METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING RELAY NODE CONFIGURATION AND RE-CONFIGURATION IN RELAY ENHANCED NETWORKS

摘要

A method for performing relay node configuration and re-configuration in relay enhanced networks, in particular in a 3GPP LTE-Advanced architecture, wherein the network includes a plurality of eNBs that function as donor eNBs providing wireless access to associated relay nodes, wherein the relay nodes function as eNBs from a UE perspective, is characterized in that the network is divided into clusters such that each cluster includes exactly one donor eNB and that each relay node is associated to at least one donor eNB any point in time, wherein the load of donor eNBs and the handover rates among relay nodes as well as between donor eNBs and relay nodes are monitored and/or estimated, wherein the association of relay nodes to donor eNBs is performed on the basis of the results of the monitoring and/or estimation. Furthermore, an apparatus for performing centralized relay node configuration in relay enhanced networks is disclosed.