Patent ID: 8400967

Claim:
A connection initialization method for an evolved NodeB (eNB), the eNB being adapted for use in a long term evolution (LTE) network, the LTE network comprising the eNB, a mobility management entity (MME), a first relay node (RN) and a second RN, the eNB connecting with the MME, the first RN connecting with the eNB, the second RN connecting with the eNB via the first RN, the eNB pre-allocating a first identification group and a second identification group to the first RN and the second RN respectively, the connection initialization method comprising the following steps: (a) enabling the eNB to receive an initial message with an eNB-UE-S1AP identification (EID) from the second RN via the- first RN after the second RN receives an attached request from a user equipment, wherein the EID is selected from the second identification group and assigned to a control-plane connection of the user equipment by the second RN; (b) enabling the eNB to transmit the initial message with the EID to the MME; (c) enabling the eNB to receive an initial response with a first MME-UE-S1AP identification (MID) from the MME after step (b), wherein the first MID is assigned to the control-plane connection of the user equipment by the MME; (d) enabling the eNB to convert the first MID into a second MID; (e) enabling the eNB to transmit the initial response with the second MID to the second RN via the first RN.