Layer-2 Relays in Cellular Mobile Radio Networks

This paper discusses fixed layer-2 relays for infrastructure based radio network deployment concepts. Relay enhanced cells (RECs) for different optimizations goals like area size optimization, cell capacity optimizations in a given area and the application of relays to cover otherwise shadowed areas are introduced. As a basis for the proof of concept by means of simulation, a relaying capable MAC protocol as well as the used REC concept is briefly explained. The new REC concepts for both, area optimizations and capacity optimizations are validated by analytic and simulation results. Results are shown for the C/I in a multi-cellular environment and the throughput for an REC cluster with four relay nodes per REC using different cluster orders. The results are compared to that of a comparable single-hop op cell cluster.