A method for relay operations, the method comprising: estimating, by a relay node (105, 125, 145, 205, 255), communications channels between a relay and a subset of communications devices coupled to the relay, wherein the estimating is based on transmissions made by the communications devices in the subset of communications devices; storing, by the relay node (105, 125, 145, 205, 255), a portion of the transmissions; precoding, by the relay node (105, 125, 145, 205, 255), a transmission comprising a combination of at least a subset of the stored portion of the transmissions with a precoding matrix, wherein the precoding matrix is based on estimates of the communications channels; and transmitting, by the relay node (105, 125, 145, 205, 255), the precoded transmission to the subset of communications devices; wherein estimating communications channels comprises estimating communications channels between a relay and a first type of communications devices in the subset of communications devices, wherein the estimating is based on transmissions made by the first type of communications devices made during a first exclusive interval, and wherein the first exclusive interval comprises transmissions solely from the first type of communications devices, and the first exclusive interval is partitioned into multiple parts to permit different subsets of the first type of communications devices to transmit, estimating communications channels comprises estimating communications channels between a relay and a second type of communications devices in the subset of communications devices, wherein the estimating is based on transmissions made by the second type of communications devices made during a second exclusive interval, and wherein the second exclusive interval comprises transmissions solely from the second type of communications devices, wherein the storing occurs during an inclusive interval, wherein transmissions from any communications device in the subset of communications devices is permitted, wherein the first type of communications devices comprises a user equipment, and the second type of communications devices comprises a base station. estimating, by a relay node (105, 125, 145, 205, 255), communications channels between a relay and a subset of communications devices coupled to the relay, wherein the estimating is based on transmissions made by the communications devices in the subset of communications devices; storing, by the relay node (105, 125, 145, 205, 255), a portion of the transmissions; precoding, by the relay node (105, 125, 145, 205, 255), a transmission comprising a combination of at least a subset of the stored portion of the transmissions with a precoding matrix, wherein the precoding matrix is based on estimates of the communications channels; and transmitting, by the relay node (105, 125, 145, 205, 255), the precoded transmission to the subset of communications devices; wherein estimating communications channels comprises estimating communications channels between a relay and a first type of communications devices in the subset of communications devices, wherein the estimating is based on transmissions made by the first type of communications devices made during a first exclusive interval, and wherein the first exclusive interval comprises transmissions solely from the first type of communications devices, and the first exclusive interval is partitioned into multiple parts to permit different subsets of the first type of communications devices to transmit, estimating communications channels comprises estimating communications channels between a relay and a second type of communications devices in the subset of communications devices, wherein the estimating is based on transmissions made by the second type of communications devices made during a second exclusive interval, and wherein the second exclusive interval comprises transmissions solely from the second type of communications devices, wherein the storing occurs during an inclusive interval, wherein transmissions from any communications device in the subset of communications devices is permitted, wherein the first type of communications devices comprises a user equipment, and the second type of communications devices comprises a base station.