is more effective than the energy detection method. Also, the need for quiet periods in spectrum sensing is eliminated when using this mechanism such that signals can be transmitted simultaneously with receiving signals over the antenna array.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of signaling hopping locations selected by a scheduling entity using a frequency hopping pattern indicator for indicating hopping locations for at least two re-transmissions. The frequency hopping pattern is selected by the scheduling entity which may have knowledge of all or at least a plurality of scheduled reverse link transmissions or restrictions upon reverse link transmissions, thereby allowing reverse link re-transmissions to be scheduled in a manner compatible with other reverse link transmissions and restrictions. Overall signaling overhead associated with scheduling re-transmissions is reduced through the signaling of a single message which indicates hopping locations for at least two re-transmissions instead of two or more separate messages, wherein each of the two or more separate message indicates a hopping location for an individual re-transmission.

Abstract: A method for interrupting voice transmissions within a multi site communication system includes operating a repeater to engage in an interruptible voice communication; to identify an open burst location based on a repeat delay when the interruptible voice communication is sourced directly via a wireless network, and to identify the open burst location as irrelevant when the interruptible voice communication is indirectly sourced via a wireless network; and repeat the interruptible voice communication including the open burst location.

Abstract: A communication control method, for a radio communication system including a radio base station, a radio terminal, and a relay station that receives a radio signal transmitted from the radio base station and relays the radio signal to the radio terminal at a transmission frequency different from a reception frequency, includes broadcasting information on one or more transmission frequencies of radio base stations or relay stations from the radio base station; and determining, by the radio terminal, whether transmission-source identification information included in the radio signals that are received before and after switching the reception frequency match, the switching being conducted based on the information broadcasted from one of the radio base station directly and via the relay station, wherein if the radio terminal determines that the transmission-source identification information matches, the radio terminal omits a terminal registering procedure after frame-synchronization with the radio communication

Abstract: Provided is a mobile communication system which includes a plurality of RAT (Radio Access Technology) and can eliminate the need of a control channel for reporting RAT information so as to prevent congestion or shortage of the control channel capacity. In the mobile communication system, an LTE relay station (30) has a cover area (31) identical to a cover area (21) owned by a WLAN host station (20) and relays/transmits the signal received from an LTE base station (10) to a mobile station (40) in the cover area (31). The LTE relay station (30) adds to the signal received from the LTE base station (10), one of the offsets: a frequency offset, a time offset, and a power offset as information indicating that the mobile station (40) which receives a relay signal from the local station is located in the cover area (21) of WLAN and transmits the signal after offset addition to the mobile station (40) located in the cover area (31) (i.e., the cover area (21)).

Abstract: A method for controlling gain in a wireless repeater includes providing one or more gain control metrics where the gain control metrics is indicative of a loop gain of the repeater; measuring the one or more gain control metrics; and adjusting a variable gain of the repeater using a gain adjustment step size being a function of at least the loop gain of the repeater as measured by the one or more gain control metrics. In another embodiment, the gain control algorithm block is configured to divide the loop gain of the repeater into multiple gain adjustment control zones. The gain adjustment control zones may include a first zone having a loop gain in a stable operating region and a second zone having a loop gain outside the stable operating region.

Abstract: A method for providing multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) feedback information and configuration information. The method includes transporting the MIMO feedback information, configuration information, or both over an uplink relay link using higher layer signaling. Also included is a method for providing uplink data transmission over an access link. The method includes transporting the uplink data over an uplink access link using orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing access (OFDMA). Also included is a relay node comprising a processor configured to promote transmitting MIMO feedback information, configuration information, or both over an uplink relay link using higher layer signaling. Also included is a user agent (UA) comprising a processor configured to promote transmitting uplink data over an uplink access link using OFDMA.

Abstract: Embodiments of a system and methods for resource management and interference mitigation techniques for relay-based networks are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer-readable media provide for utilizing a repeating function to improve quality of service. According to embodiments, a method for utilizing a repeating function to improve quality of service is provided. According to the method a first mobile cellular device is selected. An instruction is transmitted to the first mobile cellular device instructing the first mobile cellular device. The instruction causes the first mobile cellular device to relay communications between the second mobile cellular device and the cellular service provider. The first mobile cellular device thereby provides the repeating function for the second mobile cellular device.

Abstract: A method for transmitting data includes receiving at a first relay station first data from a parent station during a downlink period comprising a plurality of downlink zones. A network coding zone is one of the plurality of downlink zones and is located at an end of the downlink period, and the first data is received in at least one of the plurality of downlink zones other than the network coding zone. The method further includes receiving at the first relay station from a child station, second data during an uplink zone, and transmitting third data by the first relay station to the child station, during the network coding zone using a resource. The method further includes transmitting the third data to the parent station, during the network coding zone, using the resource. The third data results from the first data being effectively logically XOR-ed to the second data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving data in a Base Station (BS) of a communication system are provided. A controller determines a location of a Mobile Station (MS), and determines a transmission/reception scheme for data transmission and reception to/from the MS according to the location of the MS. A transceiver transmits and receives data to/from the MS using the determined transmission/reception scheme. Preferably, the MS is located in any one of a cell's inner region and a cell's outer region, the cell's inner region has a radius which varies according to interference between adjacent cells, and the cell's outer region is a region defined by excepting the cell's inner region from the entire cell region.

Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus for the provision of paging messages in a wireless network which includes relays. The method comprises that a base station receives a paging message and transmits the paging message to at least one relay node with or without processing, and the at least one relay node transmits the paging message to a user equipment with or without modification.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention discloses a microwave relay receiving method and apparatus, a microwave relay transmitting method and apparatus, and a microwave relay node. The embodiment of the present invention relates to the field of communications technologies and is invented to enable free scheduling of microwave signals at low costs. The microwave relay receiving method includes: receiving a microwave signal; separating the microwave signal to obtain service information at an intermediate frequency band and control information at a low frequency band and sending the separated service information to a switch matrix; and sending the control information to the switch matrix so that a corresponding switch in the switch matrix is turned on and the service information is transmitted by the turned on switch.

Abstract: A data transmission system transmitting data using a relay is provided. The relay selects a transmission terminal from a plurality of terminals connected to a base station. During a first time slot, the base station transmits base station data to the relay and the transmission terminal transmits terminal data to the relay. The relay transmits the terminal data to the base station and transmits the base station data to the transmission terminal during a second time slot.

Abstract: A system and a method achieve a higher level of stable gain for a cellular telephone booster (repeater) than previously considered to be achievable. An RF signal booster includes active stability control provided by an active stability network. The active stability network decreases the amount of radiated or conducted parasitic signal coupled from the output of an amplifier back to the input of the amplifier. The active stability network allows a higher system gain than would otherwise be achievable. In one embodiment, the active stability network (stabilization network) includes an RF sample coupler, one or more band pass filters, a vector modulator, an RF recombining coupler and an RF detection circuit. An algorithm controls the stabilization network to minimize the amount of parasitic coupled signal from the output of the amplifier back to the input of the amplifier and to maximize the achievable system gain.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wireless device configured relay wireless communication between a computing device and one or more broadband wireless networks. In this manner the wireless device can act as an access point, hotspot or the like, for the computing device. The wireless device comprises a network interface system configured for communication with a wireless network and one or more broadband wireless networks. The wireless device further includes a control system operatively coupled to the network interface system, wherein the control system is configured to control communication between the network interface system and the wireless network. The control system is further configured to activate communication with one or more of the broadband wireless networks upon receipt of a predetermined communication from the computing device via the wireless network.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a radio relay communication device is described a radio receiver configured to receive data from a radio base station, a radio sender configured to send data received from the radio base station to at least one mobile terminal, a detector configured to detect whether a pre-determined transmission symbol sequence has been received from the radio base station, a changing circuit configured to change the transmission symbol sequence such that from the change of the transmission symbol sequence an identification of the relay communication device can be determined, and a controller configured to control the radio sender configured to send the changed transmission symbol sequence to at least one mobile terminal.

Abstract: A wireless communication method and the like for improving the system throughput. The wireless communication method is used in a mobile communication system having a base station apparatus, a relay station apparatus and a mobile station apparatus #1. In a first transmission step, a first transport signal, which includes data addressed to MS #1, is transmitted from BS to RS. In a second transmission step, a second transport signal, which includes a pilot generated by BS, is transmitted from BS. Simultaneously, in the second transmission step, a relay signal, which includes the data addressed to MS #1 and also includes a pilot that is generated by RS and that has a particular orthogonal relationship with the pilot generated by BS, is transmitted from RS to MS #1.

Abstract: A repeater system is disclosed including a first planar antenna array comprising a first plurality of patch antennas, wherein the first plurality of patch antennas include a first pair of first patch antennas and a second pair of patch antennas, the first patch antennas in each pair disposed symmetrically about a perpendicular plane bisecting a distance between the patch antennas in each pair. Two microstrip antenna probes may be connected to respective ones of the first patch antennas in each pair. The two feed signals connected to the two probes may be phased shifted approximately 180 degrees out of phase with respect to each other. The repeater also includes a second planar antenna array comprising a second plurality of patch antennas and a housing connecting the first planar antenna array and the second planar antenna array. In some embodiments, each of the first planar antenna array and the second planar antenna array include some even number of E-shaped patch antennas.

Abstract: A wireless relay node (100) comprises a receiving side (110) and a transmitting side (120) adapted for concurrent reception and transmission of an information stream, and at least one of the two sides has multiple antennas for multi-antenna operation. In the internal design, the wireless relay node is further configured (130) for cancelling signal feedback from a multi-antenna dependent feedback channel from the transmitting side to the receiving side based on an N×M dimensional filter matrix (135) dependent on the multi-antenna dependent feedback channel, where at least one of N and M is greater than 1. In this way, self-interference cancellation of a multi-antenna dependent feedback signal from the output to the input of the wireless relay node is effectively obtained.

Abstract: A radio frequency repeater is provided. A donor antenna transmits a signal to and receives a signal from a base station. A service antenna transmits a signal to and receives a signal from a mobile station. A repeater filters and amplifies a signal between the two antennas. A polarization variation unit variably selects a polarization direction of at least one of the donor antenna and the service antenna in response to a detection signal of an isolation detector for detecting isolation between the two antennas. The isolation between the donor antenna and the service antenna can be sufficiently ensured.

Abstract: In various embodiments of the invention, a relay station in a wireless communications network may communicate with one or more subscriber stations at the same time and/or on the same frequency that the associated base station is communicating with another relay station in the same network. This contrasts with the conventional technique of devoting one time period or frequency exclusively to communications between the base station and the relay stations, and devoting another time period or frequency exclusively to communications between the relay stations and the subscriber stations.

Abstract: A base station in a wireless communications system defines a plurality of beams which each have an amount of resources for supporting communication links with terminals. A control entity determines if a direct communication link can be supported between a new terminal and a base station using a first beam. If a direct communication link cannot be supported, a relaying equipment is used to provide a multi-hop path between the base station and the terminal. The multi-hop path comprises a link between the base station and the relaying equipment using resources of a different beam. This helps to redistribute load within the cell. The direct communication link can be refused if there are insufficient resources in the first beam, or if accepting the new terminal would cause quality of communication links with existing terminals to deteriorate.