Patent ID: 8446852

Claim:
A method for selecting an access link in a multi-hop relay network comprising: determining a first effective spectrum efficiency value of a first connection between an endpoint and a base station, wherein the first connection comprises at least a first access link between the endpoint and an access station, the first effective spectrum efficiency value indicative of the spectrum efficiency from the endpoint to the base station when using the first connection, wherein determining the first effective spectrum efficiency value comprises: receiving from the access station a first frequency reuse factor indicative of the extent a first frequency associated with the first access link is being reused; determining a first spectrum efficiency value of the first access link; and determining the first effective spectrum efficiency value using the first frequency reuse factor and the first spectrum efficiency value; determining a second effective spectrum efficiency value of a second connection between the endpoint and the base station via a relay station, wherein the second connection comprises at least a second access link between the endpoint and the relay station and at least one relay link between the relay station and the base station, the second effective spectrum efficiency value indicative of the spectrum efficiency from the endpoint to the base station when using the second connection, wherein determining a second effective spectrum efficiency value comprises: receiving from the relay station a second frequency reuse factor indicative of the extent a second frequency associated with the second access link is being reused; receiving from the relay station a third effective spectrum efficiency value from the relay station, the third effective spectrum efficiency value indicative of the spectrum efficiency of a relay connection between the relay station to the base station, the relay connection comprising the at least one relay link; determining a second spectrum efficiency value of the second access link between the endpoint and the relay station; and determining the second effective spectrum efficiency value using the second frequency reuse factor, the third effective spectrum efficiency value, and the second spectrum efficiency value; comparing the first and second effective spectrum efficiency values to determine which provides the higher efficiency; and establishing a connection using one of the first or second connections based on the comparison of the first and second effective spectrum efficiency values.