Patent ID: 8611333

Claim:
A method used in a wireless communication system for managing an adjustment of synchronization timing for handover of a mobile relay, the method comprising: repositioning coverage of the mobile relay from a first network access point to a second network access point; and adjusting synchronization timing of the mobile relay in an asynchronous network of the wireless communication system comprising receiving, by the mobile relay, a signal indicating a different synchronization timing associated with the second network access point, the different synchronization timing being different from a current synchronization timing associated with the first network access point and adjusting the synchronization timing of the mobile relay in accordance with the different synchronization timing, wherein the adjusting of the synchronization timing of the mobile relay includes determining, by the mobile relay, whether a handover operation is to be initiated for handover of the mobile relay from the first network access point to the second network access point, and wherein the adjusting includes concurrently adjusting synchronization timing of the backhaul and access links of the mobile relay exclusive of any notification to the one or more access terminals served by the mobile relay that the synchronization timing of the access links are being adjusted; and wirelessly relaying, by the mobile relay, communications between or among: (1) the first network access point and one or more access terminals prior to the adjusting of the synchronization timing; and (2) the second network access point and the one or more access terminals subsequent to the adjusting of the synchronization timing, wherein the wireless relaying of communications includes communicating, by the mobile relay, with the first or second network access point using one or more backhaul links and with each of the one or more access terminals using one or more access links, and concurrently adjusting the synchronization timing associated with the backhaul and access links of the mobile relay.